The Institute for South Asia Studies invites graduate and undergraduate students at UC Berkeley to apply for the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships for the Summer 2026 semester. FLAS Fellowships provide funding to students to encourage the study of critical and less commonly taught foreign languages in combination with area studies, international studies or international aspects of professional studies.
Award Amount
Awardees will receive a $3,500 stipend and up to $5,000 towards their summer program tuition fees. Travel awards of up to $1,000 may also be available.
Eligibility
Students must be a US citizen or permanent resident to apply for funding. Priority will be given to students who:
- Are applying for a pre-approved language (Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Tibetan, or Urdu)
- Are at the intermediate (second year) level or higher in language study
- Intend to use the fellowship for an in-person domestic program or private tutoring
Students who do not meet these criteria are still welcome to apply. However, ISAS cannot guarantee approval of additional languages, overseas or online programs, or other circumstances that require approval by the Department of Education.
Award Requirements
All award recipients will be required to complete the regular FLAS requirements:
- They must enroll in a program of intensive language study (meaning at least six weeks long and 140 contact hours at the beginning or intermediate level, or 120 hours at the advanced level.)
- They must complete a pre- and post-course language assessment
- They must complete a post-course grade report
Application:
Applicants should submit the following through the online application portal.
- Language program information
- Statement of purpose of no more than 1,000 words, outlining your academic plans, career goals and area of specialization, and providing any additional information that may aid the selection committee in evaluating your application. You must indicate what relevance the study of the language of application has to the preparation to your academic program, chosen career and/or future goals.
- Transcript(s)
- One letter of recommendation
- Submission Summary from the 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)