NSEP Boren Fellowships provide up to $30,000 to U.S. graduate students to add an important international and language component to their graduate education through specialization in area study, language study, or increased language proficiency. Boren Fellowships support study and research in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests, including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
This fellowship can serve as a gap year between your degree and a career in the U.S. federal government.
Application Timeline
The Boren Fellowship application process involves an internal campus review and interview in order for applicants to receive institutional endorsement.
First Deadline TBD: November 2024
Materials due:
- Draft of national security essay submitted on Boren Canvas site
- Draft of public service essay submitted on Boren Canvas site
Second Deadline TBD: December 2024
Materials due:
- All application materials uploaded to the Boren application portal.
- Polished draft of national security essay
- Polished draft of public service essay
- Study plan summary (250 words)
- Language plans short answer (150 words)
- Career plans short answer (100 characters)
- [OPTIONAL] Research Abstract (300 words) and Research Methodology (300 words)
- [OPTIONAL] Letter of affiliation for internship or research project
Third Deadline TBD: early January 2025
Materials due:
- letters of recommendation due (faculty must submit to Boren application portal)
- complete application submitted on the Boren application portal
Final (National) Deadline: January 22, 2025 at 4pm Central Time
Materials due:
- submission of final application on the Boren application portal
Interested applicants should email grad-fellowships@uchicago.edu as early as possible to learn about the campus process and resources and begin preparing the application. Draft statements and short answer questions must be uploaded into the Boren application portal by December 13 in order to participate in the campus interview process. Completed applications are due on January 10, 2024.
Applicants who are unable to apply through the UChicago campus process may still apply to the Boren Fellowship directly.
NSEP Boren Fellowships provide up to $30,000 to U.S. graduate students to add an important international and language component to their graduate education through specialization in area study, language study, or increased language proficiency. Boren Fellowships support study and research in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests, including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Fellowship Website:
https://www.borenawards.org/Fellowship Contact:
grad-fellowships@uchicago.edu