The Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies (EAPS), a National Resource Center, with consortial partner the East Asian Studies Center (EASC) at Indiana University, administers academic year and summer Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships under a Title VI grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The objective of the FLAS program is to provide students with the skills they need to deal effectively with global issues in their future roles in business, health, education, government, non-governmental associations, intergovernmental organizations and academia. EAPS awards FLAS fellowships to graduate students of exceptional promise who plan to enter the professional world upon graduation in fields where foreign language skills are necessary.

Students in all disciplines are eligible to apply for EAPS FLAS awards. Students in professional fields such as engineering, business, economics, health, agriculture, library and information science, social work, education, and communications are especially encouraged to apply.

EAPS has been approved to offer FLAS fellowships for advanced study of Chinese, Japanese and Korean. We are not approved to fund the study of those languages at the beginning level.

Academic year FLAS recipients are required to enroll in language AND area studies in the course in both Fall and Spring semesters. Summer FLAS awards are for language study.

Academic Year Award: Tuition and all non-refundable fees, plus a stipend of $15,000.

Summer Award: Tuition and fees, plus a stipend of $2,500. (NOTE: Room, board, travel, and miscellaneous fees MAY NOT be included in the tuition and fees payment, but must be covered by the student's stipend even if the program bills those as part of the "fee.")

Program tuition and fees, including approximately $350 in UIUC fees cannot exceed $4,000.


Applicant Eligibility

FLAS fellowship applicants must be degree-seeking students in good academic standing enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Illinois. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents (green card).


Selection Criteria

EAPS seeks candidates who demonstrate potential to become leaders in their field of study or professional work. Applicable measures include the applicant's academic record with emphasis placed on graduate work, extra-disciplinary and professional activities, and supporting materials, including letters of recommendation from close observers of the applicant's achievements.  The statement of purpose should clearly indicate how the FLAS fellowship will advance both the professional career and potential for leadership within the candidate's field of specialization or in the performance of public service.

Applicants will be evaluated based upon the following:

  1. Evidence that language training is needed to further the applicant's study       of international issues and problems;
  2. The extent to which the applicant's current planned academic program is       focused on international issues and problems;
  3. The applicant's academic performance to date;
  4. The persuasiveness of the applicant's letters of recommendations.


The following U.S. Department of Education guidelines will be used to rank candidates with similar credentials as evaluated with the above criteria:

  1. priority will be given to more advanced levels of language training
  2. priority will be given to applicants who intend to pursue careers in a       professional field or public service.


The following U.S. Department of Education guidelines also apply:

  1. overseas awards are for advanced and intermediate levels only,
  2. academic year FLAS awards for dissertation research abroad are subject       to the prior approval of U.S. Department of Education Program officers,       as is all travel abroad. FLAS fellows are responsible for initiating this       approval process at least 60 days prior to departure. They must also       remain enrolled at UIUC;
  3. academic year FLAS fellows approved for on-campus language study      must also be enrolled in appropriate area studies courses;
  4. students may receive fellowships for multiple award periods if they      compete successfully in each discrete competition;

Summer FLAS Awards:

  1. are only for intensive language training (140-180 contact hours) and       cannot be used for research abroad;
  2. programs abroad must be approved by the U.S. Department of Education.       FLAS fellows are responsible for initiating this approval process at least       60 days prior to departure.

Prior Approval Required from the Department of Education for ALL FLAS awards to be used abroad and for ALL domestic dissertation research/writing awards.

University of Illinois Fellowship Policy and Guidelines
  1. Campus Policy: no one on limited status can hold a fellowship;
  2. Students with  EXs and Fs on their records are not assigned equal status      in the competition with students who have completed their course and      program requirements.  EXs and Fs should be explained as part of the      application.

Application Requirements
For complete application instructions and forms for the EAPS and other campus FLAS programs, please go to: http://www.ilint.uiuc.edu/flas

FLAS Contact
If you have questions about the EAPS FLAS program, please contact Anne Prescott at aprescot@uiuc.edu or 217-244-4601.