The Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (CSAMES) is accepting applications for Summer 2026 Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships.
Funding for these fellowships is provided by the U.S. Department of Education's Title VI Program.
The Center provides fellowships for the study of Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish. FLAS Fellowships are awarded through competition. Graduate and undergraduate students from all departments and professional schools are encouraged to apply.
FLAS Eligibility
Graduate Students
To be eligible for FLAS as a graduate student:
- You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- You must be currently enrolled as a graduate student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and in good standing with the Graduate College OR you must have been admitted to a graduate program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (students can apply with a pending application to an Illinois graduate program but can only accept a FLAS Fellowship if admitted).
The FLAS award is generally for intermediate or advanced study of a less commonly taught language; however “an exception might be made for the beginning level of a less commonly taught language if a graduate student has achieved advanced proficiency in another language of the world area of specialization, and if learning a second language of that world area is required for the student’s overall training and expertise.”
Undergraduate Students
To be eligible for FLAS as an undergraduate student:
- You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- You must have been registered at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign during the 2025-2026 Academic Year (if planning to attend an off-campus language program for Summer 2026) or plan to register for the Summer 2026 term (if participating in an on-campus summer language program).
- You must be currently enrolled in or have a demonstrated proficiency at least at the intermediate level in the language for which you are applying. Acceptable proof of proficiency includes reference letter from a language instructor, placement test, or high school or college transcripts. Students should check with the languages department to learn what year of study is considered as intermediate for the language for which they are applying as some departments accept second year and some departments accept third year as the intermediate level.
- You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Summer Program Requirements
- CSAMES Summer 2026 FLAS awards are for language study only (specifically for Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Turkish).
CSAMES is only accepting applications for students pursuing language study at the following programs: 1) Summer Institute for Languages of the Muslim World (SILMW) at UIUC; or 2) Middlebury College.
*Please note that each program provides instruction for the following CSAMES languages:
-SILMW (UIUC): Arabic, Persian, Turkish
-Middlebury College: Arabic and Hebrew only- Programs must provide the equivalent of one year of language instruction.
- Beginning and intermediate language programs must provide a minimum of 140 contact hours of language study.
- Advanced language programs must provide a minimum of 120 contact hours of language study.
- All programs must be a minimum of six weeks.
Overall Requirements
All FLAS Fellowship recipients must:
- Complete an online periodic evaluation of the program the semester after your award and later as an alum of the program.
- Complete a biennial questionnaire for eight years after graduation, as specified by U.S. Department of Education grant requirements.
Online Application Form
You may save your form and finish it at a later time by clicking the “Save and Finish Later” button on the bottom of the screen. You will receive an email with a link to return to the form. This email is the only way you can access the saved form.
- In order to move between the previous and next pages, all of the required information must be filled out on the current application page.
- The online application form allows you to upload the following:
- Statement of Purpose (1 to 2 page maximum). Essays should describe how the proposed language study fits in with your field of study and relates to the goals and priorities of CSAMES; how you intend to use the language; and how the language will contribute to your ultimate career goals. Please also describe your previous language learning experiences (formal and informal).
- Unofficial transcripts, including the fall semester of this year, (Illinois and any other schools you have attended).
- FAFSA Confirmation Page. We will assume zero financial need for those students who do not complete a FAFSA.
Please note that students are urged to submit customized essays and recommendation letters that are specific to FLAS as it will enhance the competitiveness of their application.
The online application closes at 11:59 p.m. CT on Saturday, January 31, 2026. The application and materials listed above must be submitted by this time. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Letters of Recommendation
Two (2) letters of recommendation are required:
- Letter from your academic advisor (preferred) or a professor in your field or major. This should be someone with whom you have worked closely and who can speak to your work in your chosen field of study.
- Letter from your current or most recent language instructor. If you are applying for the beginning level of a language, you may use a recommender who can best speak to your ability to learn and passion for languages.
Letters of recommendation should be submitted by the recommenders via the upload link provided below. Your application will be considered incomplete without these letters of recommendation.
Do not submit more letters of recommendation than are required. CSAMES will not review additional letters of recommendation.
You are responsible for providing your recommenders with instructions on how to submit a letter of recommendation. We suggest contacting your recommenders and providing them with information as early as possible. We also suggest sending your recommenders your personal statement.
*Consider copying and pasting these instructions and sending them to your recommender:
Instructions: Letters of Recommendation are due by 11:59 p.m. CT, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Letters of recommendation should be submitted electronically here: CSAMES FLAS Recommender Upload
The filename should be labeled as follows: LastName, FirstName – HomeDeptAbbrev – FLASFellow – RecommenderInitials.pdf.
Example: Smith, Jane – Political Sci – FLASFellow – AW.pdf
Important Dates
Applications Due: Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CT
Letters of Recommendation Due: Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CT
Award/Alternate/Rejection Letters Sent: Spring Semester 2026
Questions about application can be directed to FLAS Coordinator Maha Chahine at chahine2@illinois.edu.