FLAS FAQ

For what time period is a FLAS awarded?
A FLAS can be awarded for either an academic year or a summer.

Can I apply for a single semester FLAS award?
No, FLAS fellowships cannot be awarded for only one semester of study.

What are the requirements for using a FLAS award?
FLAS fellowships are awarded for:A formal domestic or overseas academic program of full-time language / area studies during the academic year;

A formal domestic or overseas academic program of full-time language / area studies during the academic year;

a formal program of intensive language study during the summer: Students wishing to use a FLAS for a language study program overseas must be at the intermediate or advanced level of language proficiency, or at the beginning level if an appropriate beginning language program in the student's language is not available in the United States.

dissertation research during the academic year:
Academic year FLAS awards may be used for overseas dissertation research provided the student is at the advanced level of language proficiency. The use of language in dissertation research must be extensive enough to be able to consider the foreign language improvement facilitated by the research equal to the improvment that would be obtained from a full academics year's worth of formal instruction. Fellowships require affliation with an academic institution or organization approved by the Department of Education.

How much money does the Academic FLAS Fellowship award?
For the academic year, FLAS will pay up to $18,000 of the student's tuition & health fees, and will provide a stipend of $15,000.

If I win an academic year FLAS and my tuition is greater than $18,000, who pays the balance?
The Harvard graduate school in which the student is enrolled (i.e. GSE, Law School, Divinity School) is responsible for covering the balance of the student's tuition & health fees. All students must inform their financial aid office that they have applied for a FLAS.

How much money does the Summer FLAS Fellowship award?
For the summer, FLAS will pay up to $5,000 for tuition, and will provide a stipend of $2,500.

What are the course requirements for academic year FLAS fellows?
For language study, students must take 1 graded FLAS approved language course and 1 graded area studies course per term, for a total of 4 courses. For overseas dissertation research, students must make significant progress towards the completion of dissertation goals as outlined in their Statement of Purpose.

What are the course requirements for summer FLAS fellows?
A summer FLAS fellow must be enrolled in a formal intensive language program that is the equivalent of a full year of instruction. The program must be at least 6 weeks in duration and a minimum of 140 language instruction hours for students at the intermediate level, and 120 language instruction hours for advanced students. The student must provide a website or brochure covering all FLAS requirements.

Is a FLAS fellow allowed to work during the fellowship period?
Employment during the fellowship period is limited. FLAS recipients must obtain approval from the FLAS Coordinator for any TF or other work opportunities before accepting them, to ensure compliance with federal regulations and continuation of thier grant. Employment may not exceed the value of one-fifth of teaching per term.

Can a student receive both a FLAS and another fellowship during the same award period?
Additional fellowships may be a conflict. Fellows are advised to contact the FLAS coordinator to discuss options.

Can I apply for a summer FLAS if I am an incoming student?
No. The summer FLAS can only be awarded to students who are already enrolled full time at Harvard University.

Do my transcripts have to be official?
All transcripts must official. However, if a student is applying for both an academic year and summer FLAS, only one transcript is required. We will make a photocopy and indicate that the original is in the academic year application.

Do my letters of recommendation have to be sent directly by the professor?
No. We will accept letters of recommendation that have been sent by the student on behalf of the professor with an original signature.

Can I send an Internet version of the brochure for my Summer Language Program?
Yes. Downloaded versions are fine. However, you should be sure to indicate which program you are planning on attending, and check that your pamphlet includes such information as the length in weeks, number of instructional hours, cost of tuition and fees, start date, and end date.

Is there a report I must complete at the end of the Fellowship?
FLAS fellows must complete an electronic Student Performance Report at the end of the fellowship. Failure to submit this report or submit it on time, precludes future participation in the program.

Can I send any of my application materials by e-mail or fax?
Applicants may submit materials electronically only for the purposes of meeting the deadline. Any materials submitted in this manner must still be followed up with a hard copy.