The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program provides scholarships for eligible American high school students and recent graduates to learn a language in summer and academic-year overseas programs. The program focuses on language instruction, while providing participants with cultural experiences in the host community and sparking a lifetime interest in languages and cultures. Summer and academic year programs are available for Indonesian, Persian (Tajiki), Turkish, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Korean, and Russian. NSLI-Y is a program of the U.S. Department of State.
- Learn more on the NSLI-Y website.
- The typical application window is September to November.
- Register on the above website to be notified when the next application opens.
- Contact the AFS NSLI-Y Specialist at NSLIforYouth@afsusa.org with questions.
- Click here to download a handout/poster that you can display or share with students.