The EHLS scholarship program (English for Heritage Language Speakers) offers a unique opportunity to U.S. citizens who are native speakers of critical languages. Participants receive full tuition and a living stipend while attending an 8-month course hosted at Georgetown University. As scholars, they will undergo intensive training in professional communication and career skills essential for working in the government.
Scholarships for the EHLS Program are awarded through the National Security Education Program (NSEP), which is administered by the Defense Language and National Security Education Office (DLNSEO).The purpose of the scholarship is to help people with critical language and cultural expertise develop the English language and career skills needed to pursue a career in the federal government with national security responsibilities.
Overview of the program
Upon graduation, EHLS participants seek work in federal agencies as part of their scholarship obligation. They should be able to offer potential employers native-speaker level proficiency in a critical language. Through the carefully designed curriculum participants will learn various tasks crucial for professional interactions in a government workplace. Tasks such as:
- Conducting research for federal agencies
- Drawing sound analytical conclusions
- Using accepted email protocol
- Running effective meetings
Note that when you accept the scholarship, you incur certain obligations that you must fulfill while in the program:
- You agree not to hold any form of employment and not to study in another academic program during the first 6 months (the intensive portion of the program).
- You agree to attend all classes as scheduled, prepare for and participate in all instructional activities, communicate professionally inside and outside the classroom, and complete all assignments.
Scholarship benefits
The numerous benefits that come with winning this scholarship include:
- Coverage of all tuition and fees for the full 8 months of the program
- A living stipend of $3,600 per month for the first 6 months and $1,200 per month for the final 2 months of the program
- Reimbursement of up to $1,000 for costs of relocating to attend the program (this is offered to scholars moving from outside the metropolitan Washington, DC, area only).
Eligiblity
- Be a United States citizen
- Agree to fulfill a one-year service commitment with the U.S. government in a position with national security responsibilities
- Have critical language skills at level 3 or higher on the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale of one of the following languages:
- Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Persian Farsi, Korean, Ukrainian, Kazakh, Turkish, and Hausa
- Have English language skills at level 2 or higher on the ILR scale
- Be able to use Microsoft Office software (Word, PowerPoint) and use the Internet to conduct research
- Have completed university-level or equivalent professional education at the bachelor’s level
- Be able to commit to full-time daytime study for 6 months at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, followed by 2 months of part-time online study
- Be completely separated from any position with the U.S. government and any service in the U.S. military as of the date when instruction begins.
How to apply
In order to be considered for the EHLS Program you must go through all of the following:
- Complete the online application form provided in their website (linked below).
- Provide required supporting documents such as; Transcript, references, and resume.
- Complete an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in English. The Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) allows you to demonstrate your English speaking abilities.
- Note: You must meet the minimum standard of a Limited Working Proficiency (ILR 2) to be considered for the EHLS program.
Application deadline
The application deadline is June 17, 2025.
For more details, visit the EHLS scholarship program website.
