About NSLI-Y

The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y), sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, provides merit-based scholarships for eligible high school students to learn less commonly taught languages in summer and academic-year overseas immersion programs.

NSLI-Y is part of a U.S. government initiative that prepares American citizens to be leaders in a global world. Now more than ever, it is important that Americans have the necessary linguistic skills and cultural knowledge to promote international dialogue and support American engagement abroad. NSLI-Y aims to provide opportunities to American youth that will spark a lifetime interest in language learning.

Previous language study is not required, and language learners of all levels are encouraged to apply.

NSLI-Y Programs

NSLI-Y programs offer intensive language immersion in a variety of locations around the world. Scholarships are available for students to learn the following languages:

  • Arabic
  • Chinese (Mandarin)
  • Hindi
  • Korean
  • Persian (Tajik)
  • Russian
  • Turkish

Programs may take place in the following locations:

  • China
  • Egypt
  • India
  • Jordan
  • Korea
  • Morocco
  • Oman
  • Russia
  • Taiwan
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkey
  • Other locations
    around the world

Apply

The application deadline for 2013-14 NSLI-Y programs has passed. Applications for 2014-15 programs will be available in the late summer of 2013.

2013-2014 SEMI-FINALISTS: Click here to download the Medical Evaluation Form and Instructions. Completion and submission of the form is due March 1, 2013.

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Alumni

Spread the word about NSLI-Y! Click here to access the NSLI-Y Alumni Outreach Toolkit.