Summer FLAS

GRADUATE STUDENTS FLAS FELLOWSHIP

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS FLAS FELLOWSHIP

Berkeley students are encouraged to take languages not available at UC Berkeley through the use of a summer FLAS at an institution that has a FLAS eligible program, including programs abroad. UC Berkeley students are encouraged to take their summer study at South Asian Studies Language Institute (SASLI) held at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, if the language is offered.

Non-Berkeley students are welcome to apply for a summer FLAS at Berkeley for intensive first-year Hindi.

The summer FLAS award should provide each fellow with the equivalent of a full academic year’s worth of language instruction. Students at the beginning and intermediate levels must have at least 140 contact hours, while advanced students must have at least 120 contact hours of language study. All language instruction programs must meet for a minimum of 6 weeks. Summer awards are not available for dissertation research.

Graduate students wishing to use an award for a formal study abroad program must be at the intermediate or advanced level of language proficiency, or at the beginning level if an appropriate beginning language program is not available in the U.S. Prior approval from the U.S. Department of Education is required for all FLAS language study abroad.

Bulletins and applications for Summer Session at UC Berkeley are available online. Summer FLAS Fellowships may be awarded for intensive language study at other universities, including foreign universities, with prior approval from the U.S. Department of Education. Students are responsible for meeting admission and registration deadlines, if applicable.

Summer FLAS Fellowships are available to undergraduate students at the intermediate or advanced level of a critical or less commonly taught language.

The summer FLAS award should provide each fellow with the equivalent of a full academic year’s worth of language instruction. Students at the intermediate level must have at least 140 contact hours, while advanced students must have at least 120 contact hours of language study. All language instruction programs must meet for a minimum of 6 weeks. Undergraduate students may use an award for a formal study abroad program at the intermediate or advanced level of a critical or less commonly taught language. Prior approval from the U.S. Department of Education is required for all FLAS language study abroad. Summer awards are not available for research.

Bulletins and applications for Summer Session at UC Berkeley are available online. Summer FLAS Fellowships may be awarded for intensive language study at other universities, including foreign universities, with prior approval from the U.S. Department of Education. Students are responsible for meeting admission and registration deadlines, if applicable.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible applicants must be students and citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States. Students in programs that combine modern language training with 1) area or international studies, or 2) research and training in the international aspects of professional or other fields of study, including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, are encouraged to apply.

Lowest consideration is given to: students who already possess language fluency equivalent to educated native speakers in the language for which the award is sought

UC Berkeley may fund a graduate student from another institution to take a language course here at Berkeley. 

Berkeley students are encouraged to take languages not available at UC Berkeley through the use of a summer FLAS at an institution that has a FLAS eligible program, including programs abroad. UC Berkeley students are encouraged to take their summer study at South Asian Studies Language Institute (SASLI) held at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, if the language is offered. 

Non-Berkeley students are welcome to apply for a summer FLAS at Berkeley for intensive first-year Hindi.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible applicants must be students and citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States. Students in programs that combine modern language training with 1) area or international studies, or 2) research and training in the international aspects of professional or other fields of study, including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, are encouraged to apply.

Lowest consideration is given to: students who already possess language fluency equivalent to educated native speakers in the language for which the award is sought.

FLAS Award are open to undergraduates studying a South Asian language at the Intermediate or Advanced level. Incoming junior and seniors preferred either majoring or minoring in South Asian Studies through the Department of South & Southeast Asian Studies, or majoring in a discipline represented by the core faculty of the Center for South Asia Studies (Anthropology; Energy and Resources Group; English; Economics; Ethnic Studies; Geography; History; History of Art; Music; Sociology; Political Science; Urban Planning).

FAFSA

Competitive preference is given to applicants who demonstrate financial need as evidenced by submission of the FAFSA.

AWARD

The Summer FLAS Fellowship covers language program fees up to $5,000 and provides a stipend of $2,500

APPLICATION

FLAS Fellowships are awarded competitively on merit basis through an annual fellowship competition administered by the Title VI National Resource Centers. 

THE DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF THE APPLICATION AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS IS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019.

The application requirements are:

• Online application
• 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) 
• Two letters of recommendation 
• Page 1 of the Student Aid Report (SAR) from the 2018-2019 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 

For more information, contact Sanchita Saxena at sanchitas@berkeley.edu.

GRADUATE STUDENT APPLICANT - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. What should I look for when researching language programs?
A. The summer FLAS award should provide each fellow with the equivalent of a full academic year’s worth of language of instruction. Programs should be a minimum of 6 weeks in length. Students at the beginning and intermediate levels are expected to attend programs offering a minimum of 140 contact hours, while advanced students need 120 hours of instruction.

Q. How do I obtain approval of my language program from the U.S. Department of Education?
A. The appropriate Title VI National Resource Center is responsible for seeking approval from the U.S. Department of Education after you have accepted the fellowship offer. You are strongly advised not to make irrevocable travel arrangements prior to receiving official approval from the U.S. Department of Education.

Q. I am a first-year graduate student. What transcripts do I submit?
A. Provide photocopies of your undergraduate transcript as well as any transcripts for graduate course work taken. Be sure to cross out your social security number if it is on your transcript.

Q. Do I need to submit a FAFSA to apply for a FLAS Fellowship?
A. Competitive preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate financial need as evidenced by submission of the FAFSA by the time of application. Include with your application Page 1 of your Student Aid Report (SAR).

Q. When will I expect to hear that I received the summer FLAS?
A. Awards will be announced in April.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT APPLICANT - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. What should I look for when researching language programs?
A. The summer FLAS award should provide each fellow with the equivalent of a full academic year’s worth of language of instruction. Programs should be a minimum of 6 weeks in length. Students at the intermediate level are expected to attend programs offering a minimum of 140 contact hours, while advanced students need 120 hours of instruction.

Q. How do I obtain approval of my language program from the U.S. Department of Education?
 A. The Title VI National Resource Center is responsible for seeking approval from the U.S. Department of Education after you have accepted the fellowship offer. You are strongly advised not to make irrevocable travel arrangements prior to receiving official approval from the U.S. Department of Education.

Q. I am an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley. Can I apply for a summer FLAS?
A. Yes. Undergraduate students may also apply for a summer FLAS if they are at the intermediate or advanced level of study of a less commonly taught language, which is defined by the U.S. Department of Education as any language other than English, Spanish, German, or French. Because not all world area centers offer summer FLAS to undergraduates, consult the list of world area centers for specific eligibility and application details relevant to the proposed language of study.

Q. Do I need to submit a FAFSA to apply for a FLAS Fellowship?
A. Competitive preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate financial need as evidenced by submission of the FAFSA by the time of application. Include with your application Page 1 of your Student Aid Report (SAR).

Q. When do I expect to hear that I have received the summer FLAS?
 A. Awards will be announced in April.