STARTALK Study Abroad Scholarship

The STARTALK Study Abroad Scholarship program is a language education scholarship program that offers students an opportunity to learn and immerse themselves in language and culture while receiving financial support for their studies.

STARTALK is a federal language education scholarship program funded by the National Security Agency (NSA) and was established in 2006 to increase the number of U.S. citizens who can speak, read, and write critical-need foreign languages such as Chinese, Persian, Mandarin Arabic, Hindi, Russian, and Farsi.

The scholarship program is an initiative aimed at enhancing the language skills of American students studying languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Persian, Russian, Turkish, Urdu, and more.

The STARTALK Study Abroad Scholarship places a lot of emphasis on cultural immersion. Participants are encouraged to engage with local communities, visit historical sites, explore cultural traditions, and gain a deeper understanding of intercultural skills.

The program typically lasts between six to eight weeks and includes intensive language classes, cultural activities, and opportunities for language practice with native speakers. The scholarship covers all of the costs associated with the program, including tuition, travel, housing, and meals.

Who is Eligible?

1. Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
2. Applicants must have a strong interest and commitment to learning a critical language.
3. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.5.
4. High school students, undergraduate students, and graduate students are eligible applicants for the scholarship.

How to Apply?

1. Visit the STARTALK website to explore the study abroad programs available for the desired critical language. Click here to visit the website
2. Take note of the application deadlines, program duration, and eligibility requirements specific to each program.
3. Complete the online application form provided on the STARTALK website.

Benefits of the STARTALK Study Abroad Scholarship:

1. The study abroad experience allows participants to fully immerse themselves in the language they are learning. By living and studying in a foreign country, students can fully absorb the language and culture of the target country, which greatly enhances their language proficiency.
2. By engaging with local communities, participants gain firsthand experience of the culture, traditions, and customs associated with the target language and are better equipped to work and communicate effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds
3. The STARTALK program brings together students from various backgrounds, providing a platform for networking and building lifelong connections. Interacting with fellow language enthusiasts and professionals in the field can open doors to future academic and career opportunities as well as provide the participants with cross-country competencies.

Participants receive high-quality instruction from experienced teachers and have ample opportunities to practice their language skills in real-life situations.

The STARTALK Study Abroad Scholarship program presents a wonderful opportunity for students to embark on a transformative language and cultural immersion experience.

The STARTALK Study Abroad Scholarship is a highly competitive program and very impactful to all its participants.

The scholarship gives the participants a career boost as they develop advanced language skills and cross-cultural competencies, and are better positioned to succeed in a wide range of careers, including government, business, education, and non-profit work.