Award Description
Boren Scholarships provide U.S. citizen undergraduate students with resources and encouragement to acquire skills and experiences in areas of the world critical to future security of our nation, in exchange for commitment to seek work in the federal government.
The National Security Education Program (NSEP) awards Boren Undergraduate Scholarships to U.S. undergraduates for study of world regions including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East, but excludes countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Boren Awards encourage the study of "critical languages" in study abroad programs as a core element of the grant. These critical languages typically include those less commonly taught in the United States.

Award Details
Maximum awards are determined by duration abroad:
- Up to $25,000 for 25-52 weeks (preferred)
- Up to $12,500 for 12-24 weeks
- Up to $8,000 for 8-11 weeks (STEM majors only)
Eligibility
Applicants must be U.S. citizens enrolled in accredited undergraduate degree programs. Boren scholars must remain matriculated in their undergraduate programs for the duration of the scholarship and may not graduate until the scholarship is complete.
Application Timeline
The Boren Undergraduate Scholarship Application requires a university interview and endorsement. Please contact LeAnn Adam to discuss your interest in applying.
Timeline:
- OSU Campus Deadline: January tbd, 2025 (optional)
- Boren National Deadline: January 29, 2025
- Notification: April 2025
Get Started
The Boren awards host webinars and information sessions for prospective applicants.
Contact LeAnn Adam or Becca Otto in National and Global Scholarships Advising to talk about how to begin your application!