A Program of the 
We are pleased to announce that the application is now open for the 2025 Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program! We welcome American undergraduate and graduate students to apply now to learn a critical language next summer on a funded language and cultural enrichment program.
The CLS Program is an intensive overseas language and cultural immersion program for American undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. Students spend eight to ten weeks over the summer studying one of a dozen critical languages: Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, and Urdu. The program provides intensive language instruction and structured cultural activities designed to promote rapid language gains.
CLS Spark, an initiative of CLS, provides beginner-level virtual instruction for Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Russian and advanced beginner-level virtual instruction for Japanese. CLS Spark provides competitively selected American undergraduate students the opportunity to start their language learning journeys virtually when they may not have access to language learning on their campuses or the ability to study abroad. Preference will be given to applicants from campuses that do not offer their Spark language.
CLS is a program of the U.S. Department of State, and part of a wider government initiative to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering foreign languages that are critical to national security, economic prosperity, and engagement with the world. CLS plays an important role in preparing students for the 21st century's globalized workforce and increasing national competitiveness.
The application is now live and available online.
Applications are due Tuesday, November 19, 2024 by 8:00 pm EST.
If you have any questions, please contact us at: cls@americancouncils.org.