Boren Fellowships - Graduate

About the Boren Fellowships

Boren Fellowships provide up to $25,000 for up to one year of language study & research in world regions critical to U.S. interests abroad. Boren's list of preferred languages and preferred countries seek to encourage study in areas that are underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

Note: The Boren Fellowship is very similar to the Boren Scholarship for undergraduates, though the Fellowship offers additional support for research abroad & funding for intensive domestic language prep programs to be completed the summer before beginning programs abroad.

Boren Fellows represent a vital pool of highly motivated individuals who wish to work in the federal national security arena. In exchange for funding, Boren Fellows commit to working in the federal government for at least one year after graduation. Read more about the eligibility requirements  and selection criteria on the Boren website.

Note: Programs 12-24 weeks in length are eligible for $12,500 in funding. Programs exceeding 24 weeks are eligible for the full amount of $25,000. Read more about Boren's program length requirements on their webpage.

When looking for study abroad programs to include in your Boren application, the Reves Center is a valuable resource for identifying W&M-sponsored programs. For programs not organized by William & Mary, please consult Boren's list of recently funded language programs by country.

Campus Nomination Process

Overview: All students seeking a W&M endorsement must complete their application through Boren's online application portal by the campus deadline.

All materials, including letters of recommendation, must be complete in the online system by the campus deadline. After the campus deadline, all students with completed applications uploaded in the portal will be offered a campus interview to receive feedback on their materials as well as a completed campus evaluation form.

Application Format: The application is completed in Boren’s application portal.

Note: Applicants should have their completed materials uploaded by the campus deadline, but should not submit them. The Assistant Director for Fellowships in the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs will be able to see all applications in Boren's online system,so there is no need to submit before the national deadline.

Deadlines and Timeline:

• October - December: Make an appointment for fellowship advising during the fall semester to strategize about your application and to review drafts of your essays. Starting early is important since the campus deadline occurs before the start of the spring semester just after the new year.
• Sunday, January 5 by 11:59 p.m.: Campus Application Deadline: Your complete application and supporting materials should be uploaded in Boren's online application portal by this date in order to be eligible for campus review.
• Early to mid-January: Campus committee reviews & interviews take place.

Campus evaluations: Boren does not require applicants to secure campus evaluation forms. However, participating in the campus review process, and securing a campus evaluation, provides applicants an opportunity to receive feedback from our campus committee. Further, the campus evaluation form provides Boren reviewers additional insight about applications & applicant's unique qualifications.

National Application Process

The 2025 Boren Fellowship national deadline is January 22nd at 5pm EST. By this time, Boren Fellowship applicants must submit their completed applications in Boren's application portal.

All students must meet the campus deadline in order to be eligible to participate in the campus review process. Please visit Boren's website to learn more about the Boren Fellowship, including details about the award, eligibility details, and the program preference process.