Boren Fellowships support students pursuing the study of languages, cultures, and world regions that are critical to U.S. national security but are less frequently studied by U.S. graduate students (i.e., areas of the world other than Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand), and who are highly motivated by the opportunity to work in the federal government. Fellowships fund overseas or domestic study, or a combination of both.

Funds graduate study for students in arts, humanities or social science. Candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must not yet have completed the first year of graduate study.