The mission of the Title VIII Program for Research and Training on Eastern Europe and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union is to ensure that timely, independent, analysis informs U.S. foreign policy decisions.
Title VIII Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis to applicants whose work furthers the program's mission to sustain American expertise on the countries of Eastern Europe and the independent states of the former Soviet Union and provide research and intelligence capacity critical to the national security of the United States.
The Title VIII Program was terminated on 2025 February 27 "pursuant to a directive from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, for alignment with Agency priorities and national interest."
All 2025 fellowships have been canceled.
Title VIII Fellowships provide tuition, fees, and room & board stipends for U.S. graduate students, area specialists, and scholars studying the languages and cultures of Eastern Europe and the countries of the former Soviet Union in Language Workshop. Title VIII Fellowships support in-person study, online study, and overseas study in the Workshop's program in Budapest. Overseas Fellowships include travel and study-abroad fees.
Title VIII Fellows also gain access to services of the Slavic Reference Service of the University of Illinois Library in Urbana-Champaign.