Details

The language study grant is open to Cornell graduate and undergraduate students. The EAP East Asian Language Study Grant can be used either at Cornell or another institution. The grant provides program fees and a stipend for intensive language study of an East Asian language. The grant is similar to a Summer FLAS award, but can also be used during the academic year.

Eligibility

There are no citizenship restrictions for the EAP Area Studies Fellowships or the Language Study Grant.

Application Guidelines

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure the timely submission of the following materials by the application deadline. Incomplete files and materials received after the deadline may not be considered.

1. Online application: All required information on the application and a project proposal (.doc or .pdf file upload) that includes project budget (estimated costs of program and living expenses), program information and justification where applicable, statement of purpose, proposed courses of studies where applicable.
2. Two letters of recommendation (including one from a current language instructor): Please note, you are responsible for contacting your recommenders to request a letter of recommendation, and for the letters being received by the application deadline.

The project title should start with the applicant's surname (e.g., "Lee") and be descriptive of the course of study/research proposed (e.g., "fall semester document research at Tsinghua University").

• The project abstract should start with "East Asian Language Study Grant." The abstract should give a short but concise summary of what the applicant proposes to do if awarded a language study grant. The first paragraph should summarize what, when, where, how, and why. If the project is to take courses at Cornell or elsewhere, the project abstract should say so and give an idea of what types of courses. In the case of a research project away from Cornell, the project abstract should state where and when this research will take place. Applicants are expected to outline the expected costs of their project within their application proposal.
• If you plan to use the grant somewhere other than Cornell, please include a budget for your project in the project abstract.
• The full project proposal should not exceed five pages or 1,500 words. and should include a title with the name of the applicant and the title of the project. The opening paragraph of the proposal should include a summary description of the proposed activities and their significance to the applicant's graduate career.
• Online applications can be saved and edited anytime up to the deadline. Do not forget to submit your final application. Students will no longer be able to edit their application after the deadline. Applicants will see all of their applications on their dashboard, which will also indicate when recommendations have been completed.

FAQs

Details

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program sends U.S. citizens to more than 160 countries to study, research, and teach English abroad. 

With a unique focus on mutual understanding between people of different backgrounds and cultures, the program offers the freedom to curate your experience as you engage with your host community.  

The Einaudi Center provides counseling, essay feedback, and application support to help your Fulbright application succeed, even if you are preparing your application at a distance as a study abroad student or recent graduate. Our Fulbright advisor offers guidance throughout the year and hosts info sessions about Fulbright opportunities each semester.  

Fulbright Facts

Cornell University is a Fulbright Top Producing Institution. One in four Cornell applicants wins an award. The national average is only one in six. This is how Cornell has sent over 600 students across the globe as part of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program since the 1940s.

Fulbrighters from Cornell have traveled to more than one hundred countries, studying topics ranging from court efficiency in Zambia to gender-based inequalities in India. Many have taught English abroad and attended international graduate programs in other languages.

Application Opens

March 31, 2026

Deadline

August 17, 2026 at 8 a.m. (ET)

Eligibility

United States citizens in any field of study are eligible. In addition, you must fulfill one of the following criteria:

• You will graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Cornell before September of the award year.
• You are currently a Cornell graduate student.
• You are a young professional who graduated from Cornell within the past five years.

Day in the Life: U.S. Student Program

How to Apply 

Cornell applicants must apply through the Cornell Fulbright Program, managed by the Einaudi Center. Reach out to our Fulbright advisor to get started. We provide counseling, essay reviews, and application support to all applicants, including study abroad students and alumni, for every type of application. 

Details

Achieve language fluency with the help of a Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowship. You’ll gain valuable knowledge about cultures and countries in which your language is commonly used, while developing skills in a language critical to the needs of the United States. 

The Einaudi Center’s South Asia Program and Southeast Asia Program are U.S. Department of Education National Resource Centers. Only NRCs may offer FLAS fellowships, which we offer in South Asian and Southeast Asian languages.

Deadlines

• Academic year: Apply by March 31, 2025
• Summer: Apply by February 19, 2025 (closed—decisions pending)

Amount

• Graduate academic year: $20,000, plus a tuition allowance of $18,000.
• Undergraduate academic year: $5,000, plus a tuition allowance of $10,000.
• Summer (graduate or undergraduate): $3,500, plus fees and tuition allowance of up to $5,000. 

Eligibility

Graduate and undergraduate students are eligible. You must fulfill the following requirements:  

• Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
• Complete a FAFSA prior to the FLAS deadline. 

To be a successful applicant, you need to show potential for high academic achievement and agree to pursue full-time study of a language in accordance with the university’s requirements. You also need to demonstrate that you meet the necessary language training requirements. (Lowest priority will be given to a candidate who is a native speaker of the language for which an award is sought.)  

Academic year fellowships for undergraduates are offered in South Asia Program languages only. The fellowship may be used overseas only if you receive prior approval from the U.S. Department of Education to enroll in an advanced program established by a U.S. institution.

Fellowship Terms

• Enroll in a South/Southeast Asian language course and a three or more credit South/Southeast Asian Area Studies Course during both the Fall and Spring semesters.
• Doctoral candidates can qualify for a "Dissertation Research Abroad" or "Dissertation Writing at Home" award, as long as they are at an advanced level in a South/Southeast Asian language and will be intensely engaging with that language in their research or writing.

How to Apply

You may apply for both fellowship periods by submitting two applications. In your application, please indicate the language level you intend to study during the award period. 

Apply to SAP: FLAS

Apply to SEAP: FLAS