Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships

Funding support for foreign language training

Applications are due February 13, 2009, 5:00 PM.

 
The Center for Global Studies (CGS), administers academic year and summer Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships through a under a Title VI grant fro m the U.S. Department of Education for National Resource Centers.
 

The objective of the CGS FLAS program is to provide graduate students of exceptional promise with the language and cultural skills they need to enter the professional world upon graduation in fields related to globalization. Students in all disciplines are eligible to apply for CGS FLAS awards.

 
Students in professional fields, such as engineering, business, economics, health, agric ulture, library and information science, social work, planning, education, media and communications, and those interested in working for government, non-governmental associations, and intergovernmental organizations are especially encouraged to apply.
 

Preference is given to students concentrating in an international area within their discipline. Wh at is unique about the CGS FLAS program is that graduate and professio nal students can learn a language and culture relevant to their projected professional work, yet not necessarily be expected to teach the language or be engaged in area studies. For example, a graduate student in the College of Medicine received a FLAS fellowship to study advanced Portuguese in order to learn more about emerging infectious diseases.

CGS typically awards six academic year fellowships and four summer awards. The following languages have been approved for study on campus. Funding for the 2008-09 academic year fellowships is pending notification from the U.S. Department of Education. FLAS recipients are required to enroll in language study in both Fall and Spring semesters. In addition, fellows are required to enroll in an approved Global Studies course each semester.
 
Academic year award: Tuition and all non-refundable fees, plus a stipend of $15,000. (Students are required to pay all refundable fees, approximately $27 per semester.)
 
Summer award: Tuition and fees, plus a stipend of $2,500. (NOTE: Room, board, travel, and miscellaneous fees MAY NOT be included in the tuition and fees payment, but must be covered by the student's stipend even if the program bills those as part of the "fee.")
 
Program tuition and fees, including approximately $350 in campus fees, cannot exceed $4,000.
 

ELIGIBLE LANGUAGES

At the first-year level and above:
Arabic Polish
Bulgarian Portuguese
Czech Russian
Hebrew Serbian or Croatian
Hindi Swahili
Korean Turkish
Italian Ukranian
Lingala Wolof
Persian  
At the third-year level and above:
Chinese
Japanese
 
APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY
FLAS fellowship applicants must be degree-seeking students in good academic standing enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Illinois.
 
Applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents (green card).
 

SELECTION CRITERIA

CGS seeks candidates who give promise of becoming leaders in their field of study and professional work. Applicable measures include the applicant's academic record with emphasis placed on graduate work, extra-disciplinary and professional activities, and supportive materials, including letters of recommendation from close observers of the applicant's achievements. The statement of purpose should clearly indicate how the FLAS fellowship will advance both the professional career and potential for leadership within the candidate's field of specialization or in the performance of public service.
 
Applicants will be evaluated based upon the following:
  • Evidence that language training is needed to further the applicant's study of international issues and problems;
  • Extent to which the applicant's current planned academic program is focused on international issues and problems;
  • Applicant's academic performance to date;
  • Persuasiveness of the applicant's letters of recommendations.
 
In evaluating an application:
  • 20 points are assigned to academic achievement;
  • 10 points to the relation of the FLAS Fellowship to the academic degree pursued by the student;
  • 10 points to the projected leadership prospects of applicants with respect to their disciplinary or professional fields and to their contribution to public service.
U.S. Department of Education guidelines used to rank candidates with similar credentials as evaluated with the above criteria: 
  • Priority will be given to more advanced levels of language training in readily available languages and to less commonly taught languages at all levels; Church Slavonic, or other ancient languages are usually NOT approved;
  • Priority will be given to applicants who intend to pursue careers in a professional field or public service.
The following U.S. Department of Education guidelines also apply:
  • Overseas awards are for advanced and intermediate levels only, beginning level training can be funded only if courses are unavailable in the US;
  • Academic year FLAS awards for dissertation research abroad are subject to the prior approval of U.S. Department of Education Program officers, as is all travel abroad (FLAS fellows are responsible for initiating this approval process at least 60 days prior to departure). FLAS fellows must also remain enrolled at UIUC;
  • Academic year FLAS fellows approved for on-campus language study must also be enrolled in appropriate area studies courses;
  • Students may receive fellowships for multiple award periods if they compete successfully in each discrete competition;
  • CGS can set its own FLAS rules and requirements beyond the legislation and regulations, including limiting the number of FLAS awards a student may receive, as long as the rules do not conflict with the statute, federal regulations, the selection procedures outlined in the application narrative or the institution's guidelines and policies.
Summer FLAS Awards:
  • Limited to intensive language training (140-180 contact hours) and cannot be used for research abroad;
  • Programs abroad must be approved by the U.S. Department of Education and are typically only approved for intermediate and advanced language study (FLAS fellows are responsible for initiating this approval process at least 60 days prior to departure).
Prior approval required from the Department of Education:
  • For ALL FLAS awards to be used abroad, including research;
  • For ALL domestic dissertation research/writing awards;
  • For a ruling on a specific request for study in Latin, Sanskrit, Greek, Classical Chinese, or language not on the CGS approved FLAS language list.
Illinois Fellowship Policy and Guidelines:
  • Campus Policy: no student on limited status can hold a fellowship;
  • Students with EXs and Fs on their records are not assigned equal status in the competition with students who have completed their course and program requirements. EXs and Fs should be explained as part of the application.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

1. Application Cover Sheet
 
2. Completed Application Form (Online for current UIUC students or
     paper for entering students)
 
3. Three letters of recommendation: one must be from your academic
     advisor and, except for students applying for beginning language
     instruction, one must be from your most recent language instructor
 
4. Graduate and undergraduate transcripts (copies from your departmental
     file are acceptable)
 
5. Statement of Purpose Essay of no more than 2 pages: CGS applicants
    must address the following topics in their essay.
  • How does the language and global / area studies coursework relate to your long term professional goals?
  • How does the language and global / area studies coursework relate to your academic program?
  • Address any F or No-Credit grades on your transcript.

For complete application instructions and forms for the CGS and other campus FLAS programs, please visit the Campus' FLAS Site at: http://www.ilint.uiuc.edu/flas
 

CGS FLAS CONTACT

If you have questions about the CGS FLAS program, please contact Steve Witt at swwitt@illinois.edu or 217-265-7518.

 

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