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Title VIII Southeast European Language Training Program, Spring & Summer 2012

Funded by the U.S. Department of State's Program for Research and Training on Eastern Europe and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union (Title VIII), the American Councils Southeast Europe Language Program provides language training in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia.

Programs feature instruction in the target language by members of university faculty; seminars focusing on vocabulary expansion, development of conversational skills, and stylistics and syntax; and graduate-level academic credit through Bryn Mawr College. Graduate students, faculty, and scholars in a wide range of fields (including literature, history, and linguistics) have received Title VIII support for language study; fellowship recipients must be U.S. citizens.

Application Requirements:
Applicants must plan to study for one to three months in the region during Spring or Summer 2012. Applicants must be graduate students at the MA level or higher who have at least elementary language skills. All fellowship applicants must be U.S. citizens. Applicants should explain how their plans for language study support their overall research goals and how this research will enable U.S. policy makers to better understand the region.

Fellowships for Language Study Typically Provide:

  • Full tuition at a major university in Southeast Europe
  • International round trip airfare from the fellow's home city to her/his host-city
  • Living and housing stipend
  • Health insurance
  • Visa support (if necessary)
  • Graduate-level academic credit through Bryn Mawr College for programs providing 7 weeks or more of full time instruction per semester.

This program maximizes linguistic and cultural immersion into Southeast European society. All academic activities are conducted by members of university faculty in the target language. Classes meet five days per week. Seminars focus on vocabulary expansion, development of conversational skills, grammar, phonetics, syntax and stylistics, and literature and linguistics. Courses in literature and cultural studies may be available depending on the student’s language proficiency.

American Councils Partnerships:
American Councils has partnership affiliations with more than 140 East European and Eurasian institutions. In recent years, Title VIII language-fellows and research scholars have studied and conducted research at such universities as:

Banja Luka University
Bosniak Institute, Sarajevo
New Bulgarian University, Sofia
Palacky University, Olomouc
Sofia State University, Sofia
Tirana State University, Tirana
University of Bucharest, Bucharest
University of Zagreb, Zagreb

Selection Process:
All applications are reviewed by outside readers with expertise in the applicant's specific research field. Written comments from these evaluators, along with all application materials, are then reviewed by a final, independent selection committee of leading U.S. scholars. Fellowship awards are announced roughly twelve weeks after the application deadline.

Required Application Materials:

  • Completed Application Form
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Statement of Purpose in host country language
  • Policy Relevance essay
  • Curriculum Vitae or Resume
  • Photocopy of signature page and photo of your passport
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Official Transcripts

American Councils Support for Scholars:
With permanent representative offices in 24 countries across Southeast Europe, Eurasia, the Middle East, Asia and the United States, employing more than 370 expatriates and host-country nationals, American Councils is uniquely suited to support U.S. scholars in the former Soviet Union. American Councils enjoys close partnership affiliations with many Eurasian institutes for research and higher education. More than 6,000 students, scholars, and researchers have participated in American Councils programs overseas since 1976.

American Councils is dedicated to helping scholars maximize their research time in-country by providing effective logistical support to fellows both before they leave the U.S. and while they are abroad. Before their departure, Title VIII fellows receive a comprehensive regional handbook providing detailed information on such topics as health and safety, travel, and communications. The handbook also contains updates on archive conditions and tips for conducting research in the region from past scholars. American Councils’ Washington D.C. staff consult regularly with scholars to plan convenient travel, obtain appropriate visas, arrange academic affiliations, finalize housing, and provide stipend payments. Overseas staff conduct in-country orientations, obtain otnoshenie for archives, and arrange visa registration. Local staff also provide on-call emergency assistance. Title VIII fellows regularly report that American Councils support enabled them to concentrate all of their energy on research and study, making their time overseas uniquely productive and enjoyable.

Questions? Please contact the Higher Education Programs Department with any questions at outbound@americancouncils.org or by phone at (202) 833-7522.