Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility for Scholarships

Can I apply for a scholarship BEFORE being accepted into a California State University Teaching Credential program?

Yes. You may apply and indicate your current status on the Credential + Bilingual Authorization Scholarship application. Once you are accepted into a CSU Teaching Credential program, you must provide your CSU Student ID (Campus-Wide Identification, CWID) to the Asian Language BTEP Consortium to process your scholarship. Please email your CWID, along with your name and institution, to asianlanguages@fullerton.edu.

I have already received the Asian Language BTEP scholarship from a previous cohort. Can I apply for it again?

No. If you have already received Asian Language BTEP scholarship funds for any cohort, you are not eligible to apply again.

I am an international student. Can I apply for the Credential + Bilingual Authorization scholarship?

The scholarship is only available to students who have been accepted into a CSU Teaching Credential program in California. International students should contact their specific CSU campus or program for information about program admission.

 I am a part-time teaching credential student at CSU campus. Am I still eligible for the Credential + Bilingual Authorization scholarship?

Part-time students should contact their CSU campus Office of Financial Aid to determine eligibility. Some campuses may require a minimum number of units to qualify. If you do not meet the unit requirement but will complete your teaching credential program during the semester you are applying, consider applying for the Bilingual Authorization Only scholarship for current teachers instead.

I have multiple grants. Can I still apply for this scholarship?

Yes, you may apply for the Asian Language BTEP scholarship. However, the total scholarship award cannot exceed the cost of enrollment in the Teacher Education program and Bilingual Authorization.

I already hold a teaching credential but want to add one more credential. Can I still apply for the Credential + Bilingual Authorization scholarship?

Yes. If you already hold a single-subject or multiple-subject teaching credential, you may apply for the scholarship and could qualify for a partial award. However, if you have completed all Bilingual Authorization courses in an Asian language, you are not eligible for this scholarship.

General FAQs for BTEP Scholars

Who do I contact to register for courses?

Please contact your CSU program coordinator for more information.

Can I defer my scholarship to a future term?

No. BTEP scholarships cannot be deferred to a later term.

Students must apply for the scholarship cycle that matches the exact term they plan to begin their credential or bilingual authorization program.

If a student applies for a scholarship but does not start the program in that term, the scholarship will be canceled, and the funds must be returned before the student is eligible to apply again in a future cycle.

If you anticipate any delays or changes to your start term, please inform both your campus coordinator and the BTEP Coordinator as soon as possible to avoid confusion or processing issues.

As a Bilingual Authorization Only Scholarship recipient, what should I do next after receiving my award?

Once you receive your award letter, please follow up with your program coordinator to register for courses. We will pay the course and registration fees directly to the campus where you will take the courses. 

I have received the notification for the award. However, I have not received the funds. How do I register for classes?

Please contact your CSU campus financial aid office and registration office.

Do I need to attend the Asian Language BTEP Professional Development events?

Yes.  As a recipient of the scholarship, you are required to participate in a total of six (6) Professional Development seminars.  These seminars are held twice a year and we expect for you to complete this requirement in three (3) years.  

If you encounter an emergency that prohibits you from attending a seminar, please contact asianlanguages@fullerton.edu for a possible extension.  

Please note that if you are unable to fulfill any requirements of the scholarship, scholarship funds will be returned to the Asian Language BTEP consortium.

Matriculated Student (degree) vs. Non-Matriculated Student (non-degree)

If you are awarded for the Bilingual Authorization (BiAu) Only scholarship and are currently enrolled in a teaching credential program at your CSU campus, you are considered a matriculated student. As a matriculated student, you cannot enroll in BiAu courses through Open University. Instead, you will need to enroll in BiAu courses as part of your regular course registration for your teaching credential program. In this case, your scholarship fund will be transferred to your CSU campus and disbursed based on financial aid policy at your CSU campus. Each campus will work with their Office of Financial Aid to distribute the funds to students -- the process, procedures, and timeline will vary from campus to campus. If you have concerns about paying your tuition on time and classes being dropped, you may contact your program advisor and the Office of Financial Aid to request that a tuition fee deferral be placed on your account. 

What happens if I withdraw from the scholarship after receiving my scholarship fund?

According to the Asian Language BTEP scholarship guidelines, eligibility is contingent upon continued enrollment in the Bilingual Authorization (BiAu) courses and satisfactory academic progress within the institution. Recipients who do not fulfill the requirements will need to repay the scholarship funds.

Financial & Scholarship

How do I receive my scholarship funds? 

All awards will be processed through your CSU campus's Office of Financial Aid. Awards cannot exceed the costs of enrollment in the Teacher Education Program. 

When do I expect to receive my scholarship?

Please note that we will make an effort to transfer the scholarship funds as quickly as possible. However, we can NOT guarantee that the funds will be received prior to the beginning of the semester as this process may take several months to complete.  

Why haven't I received my scholarship yet. 

If you have been awarded the Credential and Bilingual Authorization Scholarship and do not yet see the funds in your account, please note that scholarship disbursement is a multi-step process and timing can vary by campus.

After you return your signed scholarship award letter, the funds are processed by the Asian Language BTEP program and then routed through the CSU system for delivery to your campus Financial Aid Office. Once the funds leave our office, we no longer have visibility into their exact status or timing.

Each campus follows its own policies and procedures for applying scholarship funds. Questions regarding your scholarship amount, disbursement timing, or how the funds are applied to your account should be directed to your campus coordinator and your campus Financial Aid Office. They will have the most accurate, campus-specific information.

Please keep in mind that processing timelines differ by campus, and a delay does not indicate an issue with your scholarship.

Prior to receiving the scholarship, I have already received a Bilingual Authorization (BiAu) in an Asian Language or I have already taken BiAu courses in the past.  Can I get reimbursement for previous semesters?

No. This scholarship is for those who will take relevant courses after being awarded and does not apply to past classes.

Do I get reimbursement for taking the state tests such as CBEST or CSET?

No. Scholarship funds pay for your enrollment in the Teacher Education program and Biligual Authorization only. You will need to pay for your exams.