The best way to become fluent in a foreign language is through immersion, and that means traveling to and living in the target country. Studying overseas also enriches a student’s experience with world cultures and improves international relations. However, studying abroad can be an expensive proposition. The following are organizations that offer funding for language study in China.
National Security Education Program Supports Language Study
The National Security Education Program (NSEP) provides funding for U.S. graduate and undergraduate students to study the language and culture of regions around the world deemed to be critical to U.S. interests. Both mainland China and Taiwan qualify as countries in which the NSEP encourages study.
The NSEP’s Boren Scholarship provides up to $20,000 for undergraduate students who qualify to study in China or Taiwan. The award is intended to cover tuition, travel expenses, living expenses, housing, and health insurance. The application deadline is in February each year.
The Boren Fellowship provides up to $30,000 for graduate students qualified to study in China or Taiwan. The application deadline is in late January each year.
National Flagship Language Program is an intensive two year advanced language study and immersion program focusing on Mandarin. Those who complete the program will earn a Master’s degree. All academic expenses plus a modest stipend for living expenses are included. The application deadline is in mid-January. Check out the BorenAwards.org website for details.
Critical Language Scholarships for Intensive Summer Institutes
The U.S. State Department along with the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) have teamed to offer Critical Language Scholarships (CLS) for intensive summer language institutes for the study of Chinese (at the intermediate and advanced levels) as well as several other targeted languages. The institutes run from seven to ten weeks. The focus is on group-based intensive language instruction, along with cultural enrichment experiences.
Student of diverse disciplines and majors are encouraged to apply, however participants are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship period. Applicants will also be expected to apply their language skills in their future professional careers.
All programs costs are covered for participants, including travel expenses, living expenses, housing, and a stipend. The deadline for applications is in November. More information can be found at the CLScholaship.org website.
Blakemore Freeman Fellowships for Advanced Asian Language Study
The highly competitive Blakemore Freeman Fellowships and Blakemore Refresher grants fund only a small percentage of applicants, but provide money for post-college study for U.S. citizens pursuing an academic, professional, or business career that involves the regular use of a modern East or Southeast Asian language, including Chinese. The application deadline is December 30.
The Blakemore Foundation also funds some Refresher Grants for U.S. college and university professors who teach in an Asian field and post-doctoral professionals whose degree is in an Asian field. The Refresher Grants are also available to graduates of the regular academic-year programs at the IUP at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, and the ICLP at National Taiwan University in Taipei, Taiwan. Check out the BlakemoreFoundation.org website for details.
Center for Chinese Studies Research Grant for Study in Taiwan
The Center for Chinese Studies (CCS) funds a program designed for professors and doctoral candidates in Chinese studies to undertake research in Taiwan. Funding includes subsidies of research expenses, research materials service, liaison with universities and research institutions, and use of CCS facilities. The application deadline is in late May. Information about the CCS grant can be found at the ccs.ncl.edu.tw website.
Encouraging individuals to learn Mandarin and Cantonese is of particular interest to the U.S. government; funding from several sources is available to encourage students majoring in a variety of professions to study these Chinese languages. The organizations listed above are not the only sources of funding for Chinese study, but they provide a starting point in the search for grants, scholarships, and fellowships to support study abroad. An excellent resource for finding money to study abroad is the IIEPassport.org website.
Margaret M. Williams - Margaret M. Williams (Peggy) has been a teacher for over 25 years. She currently teaches first grade in a classroom that combines native ...
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