Foreign Language & Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships

• to assist in the development of knowledge, resources, and the training of personnel for modern foreign language and area/international studies;
• to stimulate the attainment of foreign language acquisition and fluency; and
• to develop a pool of international experts to meet national needs.

Howard University graduate and undergraduate students who are US citizens, nationals and permanent residents are eligible for academic year and summer fellowships. Students from other US universities who are US citizens, nationals and permanent residents are eligible only for summer fellowships. Summer fellowships are tenable only at an approved NRC institution or study abroad project.

All candidates must demonstrate a strong academic record based on GPA, strong motivation for language study and high potential for advanced proficiency. The NRC also considers financial need in making allocations.
 

Please note: The Academic Year program is subject to funding from the U.S. Department of Education.

Eligibility:

• Be a full-time Howard University graduate or undergraduate student.
• Be a US citizen, national or permanent resident.
• Be enrolled in an African language course each semester. 
• Be enrolled in an African area studies (non-language) course each semester. 
• FLAS funds can only be allotted to students in the intermediate or advanced levels. The applicant must have at least one semester of the African language studied. An exception might be made for graduate students engaged in beginner-level study, but only when:
  • The student already has advanced proficiency in another language related to the student’s field of study; and
  • Learning the new language is required for the student’s overall training and expertise.
  • Graduate students may enroll in beginner-level summer programs abroad ONLY IF equivalent instruction is not available in the U.S.at the beginning level of a less commonly taught language if the graduate student has achieved advanced proficiency in another language of the world area of specialization, and if learning a second language of that world area is required for the student’s overall training and expertise.
• All overseas program requests must be approved by the International and Foreign Language Education (IFLE) program officer at the US. Department of Education.

Please note:

• Summer fellowships provide students with an opportunity to undertake intensive African language study in any US. Department of Education (USDE) approved program.
• Summer fellowships cover tuition and fees at the host institution (up to $5,000) and provide a stipend of $3,500. Travel awards may also be available. However, the traveler must certify that their proposed international itinerary is in compliance with the Fly America Act and/or Open Skies agreement.

Eligibility:

• Only undergraduate student with at least one semester of the African language are eligible.
• Graduate students may enroll in beginner-level programs abroad ONLY IF equivalent instruction is not available in the U.S.
• A summer fellowship is awarded only for intensive language study.
• A summer fellowship may be used at a domestic program, an overseas program or both.
• All overseas program requests must be approved by the International and Foreign Language Education (IFLE) program officer at the US. Department of Education.
• Field trips and excursions cannot be used to fulfill the contact hour requirements
• Students should receive grades and credits for the language courses.
• A student may meet the required number of weeks and contact hours by attending one program, attending more than one program, or supplementing hours with private tutoring, as long as the required total number of weeks and contact hours is obtained. If a student’s plan of study includes private tutoring, the FLAS coordinator must submit a syllabus for the tutoring and the instructor’s CV.
• A summer session qualifies (domestic or overseas) as intensive language program if-
  • It is at least six weeks in duration and  offers at least 120 contact hours of instruction for students at the advance level
  • it is at least six weeks in duration and offers at least 140 contact hours for students at the beginning or intermediate level of the language.

Applicants will be favored who:

• have clear promise of completing their academic program with concentration in African language and area studies,
• plan to utilize their training for research in Africa,
• have excellent academic records as evidenced by GPA, letters of recommendations and
• demonstrate a financial need.​

Applications are open for Summer 2025 and Academic year 2025/2026!

The Summer 2025 application deadline is December 10, 2024.

The Academic year 2025/2026 application deadline is December 10, 2024.

In order to complete the online application form, you will need to register on the hucfas.org website and submit the application form including the following items:

• Two references - You are encouraged to contact your references before entering their contact information and generating automatic emails from the online application system requesting to complete the referral.
• A statement of purpose (500 words max). Your interest in Africa and/or African languages; how the FLAS award will contribute to the work in your concentration, your research, and/or your future professional study/career aspirations; and specifically, how you intend to use your knowledge of the language proposed for study. Provide a separate statement of purpose for each application.
• Current copies of transcripts from your academic institutions. Official copy not necessary. (PDF or MS-DOC format)
• Copy of your registration for an African Language and African area study course. (PDF or MS-DOC format)
• Current resume or CV- 2 pages maximum. (PDF or MS-DOC format)
• Copy of confirmation page for submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - ONLY confirmation page, not the entire application. (PDF or MS-DOC format)
• Proof of citizenship. For example: copy of passport, birth certificate, naturalization certificate, certificate of citizenship, US permanent resident card (green card). (PDF or MS-DOC format)
   

An institution shall terminate a fellowship if:

• The fellow is not making satisfactory progress, is no longer enrolled, or is no longer in good standing at the institution; or
• The fellow fails to follow the course of study – including modern foreign language study – for which he or she applied, unless a revised course of study is otherwise approvable under the FLAS regulations. (Reference: 657.34 (a)(b))

If you have questions about the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships, read the FAQ page here. 

For Questions regarding FLAS, contact:
Dr. Phiwokuhle Mnyandu, Assistant Director
Center for African Studies, Howard University
phiwokuhle.mnyandu@howard.edu

To learn about the African language classes and programs offered through the Department of World Languages and Cultures at Howard, please contact:
Dr. Esther Mukewa Lisanza, Program of African Languages Coordinator
Department of World Languages and Cultures, Howard University 
estherlisanza@howard.edu
(202) 806-4121