Critical Language Scholarship South Africa 2025

The Critical Language Scholarship Program (CLS) is funded by the U.S. Department of State.

The CLS Program offers intensive summer language institutes abroad for American students to learn critical languages.

This scholarship program aims to increase the number of Americans studying these languages and fostering professional development in fields where these languages are important.

Critical Language Scholarship Requirements

In order for you to be considered eligible for the Critical Language Scholarship Program, you must meet the following requirements:

  1. U.S. Citizenship: You must be a U.S. citizen or national at the time of application.
  2. Age: You must be at least 18 years old by the designated date, commonly in mid-May of the program year.
  3. Enrollment: You must be enrolled in an accredited U.S. degree-granting program at the undergraduate (associate’s or bachelor’s) or graduate (master’s, doctoral, or professional) level at the time of application. This includes graduating seniors and students enrolled in one-year master’s programs.
  4. Language Requirements: You must demonstrate a strong interest and some prior experience in studying the language you wish to pursue through the program.
  5. Academic Record: You must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  6. Commitment: You must be committed to completing the entire CLS Program, which typically lasts for seven to ten weeks during the summer.
  7. Eligibility for Federal Service: You must be eligible to receive federal financial aid.

There are some other considerations to keep in mind:

  1. The CLS Program offers opportunities for students to study languages considered critical to U.S. national security and economic prosperity. You can find a current list of CLS languages on the program’s website (https://clscholarship.org/).
  2. The CLS Program also offers a separate program called CLS Spark, specifically designed for undergraduate students with limited experience in their chosen language. However, CLS Spark has a slightly different set of eligibility requirements, so be sure to check the program website for details.

How to Apply for Critical Language Scholarship

The application process for the Critical Language Scholarship Program opens in early fall and closes in mid-November. Here’s a general outline of the application steps:

  1. Review the Program Website: Familiarize yourself with the program offerings, eligibility requirements, and application deadlines by visiting the CLS Program website (https://clscholarship.org/).
  2. Choose Your Language and Location: Select the language you wish to study and your preferred program location from the available options.
  3. Prepare Application Materials: Gather the required documents, such as transcripts, essays, letters of recommendation, and any additional materials specific to the program you choose.
  4. Complete the Online Application: The CLS Program uses an online application system. You must make sure to answer all questions thoroughly and within the specified word limits.
  5. Submit Your Application: Review your application carefully before submitting it electronically by the deadline.

Critical Language Scholarship Contact 

For further inquiries or clarifications about the CLS Program, you can use the following resources:

  1. CLS Program Website: The CLS Program website (https://clscholarship.org/) is a wealth of information, including program details, eligibility requirements, and FAQs.
  2. Contact Email: You can directly contact the CLS Program at cls@americancouncils.org for any program-specific questions.
  3. Telephone: 1-202-833-7522. 1-877-257-9922 (toll-free).