National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)

The U.S. Department of State NSLI-Y program is part of an interagency initiative to ensure that Americans are learning and mastering critical languages to foster international cooperation, build mutual understanding, strengthen national security, and bolster the economy. NSLI-Y provides scholarship programs to American high school students to study critical languages and the regions in which these languages are spoken, sparking a lifetime interest that carries through their education and careers.

​

NSLI-Y provides intensive immersion programs to study Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Indonesian, Korean, Persian (Tajiki), Russian, and Turkish in host locations around the world in three formats: 

• Summer Program: The NSLI-Y summer program is 6-7 weeks long and offers intensive language instruction, a host family stay for all or part of the program, and a variety of cultural activities designed to enhance language skills. During the NSLI-Y summer program, participants receive a minimum of 120 hours of classroom instruction in intensive language classes. Beyond the classroom, they engage with host families, complete assignments, and participate in cultural activities and peer language partner sessions. NSLI-Y summer program participants gain insights into their host culture and represent America to the local community as citizen diplomats.

​

• Academic Year Abroad: The NSLI-Y academic year program is 8-10 months long. It offers language instruction and a variety of cultural, community, and project-based activities designed to enhance language skills. Students are enrolled in language classes at a local school or post-secondary institution and receive at least 10 hours of intensive language instruction per week. They may also have the opportunity to take other academic or enrichment classes in the target language. Beyond the classroom, there are opportunities for cultural, extracurricular, and volunteering activities throughout the year. NSLI-Y academic year abroad participants live with host families for the duration of the program or combined with a supervised dormitory stay. 

​

• Virtual NSLI-Y: This 10-week, beginner-level program combines language study with cultural exploration in an interactive virtual setting, following nationally recognized standards. Participants gain insights into the cultures of regions where the language is spoken, promoting intercultural understanding through activities designed around global competence. Students join small virtual classrooms of about 10 peers, meeting twice a week for 90-minute sessions led by experienced language teachers. The program is designed for true beginners, so no prior language experience is required.

All programs require applicants to: 

• Be a U.S. citizen 
• Agree to Participant Terms & Conditions 

​

Summer and Academic Year Abroad

NSLI-Y summer and academic year programs also require applicants to: 

• Have a GPA of 2.5 or higher 
• Be 15-18 years of age at the start of the program 
  • For 2027 summer programs: birthdate between July 5, 2008 – June 10, 2012 
  • For 2027-28 academic year programs: birthdate between August 30, 2008 – June 30, 2012
• Be enrolled in grades 9-12 (high school or home school equivalent) at the time of application 
• Be in the Beginner-Advanced Low target language proficiency range on the ACTFL Proficiency Scale. Applicants may be required to take a language test during the selection process.

​

Virtual NSLI-Y

• Between the ages of 15-18 at the start of the Fall 2026 program
• A U.S. high school student in the 2027-28 academic year 
• Living in and attending school or homeschool in the United States
• A beginner/novice-level learner in the selected target language

​

• November 14, 2026

• Completed online application
• Letter of introduction to instructors and host families
• Essays
• Transcript
• Parent/guardian statement
• Letter of recommendation

• March/April

​