Language in a world that is increasingly interconnected goes beyond being a medium of communication; it becomes a bridge to worlds of understanding, career-making, and global relationships. The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is an eminent initiative by the U.S. Department of State that provides fully funded summer language immersion experiences to motivated U.S. undergraduate and graduate students.
This program changes lives; it opens up languages important to national security, economic progress, and international engagement for students’ learning. Since 2006, CLS has brought nearly 10,000 students side by side to conquer mastery of a world language and develop intercultural competence, all highly coveted resources across industries among employers.
Importance of The CLS Program
More than 500 students from across the United States take part in the transformative experience every year learning one of the critically important languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Korean, Japanese, etc., for about eight weeks overseas or online.
Such an approach is what makes CLS truly one-of-a-kind; as a result, students need to attend the program for only two months to acquire a full year’s worth of schooling in the foreign language of their choice. It’s not just about textbooks; it’s about real, cultural, and personal immersion.
Who Can Apply for the CLS Program?
The CLS Program is open to students who meet the following eligibility criteria:
| Eligibility Requirements | Details |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | Must be a U.S. citizen or national |
| Age | Must be 18 years or older by May of the program year |
| Enrollment | Must be enrolled in an accredited U.S. undergraduate or graduate program |
| Application Limit | Can apply for one language and one format (in-person or virtual) only |
| Undergraduate Coursework | Must have completed at least one year of college before the program begins |
Critical Language Scholarship(CLS) Program Future
Culture isn’t just language: the CLS program is also about the future.
Gain Real-World Skills
CLS Scholars master communication skills, cultural knowledge, and adaptability for the job market.
For building a purposeful career
These critical language skills put you at an advantage, whether you dream of working in government, global business, education, or the nonprofit world.
Become a Citizen Diplomat
Thus, CLS agents are not just students; they represent the United States abroad and promote mutual understanding through direct engagement with people in different parts of the world.
What is CLS Spark? New Virtual Opportunity
It is unfortunate that not every campus offers critical language instruction. Enter CLS Spark, which is designed specifically for beginners and will provide virtual instruction in Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Russian. Now, this initiative will ensure that more students will be able to access world-class language education without having to go to their university.
Critical Language Scholarship Languages Offered
Celebrating the 2025 Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program Awardees
With the official announcement of the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program 2025, a major U.S. Department of State initiative, almost 600 students in the United States find their lives forever changed. Selected from over 5,500 enthusiastic applicants, these students now look forward to an education that extends far beyond the four walls of a classroom.
A Fully Funded Path to Global Fluency: The CLS Program provides more than just a scholarship; it provides a gateway to allowing personal growth, professional excellence, and global connectivity. Each summer, more than 550 students enrolled in universities and graduate schools in the United States undertake intensive language studies in-person or virtually, depending on the language track. These intensive programs last about 8 weeks and grant one full academic year of language credit.
Language is power in a highly interconnected world. Building bridges across cultures is paramount in diplomacy, economic opportunity, and security. The CLS Program focuses on languages that are at the heart of American national interests, including Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and others that are rarely offered in the usual school curriculum.
By mastering these strategically crucial languages, CLS alumni refine their potential contributions to international relations, global business, security, public service, and even beyond.
The 2025 cohort thus includes participants of CLS Spark, the online version of the same program, in order to facilitate the presence of students who would be unable to travel otherwise. Scholars studying online in Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Russian gain cultural and professional language skills that are globally relevant in today’s labor market.
Not just an academic opportunity, the CLS Program empowers students to be global citizens. Alumni are encouraged to continue learning languages in practical settings where their language skills will be an asset to cross-cultural communication. International law, humanitarian intervention, and much more: CLS really opens wide the doors for all such careers.
Since its inception in 2006, the program has supported almost 10,000 students from all of the 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico, and provided them with the tools for success in a restless fast-paced world.
Driven by Partnership and Purpose
The CLS Program, administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State in collaboration with the American Councils for International Education, continues to assert the importance of linguistic and cultural exchange to diplomacy and peacebuilding.
For more information visit the Critical Language Scholarship Program website.