AIF Clinton Fellowship for Service in India
The William J. Clinton Fellowship for Service in India is an immersive, 10-month volunteer service program matching young professionals with development organizations. Fellows work on scalable and sustainable development projects in the fields of education, livelihoods, and public health.
The AIF Clinton Fellowship is helping to shape the next generation of leaders committed to positive change while also strengthening civil society in both the U.S. and India.
Boren Study Abroad Scholarship / Fellowships
Boren Scholarships (for undergraduate students) and Fellowships (for graduate students) are an initiative of the United States Defense Language and National Security Education Office (DLNSEO) and provide unique funding opportunities for U.S. students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests, and underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East.Through a Boren Award, not only will you gain an incredible international experience with intensive language training, but you’ll also get a jump-start on a federal career. After graduation, you’ll commit to at least one year of federal service and receive special hiring preference for many federal jobs.
Undergraduates with questions about the Boren Scholarship should contact Kate Hamoonga, International Academic Programs. The campus deadline for the 2026-2027 Boren Scholarship award cycle is Monday, December 1, 2025.
Graduate students interested in the Boren Fellowship should contact the IRIS Awards Office with questions or for feedback on applications. The campus deadline for the 2026-2027 Boren Fellowship award cycle is Monday, December 1, 2025.
UW-Madison students can set up an advising appointment with Sarah Linkert, the IRIS Assistant Director for Awards; email awards@iris.wisc.edu with questions.
Chiba ALT Program
The governors of Wisconsin and the Japanese prefecture of Chiba initiated a sister state partnership in 1990. This partnership includes the creation of opportunities for sister schools, teacher professional development, and teaching English at schools in Chiba.
Assistant Language Teacher Program (ALT) The Chiba Prefectural Board of Education hires Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) from Wisconsin to assist English teachers in Japan, teaching classes at the high school level. Wisconsin’s ALTs serve a one-year contract renewable for up to three years (a maximum of five years may be possible), are paid a salary in yen equivalent to about $30,000 annually, and receive substantial benefits and training.
Application forms and a more detailed program description are available here: https://dpi.wi.gov/international-education/chiba
CLS Program
The Critical Language Scholarship Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It is a fully-funded overseas intensive language and cultural immersion program for American undergraduate and graduate students. With the goal of broadening the base of Americans studying and mastering critical languages and to build relationships between the people of the United States and other countries, CLS provides opportunities to a diverse range of students from across the United States at every level of language learning.
The fourteen CLS languages are: Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, and Urdu.
The CLS Program seeks participants with diverse interests, from a wide variety of fields of study, backgrounds and career paths, with the purpose of representing the full diversity of the United States. Thus, students from all academic disciplines, including business, engineering, law, medicine, science, social sciences, arts and humanities are encouraged to apply.
The CLS Program will host frequent webinars, Q&A sessions, and alumni panels for students throughout the fall. A full calendar with these events and corresponding registration links is available at: https://clscholarship.org/events.
The CLS program is by direct application; there is no campus review process. But the IRIS Award Office is here to help and support all UW-Madison applicants!
Contact Sarah Linkert in the IRIS Awards Office at awards@iris.wisc.edu with questions, to request an appointment to review draft CLS essays, and anything else CLS-related!
Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program
Founded in 1987, JET has sent more than 79,000 participants from around the globe (including more than 36,800 Americans) to work in schools, boards of education, and government offices throughout Japan. What makes JET unique is that it is the only teaching exchange program managed by the government of Japan. With more than 80 countries around the world currently participating in JET, this program offers a unique cultural exchange opportunity to meet people from all around the world, living and working in Japan. Before departing for Japan and upon return, there are a number of JET alumni organizations that host social, volunteer and professional development activities to help individuals through the transition process. Becoming a JET puts you in an elite network of incredible individuals. Join us for the adventure of a lifetime! Application information. The deadline is usually in November.
Advising is available on campus with our UW Campus Recruiter in 105 Red Gym. Come in to chat with the Campus Recruiter about Peace Corps, open positions, and navigating the application process. Contact information: peacecorps@international.wisc.edu.
Princeton in Asia PiA’s mission is to promote good will and understanding and to facilitate in everyway the free interchange of the best ideals in civilizations of both East and West. For the 2017=18 fellowship cycle, PiA will offer 130 fellowships in 21 Asian countries in the following fields: access to education; access to information; economic development; environmental sustainability; public health; social justice. No prior Asia experience required.
Applications are normally due in November.
For more information visit: princeton.edu/~pia
Schwarzman Scholars
Designed to prepare the next generation of global leaders to respond to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century, the Schwarzman Scholars Program funds a one-year master’s degree in public policy, economics or business at Tsinghua University in Beijing – one of China’s most prestigious universities. Classes will be taught in English, and the program’s curriculum has been designed to build students’ leadership abilities and deepen their knowledge of China in a global context.
Every year, up to 200 Schwarzman Scholars will represent the world’s next generation of leaders — high-caliber individuals with open minds and limitless potential — a network of leaders who will serve as bridges between China and the rest of the world.
Schwarzman Scholars will be selected on the basis of not only their academic aptitude and intellectual ability, but also their leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, ability to anticipate and act on emerging trends and opportunities, exemplary character, and desire to understand other cultures, perspectives and positions.
All qualified candidates will have successfully completed their undergraduate degrees prior to enrollment and must be proficient in English. More on admissions and application process.
More questions? Visit the Schwarzman Scholars FAQs or contact Sarah Linkert in the IRIS Awards Office at awards@iris.wisc.edu.
Wisconsin in Washington, DC Internship program
The ‘Wisconsin in Washington’ DC program harnesses the wide range of opportunities found in our Nation’s Capital for UW-Madison undergraduates in all majors. The program is administered jointly by International Academic Programs and the Department of Political Science. With the help of our campus advisors, our DC-based program manager and our DC Badger alumni network, students pursue DC internships in a variety of fields including government/politics, international affairs, communications, journalism, law, NGOs and nonprofits, history, the arts, corporate management, agricultural and life sciences, environment, lobbying, PR/advertising, think tanks/applied research, education, and more.
Wisconsin in Washington offers students a full-credit option in fall and spring (12+ UW credits including a combination of internship, core DC program seminar, and electives taught by UW appointed faculty) and a 3-credit program in the summer. Admitted students pay regular tuition/fees and live/study in university-supported housing located in the heart of Capitol Hill. Program scholarships available for qualified students!
For online application, please visit studyabroad.wisc.edu/DC internships.