Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible to receive a Summer FLAS Fellowship.
Citizenship: Applicants must be a US citizen or US permanent resident at the time of application.
Student Status:
Current UM-Ann Arbor Students: Students who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at the University of Michigan may apply for the Summer FLAS Fellowship. However, students graduating in December 2024 or May 2025 are not eligible. Students graduating in August 2025 are eligible to apply but should be aware that priority will be given to students returning to U-M in the fall.
Incoming UM-Ann Arbor Students: Incoming graduate students (students applying for admission to a graduate degree program beginning in Fall 2025 at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor) may apply for the Summer FLAS Fellowship. Summer FLAS awards to incoming graduate students are contingent on admission to a graduate program and matriculation at the University of Michigan in Fall 2025; awards will not be made until matriculation is confirmed. Priority will be given students who will enroll in the University of Michigan Summer Language Institute. Incoming graduate students should also be aware that summer awards are rarely made to incoming students. Incoming undergraduate students (students matriculating in Spring, Summer or Fall 2025 at the University of Michigan as freshman or transfer student) are not eligible to apply.
Graduating Students: Students who are graduating in December 2024 or May 2025 are not eligible. Students graduating in August 2025 are eligible to apply but they should be aware that priority will be given to continuing students enrolling at U-M in the fall.
Current UM-Dearborn and UM-Flint Students: Current UM-Dearborn and UM-Flint graduate and undergraduate students who enroll in the U-M Summer Language Institute on the Ann Arbor campus are eligible to apply. Dearborn and Flint students may not attend other domestic or overseas programs. Dearborn and Flint students graduating in December 2024, May 2025 or August 2025 are not eligible.
Non-UM Students: Students who are NOT enrolled in a degree program at the University of Michigan who plan to enroll in the U-M Summer Language Institute may apply for the Summer FLAS. Non-UM students must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at another postsecondary institution in the US and be in good academic standing. Summer FLAS awards to non-UM Students may only be used at the U-M Summer Language Institute. Priority will be given to University of Michigan students.
Language Proficiency:
Native speakers of the language are not eligible for a FLAS award in that language. They may apply for a FLAS in another language provided they meet all other eligibility criteria.
Heritage speakers of a language are eligible to apply in that language unless they have native-level proficiency in all four language skills.
Native-level proficiency: Students who already possess language fluency at the level of an educated native speaker in the language for which a fellowship is sought are eligible but will be given lowest priority in the selection of fellowship recipients.
Students awarded a Summer FLAS must enroll in an eligible summer intensive language program. Summer programs must meet the following criteria to be eligible for enrollment by a Summer FLAS Fellow:
Program Dates: The summer program must be held during U-M’s spring-summer term, and generally begin on or after May 1 and conclude on or before August 31.
Academic Year Equivalency: The summer program must teach the equivalent of a full academic year (fall and winter terms) of language instruction as taught at the University of Michigan.
Program Completion: Students must complete the summer program in its entirety, attend all required program components, and comply with the program's attendance policy. As a general rule, students may not join the program late or leave early.
Program Length: Summer programs must be at least six weeks in length.
Contact Hours of Language Instruction: Summer programs must have at least 140 contact hours for the beginning (1st year) and intermediate (2nd year) levels and at least 120 contact hours for advanced level (3rd year and above) in language instruction. Contact hour is defined as actual time in the classroom (not including breaks and meal times) with a qualified instructor and may include lectures, recitations, drill sessions, and regularly scheduled tutoring sessions, but may not include office hours or language meal tables. Class sessions focused on culture and/or area studies and field trips may not be counted toward the contact hours even if they are taught in the target language.
Independent Study: Independent study, individualized study, and/or tutoring as a form of instruction is allowed in only very rare specialized circumstances and requires US/ED approval. As a general rule, independent study will be approved only in cases where an established intensive language program/class is not available. Students interested in this option should consult their FLAS Coordinator early in the application process to determine whether this option is appropriate.
Qualified Instructors: Language program instructors must be qualified in language teaching using proficiency-based methods of instruction. They should have advanced degrees in foreign language teaching, linguistics, literature, or related fields. Instructors in overseas programs should have experience teaching American university students.
Program Location:
Beginning level students MUST attend a US-based program unless the language is not taught anywhere in the US during the summer.
Intermediate and advanced level students may attend a US-based program or an approved overseas program.
Students attending an overseas program must have their program approved by US/ED 30 days prior to departure. Please note that US/ED will not approve an overseas program located in an area under a US State Department Travel Warning.
Compliance with University and LSA International Travel Policies: Summer FLAS recipients attending overseas programs must comply with relevant University and LSA international travel policies, including travel registration, purchase of international travel health insurance, and waivers for travel to U-M Travel Restriction or Warning destination. Students may not attend an overseas program in a location where university policy prohibits student travel. Waivers and International Travel Oversight Committee approval for programs located in U-M Travel Warning and Restriction areas must be in place prior to departure. Compliance with these policies is monitored by the Center for Global and Intercultural Study (CGIS) health and safety staff. Summer FLAS funds will not be released to the student until CGIS confirms that the student is in compliance with all University and LSA international travel policy requirements.
Program Content: Study abroad programs that include a combination of language instruction and area studies courses (taught in English or target language) are NOT eligible for Summer FLAS unless the language instruction portion of the program meets the Academic Year Equivalency and Contact Hours of Language Instruction criteria outlined above. Summer FLAS funds may not be used to cover tuition and fees for the area studies portion of the program even if the overall program is deemed eligible.
It is the responsibility of the student to apply for and secure admission to the desired eligible summer program(s) in a timely manner. Please note that summer program admission application needs to be done in parallel with, or in some cases earlier than, the Summer FLAS application. DO NOT wait until you have been awarded the Summer FLAS. For some summer programs, admission is competitive and not all applicants are admitted. We strongly recommend that you have a backup plan in case you are not admitted to your first choice program.
If you have any concern whether your proposed program meets the US/ED summer program eligibility guidelines, please check with the FLAS Coordinators.