Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program

Application Closed

The 2025 CLS application is now closed. Applications for the 2026 CLS Program will be made available in Fall 2025. Thank you for your interest in the CLS Program. If you submitted or started an application prior to the deadline, you can log in to view your application form.

About the CLS Program

The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is an intensive language and cultural immersion group-based program for American students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. Students spend eight to ten weeks abroad studying one of a dozen critical languages. The program includes intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences designed to promote rapid language gains.

CLS Spark, an initiative of the CLS Program, provides opportunities for American undergraduate college and university students to study Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Russian virtually at the beginning level, as well as Japanese virtually at the advanced beginning level. Designed to leverage best practices in online language learning, CLS Spark provides American undergraduate students the opportunity to study critical languages virtually when they may not have access to studying these languages on their campuses.

The CLS Program is sponsored by the United States Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. The program is supported in its implementation by American Councils for International Education.

For more information about the CLS Program, please visit: www.clscholarship.org

Contact Us

Contact CLS Program staff during normal business hours Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time, at:

Email: cls@americancouncils.org
Telephone: USA 877.257.9922 (toll free) / Outside USA (+1) 202.833.7522

Please review our Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy before continuing.