NSLI for Youth | Scholarship to Study Language Abroad

National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)

NSLI-Y is part of a U.S. government initiative that prepares American citizens to be leaders in a global world. It is important that Americans have the necessary linguistic skills and cultural knowledge to effectively communicate internationally. The NSLI-Y study abroad program aims to provide opportunities to American youth that will spark a lifetime interest in foreign languages and cultures.

Languages & Program Experiences

NSLI-Y programs offer intensive language immersion in a variety of locations around the world. Beginners are welcome to apply for any of the target languages; previous language experience is not required.

Scholarships are available for students to learn the following languages:

Arabic

Chinese (Mandarin)

Hindi

Indonesian

Korean

Persian (Tajiki)

Russian

Turkish

Virtual

Programs may take place in the following locations:
China, Estonia, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Korea, Latvia, Moldova, Morocco, Russia, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Turkey, and other locations around the world.

The U.S. Department of State issued a Global Level 4 Health Advisory – Do Not Travel – on March 19, 2020 that is currently in effect. We are saddened to announce that in light of this Health Advisory, and because the health, safety, and well-being of NSLI-Y Program participants are the priorities of the State Department, all NSLI-Y summer 2020 overseas immersion programs are being cancelled.

The State Department and NSLI-Y partners are working to create a summer 2020 virtual program. Applicants will receive a notice via email within the next 2-3 weeks if you are invited to participate in the Virtual NSLI-Y program; applicants identified as finalists in the selection process will be prioritized for Virtual NSLI-Y.