Foreign Language Acquisition Grant (FLAG)

Study programs must be at least 8 weeks in duration of intensive language study (at least 15 hours/week) and located in a setting where the target language is predominantly spoken. Applicants must have completed or tested out of the 103 level of the target language by the program start date. If a language is not offered on campus, applicants may apply at any level. For French and Spanish language applications, preference will be given to students who have completed some intermediate language study.

While you are welcome to apply to any language program you would like (provided it meets the minimum FLAG requirements), the following is an intensive language program run by the University of Chicago:

• Intermediate French at the Center in Paris

A note about East Asian language study:
The Center for East Asian Studies offers special Foreign Language Acquisition Grants of $7,000 to defray the costs of advanced Chinese, Japanese, and Korean language study through the FLAG program during the summer. Interested students should apply through the Study Abroad Office application portal and no special mention is required for eligible students to be selected for these awards.

The Committee on Chinese Studies funds two awards in China, Taiwan, or Hong Kong for students who have completed or tested out of Chinese 203 by the program start date.

The Committee on Japanese Studies funds two awards in Japan for students who have completed or tested out of Japanese 203 by the program start date.

The Committee on Korean Studies funds two awards in South Korea for students who have completed or tested out of Korean 203 by the program start date.

To find out more about Summer International Travel Grants, attend an SITG Information Session:

• SITG Information Session 
  Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at 6:00 PM (Harper Memorial 140)

To look for and learn about language programs you can read program evaluations from previous FLAG recipients in our SITG Evaluations Database. Log in to access the evaluations database.

Note for those applying to a country or region of elevated risk:
You will need to schedule a travel advisory meeting to discuss the petition process for special approval to be eligible for funding. For additional details and for information on countries and regions of elevated risk, please consult the University’s Travel Advisory Policy. You are also required to submit an additional paragraph in your statement of purpose detailing why study abroad in this country is important to your research or language study.

Eligible students are undergraduate students registered at the University of Chicago for the spring quarter before the summer they go abroad and will be registered the following autumn quarter. Students taking a leave of absence before or after the grant period should contact sitg@uchicago.edu to discuss whether their case merits an exception to the spring- or autumn-quarter registration requirement.

FLAG applicants have to have completed or tested out of the 103 level of the target language by the program start date.

To apply for a Summer International Travel Grant please complete the online application. The application includes:

1. FLAG: Statement of purpose (describing why the study of this language is important to you and your academic trajectory)
2. Recommendation (the most useful recommendations are from an individual who knows you well enough to talk about whether you are suited to this type of experience and how you will approach it)
3. Budget (account for expected expenses such as flight, ground transportation, lodging and meals, as well as the cost of the program you plan to participate in)
4. COUNTRY WITH TRAVEL ADVISORY LEVEL 3/4: The University of Chicago’s working assumption is against travel to countries or regions with a U.S. Department of State Level 3 or Level 4 Advisory. Undergraduate students may petition for an exemption to this policy. For more information, please consult the University’s Travel Advisory Policy.

Applications must be submitted online by February 03, 2025. All students will receive notification of the status of their application(s) via email by the beginning of Spring Quarter.

• Meet with your current language instructor to discuss any recommendations they may have.
• Consult the SITG Evaluations Database to explore where previous grant recipients have traveled to study your target language. Previous grant recipients’ evaluations can be helpful in identifying program strengths and drawbacks.

We encourage you to consider the following when choosing a language program:

Academics

• If applicable: Is the program sponsored by a reputable, accredited US college/university or a similar institution in the target country?
• Does the program teach the specific language (i.e. dialect, accent, vernacular) I seek to learn?
• Are classes separated by language level or do they include students of all levels?
• If applicable: How does the institution place students into language levels?
• What does the curriculum most focus on and does that focus align with my goals?
  • Grammar
  • Reading comprehension and writing
  • Speaking
  • Colloquial conversation
  • Cultural context of language
• Does the program enforce a target-language-only policy?
• How will this instruction complement courses I have taken, or plan to take, at UChicago?

Social and Cultural Integration

• Does the program offer sponsored excursions and/or extracurriculars as part of the overall experience?
  • If not, do they have resources to help identify such opportunities?
• Who will my peers be? Other American undergraduate students? Individuals of all ages from all over the world?
• Will I have an opportunity to engage with the local community? To learn about local culture, history, and politics?
• What specific social and cultural experiences would I like to have while abroad? Can I find a program in an area or city that has a special connection to work I am already doing in the College?
• Are there any social and/or cultural norms to which it would be difficult for me to adjust?

Arrangements

• What are the class facilities like?
• What housing arrangements are available (if any)?
  • If none, does the program provide support for students to find appropriate and safe housing?
• How far away is housing from my classes?
• What arrangements will I need to make in regards to transportation? Are there accessible and safe public transit options? How might daily transportation impact my budget?
• What provisions does the program make to ensure I have reasonable access to quality physical and mental healthcare? Can this location accommodate my health and wellness needs?

Administration / Financial

• Does the program meet FLAG criteria?
• Do the program dates conflict with either the end of Spring Quarter or beginning of Autumn Quarter?
• How soon do I have to apply? Is there a (nonrefundable) deposit?
• What does program tuition include (e.g. housing, course materials, meals)?
• How are payments handled?
• What administrative support and on-site staff support does the program provide?
• Do program contacts respond to my outreach promptly and thoroughly?

To discuss the Summer International Travel Grant Program and the application process, please contact sitg@uchicago.edu.