FY 2025 Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program

Background
The U.S. Study Abroad Branch (ECA/A/S/Q) in the Office of Global Educational Programs in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), U.S. Department of State, is pleased to announce an open competition for proposals to administer the FY 2025 Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program. The CLS Program is a component of the U.S. Department of State’s effort to increase the number of Americans who learn critical foreign languages in support of the U.S. foreign policy goals of bolstering national security; promoting U.S. competitiveness and economic prosperity; and building mutual understanding with critical regions of the world.

Grant Details
The award will fund approximately 522 U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to study critical languages through intensive overseas language institutes organized on behalf of ECA, in countries and locations where the target languages are widely spoken and through virtual programming.
The award supports programming for all CLS alumni since the program’s inception in 2006.
The program aims to develop a diverse cadre of Americans with advanced linguistic skills and related cultural understanding who are able to advance international dialogue, bolster national security, contribute to U.S. economic prosperity, and build mutual understanding.

Eligibility Requirements
U.S. public and private non-profit organizations, including U.S. higher educational institutions, or consortia of such organizations, meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3), may submit proposals to cooperate with ECA in the administration and implementation of the CLS Program.

Period of Performance
The overseas CLS Institutes will take place during summer 2025 (late May to mid-August) for a duration of eight – ten weeks in country, not including the pre-program orientation.

Grant Value
$8,990,000 is anticipated for the administrative components and implementation of the CLS Program in FY 2025.

Place of Performance
The overseas CLS Institutes will be located in various regions including Near East and North Africa, East Asia and Pacific Region, Europe and Eurasia Region, South Central Asia Region, Sub-Saharan Africa Region, and Western Hemisphere Region.