The Professional Fellows Program for Europe and Eurasia is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by American Councils for International Education. It brings mid-level emerging leaders to the United States for a 5–6-week exchange, including four weeks in a tailored placement with a nonprofit, business, or government office. The program covers Governance and Society for applicants from nine participating countries and Innovation and Entrepreneurship for applicants from Belarus.
Fellows also complete orientations, community service, a closing program in Washington, D.C., and a proposal for a follow-on project in their home community. The Spring 2026 cycle is closed, and the official site has not announced the next recruitment window.
Benefits & funding
- Round-trip international and domestic transportation is covered.
- Visa fees and processing costs, health and accident insurance, and basic living costs are covered.
- Housing and meals are provided through host-family or other arranged accommodation, and fellows receive a modest stipend.
- The U.S. exchange lasts 5–6 weeks, including a four-week professional placement.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Türkiye, or Ukraine.
- Applicants generally must currently reside in an eligible country. Ukrainian citizens living abroad may apply if they left Ukraine no earlier than February 2022; Belarusian citizens living abroad may apply if they left Belarus no earlier than August 2020.
- Applicants must be 25–40 years old at the start of the program, currently employed, and have at least two years of relevant professional experience. No degree minimum is stated.
- Applicants must be emerging leaders in government, civil society, or the private sector and fit their country’s program theme.
- Applicants must demonstrate written and spoken English, leadership and collaboration skills, cross-cultural readiness, and a workplace or community project objective.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
Armenia · Azerbaijan · Belarus · Estonia · Georgia · Latvia · Lithuania · Moldova · Türkiye · Ukraine
Experience required
≥ 2 yrs
Age requirement
25–40 yrs
Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.
We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Create or sign in to an account in the American Councils AIS Forms portal.
- 2Complete the eligibility confirmation, education history, and comprehensive work history.
- 3Upload an English résumé or CV, answer three essays, request one professional recommendation, and upload the signed participant terms and privacy statement.
- 4Press Submit before the deadline; the form cannot be changed afterward.
- 5Shortlisted applicants take part in an in-person interview, and all applicants are notified by email after review.
Program timeline
July 31, 2025
Application deadline for the Spring 2026 cohort.
Up to six weeks after the deadline
Application review and status notification.
May 27, 2026
Spring 2026 program start used for the published age calculation.
In-person U.S. fellowship period.
May–June 2026
Not announced
Next recruitment window.