Summer Foreign Language Fellowship

The Graduate School will award a small number of travel grants for summer intensive language instruction in a language other than English. Study may be undertaken in the United States or abroad.


Priority is given to students, who must obtain language proficiency prior to the Fall semester in order to initiate or complete dissertation or thesis research. Applications that indicate financial support from a department or other source will be given special consideration. Awards will be announced in mid-May.


The Field Director of Graduate Studies and Committee Chair must submit their recommendations no later than 4:30 p.m. April 15, 2025. Students are responsible for submitting all application materials in time to meet the Graduate School's deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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Successful applicants will make a clear and compelling case as to:

1) the importance of the language instruction to the research project;

2) why it is not possible to pursue the language instruction at Cornell during the regular academic year; and

3) the advantages of the program selected. You will be asked to attach a one-page request addressing these issues.

Brochures from the program may be submitted as additional material, but do not replace the required study proposal.

Attach an itemized budget, showing expenditures for tuition, transportation, or other program-related expenses. Please note that the Graduate School seeks to award a maximum number of grants from limited funds. Applications that indicate financial support from a department or other source will receive special consideration.

please upload your one-page proposal and itemized budget here

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Your application must include a letter of support from your Special Committee chair. That letter should address:

1) the importance of the proposed summer language study prior to the Fall term for the student's research project,

2) why it is not possible for this instruction to be undertaken at Cornell during the regular academic year,

3) the advantages of the program selected, and

4) what matching funds are being provided by the faculty, department, or other source.

Please have your chair email a letter of support to grad_funding@cornell.edu before the deadline.

Letter of Support from DGS

Your application must also include a short letter of support from your Field's Director of Graduate Studies (DGS).


Please have your DGS email a letter of support to grad_funding@cornell.edu before the deadline.

Thank you for submitting the summer Foreign Language Application.

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Thank you for submitting the Summer Foreign Language Application. Decisions will be shared in mid-May.