Resources are available to help fund your language studies in the African Studies Program. Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships are funded by the Department of Education and support undergraduate and graduate students studying less commonly taught languages and cultures, particularly those of critical interest to the United States. FLAS fellowships help fund students who intend to make their careers in college or university teaching, government service, or other employment where knowledge of foreign languages and cultures is a prerequisite for success.
IU graduate students wishing to learn an African language may apply for a FLAS fellowship to study an African language relevant to their area of research at the intermediate or advanced levels. If you are in need of a language not taught at IU, graduate students may request to study that language during the summer under FLAS. Please see the Associate Director for details.
Undergraduates demonstrating a commitment to African Studies through enrollment in one of the minors or the certificate are also eligible to apply for FLAS fellowships. Currently approved African languages include Akan/Twi, Arabic (focus is Arabic-speaking regions of Africa; at IU this is taught by the Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures), Bamana, Swahili/Kiswahili, Yoruba, and Zulu/IsiZulu.
For general questions about FLAS, contact FLAS@iu.edu; for questions specific to African languages, contact our Associate Director.
FLAS recipients must undertake full-time study during their fellowship period. In addition to enrolling in the chosen language, they must take at least one Africa-focused area studies course each semester, offered through or cross-listed with African Studies and approved by the African Studies Program.