Boren Scholarship
Boren Scholarships provide unique funding opportunities for US undergraduate students to add an important international and language component to their education. (A similar award, the Boren Fellowship, is available to graduate students.) Boren Scholarships provide up to $25,000 to U.S. undergraduate students to study abroad in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin American and the Middle East. The countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are excluded.
In exchange for fellowship funding, all Boren Scholars must agree to the NSEP Service Requirement. This stipulates that an award recipient work in the Federal Government in a position with national security responsibilities. The duration of the NSEP Service Requirement is one year or the duration of assistance provided under the program.
- Applicants must be US citizens.
- Scholarship applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program in the US.
- Fellowship applicants must be either enrolled in or applying to a graduate degree program in the US.
Applications are submitted online and include:
- Two statements of purpose
- Budget
- Study abroad program description
- Two letters of recommendation (third letter optional)
- Official college transcripts
- Language proficiency form (optional)
Applicants will be evaluated on their academic record and potential to succeed in the proposed study abroad program; commitment to international education to fulfill academic and career goals; language interest and aptitude, and the quality and appropriateness of the proposed program and its relevance to the National Security Education Program (NSEP). Applicants should identify how their projects, as well as their future academic and career goals, will contribute to U.S. national security. NSEP draws on a broad definition of national security, recognizing that the scope of national security has expanded to include not only the traditional concerns of protecting and promoting American well-being, but also the challenges of global society, including sustainable development, environmental degradation, global disease and hunger, population growth and migration, and economic competitiveness.
University of Idaho Deadline: January (contact Distinguished Scholarships Coordinator for exact date)
Foundation Deadline:
- Fellowship: January (see foundation website for exact date)
- Scholarship: January (see foundation website for exact date)
The online application is usually released in May. The full application must be submitted online and supplementary materials given to the Distinguished Scholarships Coordinator by the U of I internal deadline. On-campus interviews are generally in mid to late January. Arrangements can be made for those who are studying away or are otherwise unavailable for a campus interview at this time, but advanced notice is required. Following the campus interview, applicants will be able to revise their application prior to the foundation deadline. Scholarship recipients are announced in April.