The Foreign Language & Area Studies Fellowship will support one UCLA undergraduate student to study a Southeast Asian language and area studies courses in AY 2021-2022. Deadline: June 30, 2021

The U.S. Department of Education Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowship program supports training in modern foreign languages and related area studies.  

The Academic Year 2021-2022 Undergraduate FLAS Fellowship provides a total award of $15,000 to one undergraduate student. The FLAS Fellowship requires that the student take Southeast Asia language and one area studies course every quarter for the entire year. Continuing undergraduate students in any major may apply for Intermediate or Advanced levels of language study. 

 Currently approved SEA languages are Indonesian, Filipino/Tagalog, Khmer, Thai and Vietnamese. (Intermediate Khmer is available at UCLA via distance learning from UC Berkeley during the academic year.) 

Students must also agree to submit quarterly reports on their progress, submit before and after language assessments to the U.S. Department of Education, take a before and after oral proficiency examination with a designated instructor, and report to the U.S. Department of Education every two years for eight years after graduation on the recipient’s occupation and the extent to which the FLAS language is being used. 

Eligibility

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents.
• Recipents must enroll in full-time study for the duration of their award period.

Since the purpose of the FLAS program is to enrich the nation’s pool of area and international specialists, applicants must be planning to use their training to teach, to serve in government or international agencies, or to engage in other work that advances American understanding of other countries.

Selection for the award is based on the following criteria:

• Academic performance and potential as evidenced by academic transcript, letters of recommendation, and statement of purpose;
• The extent to which overall course of study focuses on Southeast Asia;
• The level of planned language study. More advanced levels are preferred;
• Financial need as determined by past financial aid levels;
• Past awardees may reapply.

These grants may be combined with supplementary funding from UCLA and/or other funding agencies. However in cases of parallel large grants, recipients will have to decide which grant to accept and pairing will not be allowed. Grantees are required to inform the Center of any awards received during the FLAS fellowship period. 

Required application materials include:

• 1-2 page (double-spaced) statement of purpose outlining primary research interests and explaining how language study will enhance the project and/or career goals;
• 2 academic/professional letters of recommendation;
• unofficial UCLA transcripts and from other institutions (community colleges) for previous college coursework;
• resume.

Application materials and letters of recommendation must be submitted by the deadline. Please review the FLAS Frequently Asked Questions. For more information, contact Nguyet Tong ntong@international.ucla.edu. 

  Submit application materials to cseas@international.ucla.edu by August 13, 2021.