Boren Scholars

The Boren Scholarship provides up to $25,000 to U.S. undergraduate students from any major to study abroad in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Boren Scholars must study abroad for one, preferably two, semesters in order to promote long-term linguistic and cultural immersion (STEM majors may secure funding for summer programs, see below for more information).

Boren Scholarships focus on geographic areas, languages, and fields of study deemed critical to U.S. national security. Applicants identify how their study abroad program, as well as their future academic and career goals, will contribute to U.S. national security. National security is broadly defined to include not only the traditional concerns of protecting American well-being, but also areas such as sustainable development, environmental degradation, global disease and hunger, population growth and migration, and economic competitiveness. Recipients of the scholarship agree to work in the federal government and serve national security interests for at least one year after completing their study abroad (deferred until after graduate study should one pursue that option).

The Boren Awards program also includes the Boren Fellowship for graduate students, also supported by NISO.

Boren Scholars and Fellows Receive non-competitive eligibility (NCE) for future employment. This is a special hiring authority granted by the U.S. government.