NSEP Fellowships support students pursuing the study of languages, cultures, and world regions which are critical to U.S. national security, but which are less frequently studied by American graduate students. Excluded explicitly is study of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. NSEP welcomes applications from U.S. citizens enrolled in or applying to a graduate degree program in an accredited U.S. college or university located within the United States. NSEP Fellowship recipients must provide evidence of, their acceptance to and enrollment in a graduate degree program at an accredited U.S. college or university located within the U.S., must maintain enrollment in that degree program throughout the duration of the Fellowship, and must be willing to enter into a service agreement. All NSEP Fellowship recipients are required to seek employment with an agency or office of the federal government involved in national security affairs or to work in the field of higher education, in that order of precedence.
Fellowships provide support for overseas or domestic study or a combination of both.