A Program of the U.S. Department of State
Apply for CLS
The CLS Application for the 2020 Summer Programs is now closed.
Thank you to everyone who submitted an application. The competition for summer 2021 will open in the Fall of 2020.
Please note the following significant changes to the 2020 summer program:
- Korean will require one year of previous study, and will no longer be offered at the absolute beginner level.
- Persian will be open to absolute beginners with no previous experience studying the language (previously one year of study was required).
- Russian will be open to advanced beginners with one year of previous study (previously two years of study were required).
Be sure to check out more information on the language programs that we offer, and other information about the program.
Summer 2020 Resources for Applicants
Virtual Information Session
Application Tips
Getting Help With Your Application
The CLS Program maintains a list of faculty members and administrators at colleges and universities nationwide who have volunteered to assist students with the CLS application process. If you do not have a designated CLS representative at your university, we recommend you contact your university’s study abroad, fellowship office, career services office, or writing center. Note that CLS applicants are not required to obtain support from their home institution to apply for the scholarship, but we strongly recommend that you take advantage of the resources available on your campus.
Also be sure to watch the official CLS Application Tips video above, which is designed to help you write focused, effective essays that speak to the selection criteria for the CLS Program. We recommend this video for every student applying to the CLS Program.