Academic Year Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship

Fellowship Information

Graduate Academic Year Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships provide funding to students enrolled in a graduate degree program at Stanford University 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. These fellowships are funded with a grant from the U.S. Department of Education under Title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. The purpose of the FLAS program is to promote the training of students who intend to make their careers in college or university teaching, government service, or other employment where knowledge of foreign languages and cultures is essential. Stanford petitions the Department of Education for FLAS fund allocations, and CREEES administers the funds awarded for Russia, East Europe and Eurasia related grants.

Eligibility and Terms

Eligibility

To be considered for a FLAS fellowship, an applicant must:

  1. be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. or a permanent resident of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands;
  2. be enrolled in an advanced degree program at Stanford University during the award period;
  3. be enrolled in approved foreign language courses at the second-year level or higher (or introductory level of a second area language if the student already has demonstrated  advanced-level proficiency in another area language, with special permission by the Department of Education program officer for these cases) during the award period;
  4. be enrolled in area studies courses during the award period.

In Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies, the eligible program languages are Russian and a range of East European and Eurasian languages. If you have questions regarding whether the language you intend to study qualifies, please contact us at creeesinfo [at] stanford.edu (creeesinfo[at]stanford[dot]edu).

FLAS Funding Terms

Recipients must :

  1. be enrolled in language and area studies courses during the entire period of the award;
  2. not accept other employment if it will prolong the period of time within which the student  expects to receive the degree;
  3. undergo pre- and post-award language evaluations to be arranged by the Stanford Language Center;
  4. submit pre- and post-award performance evaluations through the Department of Education online reporting system;
  5. provide a valid non-Stanford email and agree to complete a FLAS recipient survey every 2 years for 8 years after completion of degree. 

How to Apply and Selection Criteria

How to Apply

  • To be considered for the FLAS, applicants will need to complete an application that includes the following:
    • A statement of purpose relevant specifically to the criteria of the FLAS Fellowship.
      • For CREEES MA applicants: the statement of purpose should explain to the review committee how language study fits into their overall academic/professional plans and details previous training or experience (max. 2 pages single-spaced). (For CREEES MA program applicants, this will be a separate statement in addition to the statement required by the graduate admissions application.)
      • For students in other advanced degree programs: the statement of purpose should explain to the review committee how language study, and the study of a region, fit into their overall academic/professional plans and detail previous language training or experience and area study or experience (max. 2 pages single-spaced).
    • A FAFSA Submission Summary. After submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you will be able to access the FAFSA Submission Summary once your FAFSA has been processed. (NB: The graduate admission application asks for a report called the 'SAR,' but SARs are no longer used. Instead, CREEES MA program applicants should submit the FAFSA Submission Summary in place of the SAR.)
    • Academic transcripts. (CREEES MA applicants will already have submitted these as part of the graduate admissions application.)
    • Two letters of recommendation. One letter should speak to the applicant's performance in language study, and one letter should speak to the applicant's performance in rigorous academic work. (CREEES MA applicants will already have submitted these as part of the three letters required by the graduate admissions application.)
  • To apply for the FLAS fellowship:
    • Prospective CREEES MA students will submit their FLAS application as part of the online graduate admissions application. (The FLAS application can be found within the Program Supplemental section of the graduate admissions application.)
    • Students not applying to the CREEES MA program and enrolled in another advanced degree program can apply for the FLAS fellowship using a dedicated online form.

Selection Criteria

FLAS Fellowships are awarded competitively on a merit basis through an annual fellowship competition administered by the Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies. Applications are judged first by a faculty committee at the Center and then approved by the Department of Education. All awards are subject to final Department of Education approval. Current Department of Education selection guidelines state that:

  • High priority is given to applicants in a wide variety of humanities and social sciences disciplines, as well as all professional schools, who are likely to pursue government service or enter a profession.
  • Stanford selection committee priority will be to support advanced language training (3rd year or higher).
  • Priority is given to language study as opposed to dissertation research/writing.
  • Lower priority is given to students who already possess language fluency equivalent to educated native speakers in the language for which the award is sought.
  • Financial need also will be considered as part of the review process.

2025-2026 Admission Season, Graduate MA Admission deadline, with supplemental application for FLAS funding is: January 14, 2025

Questions?

Email us at creeesinfo [at] stanford.edu (CREEES).

 

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