Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships FAQ
Yes
For undergraduate applicants, you must demonstrate a language level placement at the intermediate or advanced level by the time you start your language program. For graduate applicants, you must demonstrate a language level placement at the intermediate or advanced level by the time you start your language program. If you would like to apply as a beginner, you must demonstrate an advanced level of another language of the Asian region.
You can ask a current or former boss, a faculty member, a former high school language instructor, or a language instructor. We ask that you request a letter from a person who knows you well and can write a strong letter of recommendation.
For summer, the FLAS is only for intensive language study. For academic year, you are required to take one language course and one area studies course per academic term.
For summer, you can complete your fellowship requirements in the U.S. or abroad. In practice, a majority of students choose to study abroad. We recommend doing a program that is the best fit for your language needs. For the academic year, you can complete your fellowship requirements in the U.S. or abroad. In practice, most students will complete their language and area studies courses while at UNC, while a very small number of students complete their language and area studies courses abroad. If you are an academic year awardee and plan to enroll in a program abroad, you must contact the FLAS Coordinator to have the courses vetted.
Please contact the FLAS Coordinator with the specific language you are interested in.
The summer abroad program must be 1) at least 6 weeks of 120 contact hours at the advanced level, or 2) at least 6 weeks of 140 contact hours at the beginning or intermediate level.
Summer and Academic Year FLAS applications are due February 5, 2021.
Please contact the FLAS coordinator if you are unsure whether a course can qualify as an area studies course.
Unfortunately, FLAS cannot be awarded for the study of classical or ancient languages, including Classical Chinese.