Office of Major Scholarships

Critical Language Scholarship

The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is a summer study abroad opportunity for American college and university students who would like to learn languages essential to America’s engagement with the world. Students spend eight to ten weeks abroad during the summer learning one of fifteen critical languages. 

For a full list of languages offered, and proficiency requirements for each, click here: Link to program description with language overview.

*Notice that some languages do not have any proficiency requirement. 

Benefits:

Funding for the program covers – 

• Travel (international and domestic) between student’s home city and the CLS Program site
• Visa application fees
• Room, board, language instruction, and program-sponsored travel within the host country
• Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) language assessments 
• U.S. academic credit through Bryn Mawr College (8 credits)

Eligibility:

• Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national
• Be an undergraduate (or graduate) student at an accredited U.S. institution
• Be at least 18 years old 

Link to complete eligibility requirements 

Deadline: Tuesday, November 19, 2024 by 8:00pm EST

Campus Contact: 

Nives Dal Bo-Wheeler, nives.dalbowheeler@maine.edu (Office of Major Scholarships, Director)