Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Awards

What is FLAS?

The Canadian-American Center at the University of Maine is designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a National Resource Center on Canada.  As part of its mission, the Canadian-American Center provides federally-funded Academic Year and Summer Foreign Language and Areas Studies (FLAS) Awards to support the bilingual research (typically English/French) of graduate students and for the intensive study of the French language or less commonly-taught languages such as First Nation’s languages, Mechif, and Inuktitut

Academic Year FLAS

Academic Year FLAS is a federal grant to support students who wish to improve proficiency in French or Maliseet, Mi’kmaq/Micmac, Passamaquoddy, and Abenaki/Penobscot . The grant pays for tuition and offers a living allowance stipend.

Carefully read the following fact sheets:

APPLICATION MATERIALS AND PROCESS

  1. Statement of purpose, one page, double-spaced. Please discuss the following: 1) how the study of the language and Canadian studies fits into your overall academic program and career goals; 2) what you have chosen to research; 3) what specific things you plan to do during the fellowship period; and 4) how these activities contribute toward your academic and career goals.
  2. Transcripts from all colleges or universities, attended
  3. Two letters of recommendation
  4. Federal student aid report (SAR) or UMaine Office of Financial Aid award letter
  5. Canadian-American Graduate Award Cover sheet

Applications for Academic Year FLAS awards are submitted to the Graduate Coordinator or the Chair in the student’s department.

Who is eligible to receive a FLAS Fellowship?

  • Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Must be a current or incoming student to a full-time program of study at the University of Maine. 

Undergraduates are:

  • Eligible for intermediate- or advanced-level study of Maliseet, Mi’kmaq/Micmac, Passamaquoddy, and Abenaki/Penobscot, but not French

Graduates are:

  • Eligible for intermediate- or advanced-level study of French or Maliseet, Mi’kmaq/Micmac, Passamaquoddy, and Abenaki/Penobscot.
  • Eligible for beginning-level language study in exceptional circumstances.  If you already have advanced proficiency in French, you are eligible to apply for a FLAS to support beginning-level study of Maliseet, Mi’kmaq/Micmac, Passamaquoddy, and Abenaki/Penobscot.
  • Ineligible for beginning-level language study of French

2024 Academic Year FLAS flyer (click here to download PDF)

Summer FLAS

Summer FLAS is a federal grant to support graduate students studying French AND undergraduate or graduate students studying less-commonly taught languages for 6 weeks.  The grant pays for tuition and offers a living allowance stipend.

Carefully read the following fact sheets:

Applicants will need to choose an appropriate full-time, intensive language program. Click here for a list of selected French immersion programs.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications for Summer FLAS awards are submitted to the FLAS Coordinator.

APPLICATION MATERIALS

2024 Summer FLAS Flyer (click here to download PDF)

Current Call for Applications

 

Spring 2025 Half-Year Awards

Send all materials to the FLAS Coordinator

“The well-being of the United States is dependent on the education and training of Americans in international and foreign language studies.” FLAS Fellowship Program
Basic FLAS Information & FAQs Start by clicking this image to read the FLAS Information and Fact Sheet.
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