***Announcing a second call for Summer 2013 FLAS applications for SOUTH ASIA and LATIN AMERICA.  Note that only students who did not apply in the first round of the competition are eligible.  Completed applications and accompanying materials must be submitted to the appropriate Dean of Students Office by 5:00 p.m. by MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013. 

Applications are available on the bottom of this page.

2013 Summer FLAS  

EAST EUROPE (Armenian, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (BCS), Czech, Georgian, Polish, Russian*, Turkish, Uzbek)

LATIN AMERICA (Haitian Kreyole, Aymara, Portuguese, Yucatec Maya; and other Amerindian languages as available)

SOUTH ASIA (Bengali, Hindi, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Tibetan, Urdu)

 MIDDLE EAST (Arabic**, Armenian, Hebrew**, Persian**, Turkish**, Uzbek

* Must have successfully completed equivalent of at least 6 quarters/4 semesters of college-level instruction in language.

 ** Must have successfully completed equivalent of at least 3 quarters/2 semesters of college-level instruction in language.

2013-14 Academic Year FLAS⁺ 

LATIN AMERICA (Haitian Kreyole, Portuguese, Yucatec Maya)

SOUTH ASIA (Bengali, Hindi, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Tibetan, Urdu)

EAST EUROPE (Armenian, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (BCS), Czech, Georgian, Polish, Russian*, Turkish, Uzbek)

MIDDLE EAST (Arabic**, Armenian, Hebrew**, Persian**, Turkish**, Uzbek

* Must have successfully completed equivalent of at least 6 quarters/4 semesters of college-level instruction in language.

 ** Must have successfully completed equivalent of at least 3 quarters/2 semesters of college-level instruction in language.

⁺NOTE: It is always in a student’s best financial interest to apply for external funding through FLAS.  While holding an ACADEMIC YEAR FLAS Fellowship, doctoral students with multi-year divisional funding packages will receive additional stipend over and above their current annual award and Master’s students will also receive additional financial benefits.  Contact your Dean of Students office for additional details.

For students in the Social Sciences, Humanities, and Divinity Divisions: While holding an ACADEMIC YEAR FLAS Fellowship, doctoral students who have a divisional fellowship stipend greater than $15,000 will receive the Divisional stipend plus the Student Life Fee, insurance, and a $3,000 bankable award for future travel/research abroad. Those with no Divisional stipend, or a Divisional stipend less than $15,000, will receive the $15,000 FLAS stipend, Student Life Fee, and insurance. 

Completed applications and accompanying materials must be submitted to the appropriate Dean of Students Office by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 1 for the Summer 2013 Latin America & South Asia Second Round Competition.  Download applications from this website and e-mail questions to Jessica Smith (jessicasmith@uchicago.edu).

Award Overview

The Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship (also known as FLAS or Title VI) is an award for students concentrating in modern foreign language and international or area studies. Institutions have to make a competitive application to the US Dept. of Education for funding in the world areas in which they want to offer languages. Thus, languages offered vary from one institution to another.

The U of C has secured funding for the following languages in 4 world areas. Due to dramatic cuts in the U.S. Department of Education international programs budget, FLAS funding cannot be guaranteed.  Awards cannot be issued without Congressional budgetary approval and formal funding notification from the U.S. Department of Education.

EAST EUROPE (Armenian, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (BCS), Czech, Georgian, Polish, Russian*, Turkish, Uzbek)

LATIN AMERICA (Haitian Kreyole, Portuguese, Yucatec Maya; summer to include K’iche’ Maya)

MIDDLE EAST (Arabic*, Hebrew*, Persian*, Turkish*)

SOUTH ASIA (Bengali, Hindi, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Tibetan, Urdu)

There are two FLAS Fellowships available at the University of Chicago: academic-year and summer.

Academic Year FLAS

• Students must be enrolled in the language of award each quarter and earn a grade of B or better.
• Students must combine language study with area studies, international studies, or the international aspects of professional study for at least one course during the AY in which they hold a FLAS.
• Fellowships are awarded for nine months beginning in the Autumn Quarter and include a stipend, tuition, and required health clinic and student activity fees.

Summer FLAS

• Students must enroll in a program of intensive study for at least 6 weeks, which offers a minimum of 140 contact hours of instruction at the beginning or intermediate level, and 120 contact hours of instruction at the advanced level.
• Students can study either in the US or abroad (*Note: beginning level students cannot study abroad unless instruction is not available in the US).
• For programs abroad, students must receive approval for the language program and for travel on an American carrier (if funds are provided for travel).
• For summer study in the US, studetns can apply for FLAS fellowships from any institution offering FLAS summer fellowships.
• Awards offer a stipend of $2,500, tuition up to $5,000, and some travel if there are sufficient funds.

Eligibility

Academic Year and Summer FLAS applicants must be:

• Be a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the US;
• Be erolled at an institution receiving an allocation of FLAS fellowships;
• enrolled in an institution receiving FLAS funds;
• Be not beyond the fifth year of graduate study in a department or professional school while holding the award;
• Be in a program that combines modern foreign language training with area or international studies or research and training in the international aspects of professional and other fields of study;
• Show high potential for academic achievement;
• Complete a Performance Report as required by the U.S. Department of Education;
• Be subject to University regulations concerning part-time employment, contingent on approval from his/her Dean of Students;
• *Have generally had prior language experience of the following languages prior to receiving a FLAS: Russian, Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Turkish.

Application Information

FOR SUMMER 2013 LATIN AMERICA & SOUTH ASIA SECOND ROUND COMPETITION: By 5 p.m. on Monday, April 1, applicants must submit the following materials to their Deans of Students Offices:

• Application form
• Statement of purpose
• Graduate transcript

Please note that Deans of Students will accept faxed or emailed letters of recommendation. They should be sent directly to your Dean of Students.

Patrick Hall , Dean of Students, Social Sciences
Fax: 773-834-3509
email ssd-dos@uchicago.edu

Adrianne Renberg, Associate Dean of Students, Humanities
Fax: 773-834-9148
email humdos@uchicago.edu

Terri Owens, Dean of Students, Divinity School
Fax: 773-834-4581
email: tdowens@uchicago.edu

Referees must submit the following:

• language recommendation
• academic recommendation

Note: Applicants who apply for both an Academic Year and a Summer FLAS Fellowship must submit a separate summer application; however only one set of references and one transcript is necessary.

You may download 2013-14 applications here: Academic Year FLAS for In-Residence Students (PDF), Academic Year FLAS for Newly Entering Students (PDF), Summer FLAS (PDF). For more information, visit the appropriate Area Center (listed below), your Dean of Students Office, or Graduate Student Affairs.