English for Heritage Language Speakers

Native speakers of critical languages are in high demand in the U.S. government. EHLS trains advanced English speakers to be effective communicators and strong candidates for federal jobs.

All EHLS participants receive a full scholarship from the National Security Education Program (NSEP) that includes tuition and a living stipend.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for admission to the 2023 EHLS Program, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be a United States citizen
• Be a native speaker of one of the following languages: Amharic, Arabic, Azerbaijani, Balochi, Bambara, Chinese Mandarin, Hausa Hindi, Kazakh, Kirghiz, Korean Korean, Persian Dari, Persian Farsi, Punjabi, Pushto / Pashto, Russian, Somali, Tadjik, Tamashek, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Uzbek, Vietnamese.
• Have native language skills at level 3 or higher on the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale
• 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
• Agree to fulfill a one-year service commitment with the U.S. government

Please note that a person can only receive the EHLS scholarship one time.

The National Security Education Program (NSEP) awards described on this website are subject to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which provide that no citizen of the United States may, on the grounds of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, or disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

Selection Criteria

Applicants to the EHLS Program will be evaluated according to five selection criteria, aside from language and computer skills: language goals and motivation, cultural knowledge, research skills, professional adaptability, and compatibility with the federal workplace. Detailed information about each criterion is available in the selection criteria definitions. It is strongly suggested that you review these rubrics as you prepare your EHLS application.

Assessing Your Language and Computer Skills

The EHLS Program uses the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale to assess your language skills. To be eligible for the EHLS Program, you must have native language skills at level 3 or higher and have English language skills at level 2 or higher. You can assess your language skills via the following self-assessments created by ILR: speaking, reading, and listening.

Scholarship Terms

EHLS is a scholarship program that is designed to support you while you are a program participant. Every EHLS participant signs a scholarship agreement before starting the program.

Purpose of the Scholarship

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). By providing these scholarships, the government hopes to encourage individuals who have language and cultural expertise to develop the skills they need to obtain and retain employment in the federal sector.

As an EHLS participant, you will receive a full scholarship to attend the program. The scholarship will make it possible for you to devote your full time and attention to succeeding in the program by covering your living costs and other expenses.

Benefits of the Scholarship

As an EHLS scholar, you will receive the following benefits:

• 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. You must provide receipts or other proof of payment to receive reimbursement.

In addition, you will receive the following from Georgetown University:

• Student health insurance
• A laptop computer

Obligations During the Program

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.

If you fail to fulfill these obligations, you may be dismissed from the program and be liable for repayment of part or all of the scholarship.