Reminder: May 1 Deadline for Fall 2026 Study Abroad

A brief reminder that the application deadline for SRAS Fall 2026 study abroad programs is May 1.

Our fall programs offer students the opportunity to engage directly with the Baltics, Central/Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia through field-based, regionally focused study. Coursework spans disciplines including international relations, history, media, and cultural studies, combining disciplinary coursework with language study in Russian and other regional languages.

Fall 2026 programs include:

• Baltic Security and the Information Environment — Riga, Latvia
• Identity and Conflict in the Caucasus (ICON) — Tbilisi, Georgia (with regional travel)
• Central Asian Studies — Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (with regional travel)
• Security & Diplomacy: CEE Perspectives (Warsaw, Poland)
• Russian as a Second Language (RSL) — Bishkek, Tbilisi, and Riga

Across programs, students combine classroom learning with structured fieldwork and regional travel, engaging with the historical, political, and cultural dynamics of the areas they study.

Princeton University - Tallinn Russian summer language study abroad - space for additional participant(s)

Princeton University partners with Tallinn University for a summer Russian language study-abroad program. We’ve had a cancellation in the Intermediate Russian course and can accommodate one or two additional participants in this group.

 

The program will run from June 8 to July 31, 2026.

 

The program fee is approximately $5,000, and it covers tuition, a home stay with half-board (lunch and supper), or hostel. Students are expected to cover meals (lunches), personal expenses, and airfare (approx. $1,500). Estimated personal expenses will depend on where participants will stay.

 

Students from other universities must apply for support with their home institutions.

If you know of a student who might be interested in joining the Princeton group and is at an appropriate level, we would be very happy to welcome them.

About the program:

https://slavic.princeton.edu/undergraduate-program/study-abroad

 

Fees, description, past participants' reviews: 

https://slavic.princeton.edu/russian-summer-program-tallinn-university

 

With any questions, please ask Prof. Yuri Leving: <yleving@princeton.edu> and Prof. Ksana Blank: <kblank@princeton.edu>

Study Abroad Opportunity in Tbilisi, May-June

University of Richmond’s 5-week summer study abroad  is open to students from other universities! This year’s program in Georgia offers two full units (6-8 credits) of transferrable coursework and includes field trips to Kutaisi and Batumi. This is a great opportunity for students who will feel comfortable in a supportive, faculty-led group, with close attention to individual learning paths. Course #1: Literature and Empire.  Course #2: Hands-on introduction to food ethnography and issues of ecology, technology, and food sovereignty in contemporary Georgia. 

In-country arrangements and support by SRAS. 

Please direct inquiries to yhowell@richmond.edu 

American Councils - AUCA Semester Program for Social Entrepreneurship in Bishkek

This fall, American Councils and the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) will launch a groundbreaking semester program for undergraduate and graduate students that blends social entrepreneurship, problem-based learning, and Central Asian studies in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

 

Program participants will:

 

• Join teams of Central Asian students to research local community needs in Bishkek and develop products that address those needs in sustainable and environmentally responsible ways;
• Develop prototypes of the products they design in the AUCA Maker Space, an open-access workshop equipped with 3D printers and other high-tech tools;
• Pitch their new products to a group of investors and community leaders at semester’s end;
• Complete semester coursework in Social Entrepreneurship, Design Thinking, and Central Asia Today;
• Earn 16 semester credits from Bryn Mawr College in economics, sociology, and international studies;
• Gain hands-on skills that are most in demand by today’s employers, including creative problem-solving, leadership, and flexibility; 
• Live with local host families, who provide two meals per day and private, furnished rooms;
• Receive ongoing support, including 24-hour emergency assistance, from a full-time American Councils Resident Director; and
• Be eligible for financial aid from a wide range of American Councils scholarships.

 

Participants may opt to study Russian or Kyrgyz on program, but no prior language study is required to join the program.

 

More information on the program can be found on our website:
https://www.studyabroad.americancouncils.org/socialentrepreneurship

 

Or by writing: Outbound@americancouncils.org

Study Abroad Opportunities in Bishkek: Summer and Fall 2026

Bard College is currently accepting applications for study abroad opportunities in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

The programs are hosted by the American University of Central Asia (AUCA), Bard’s dual-degree partner since 2009, and offer students a rigorous academic experience alongside deep linguistic and cultural immersion in Central Asia. Program descriptions and application details are included below.

RUSSIAN IN CENTRAL ASIA SUMMER PROGRAM 2026

Program Dates: June 5 - August 1, 2026.

Application Deadline: March 15, 2026.

For more information and to apply visit the website.

Program Overview 

The Russian in Central Asia Summer Program combines intensive Russian study with an exploration of the region from historical, political, ideological, and cultural perspectives. During this 8-week summer program, students will be enrolled in two 4-credit courses: a Russian language course, in which students are placed according to their level of proficiency, and Post-Soviet Central Asia: Sovereignty, Community, and Cultural Self-Expression.

This program is hosted by the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, a Bard College dual-degree partner since 2009. 

Academic Structure and Requirements

Russian Language Course (4 credits)

● Beginner Russian: Multiculturalism in Central Asia

● Beginners to Intermediate: Transitional Russian

● On the Road to Proficiency: Russian from Intermediate to Advanced

Post-Soviet Central Asia: Sovereignty, Community, and Cultural Self-Expression (4 credits) meets four times a week. It is a requirement for all program participants.

In addition to daily language classes, the program includes:

● Russian Table lunches, which encourage vocabulary practice and conversation

● Guided homework sessions with peer tutors from AUCA who provide valuable one-on-one interaction, language exercises, and communication tips.

Homestays

Students reside with local Russian-speaking families in Bishkek, experiencing daily life in Kyrgyzstan while immersing themselves in a Russian language environment. Homestays include two meals a day during the week and three meals on weekends.

Cultural Program and Extracurricular Activities

Participants experience the culture, history, society, and natural beauty of Kyrgyzstan through weekly excursions and museum visits in and around Bishkek. They also go on trips to sights of interest outside of the city, including the stunning Lake Issyk-Kul and the Ala-Archa Nature Park.

FALL 2026 BARD-AUCA STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM

Program Dates: August 17 - December 22, 2026

Application Deadline: April 1, 2026.

For more information and to apply visit the website.

The Bard-AUCA study abroad program provides students a chance to engage deeply with the languages, cultures, and politics of Central Asia while living and studying in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. With coursework in fields such as Anthropology, Central Asian Studies, Political Science, and regional languages, the program is especially fitting for students interested in the post-Soviet space. Russian language development is supported across all levels, and students can choose one of three academic tracks based on their academic goals and language proficiency:

• Beginning Russian Language Track

• Intermediate/Advanced Russian Language Track*

• Liberal Arts Track

*Students with at least one year of college level Russian can apply for the Intermediate and Advanced Russian Language Track.

Key aspects of the program include:

• One-week Russian Intensive

• Russian Language Courses

• Russian-speaking Home-Stays

• Enrollment in 2-5 academic courses

Additional program highlights:

• Cultural program 

• Support from peer tutors

• Student clubs, extracurricular activities, and civic engagement projects

• Volunteering and internship opportunities

Summer 2026 Study Abroad in Tbilisi - Russophone Literature in the Caucasus with Wake Forest

Applications are open for the Summer 2026 Wake Forest/Georgia Study Abroad Program in Tbilisi! 

The program invites undergraduate students to spend four weeks in Georgia studying Russophone literature written in and about the Caucasus, alongside visits to cultural and historical sites connected to the texts. The literature course is taught in English translation. Students may also enroll in a Russian language course at the elementary, intermediate, or advanced level. 

The application deadline is March 1. 

Please find the program details below. Do not hesitate to reach out to pribblek@wfu.edu with questions. 

Program Overview:

• Application deadline: March 1, 2026
• Dates: May 22 - June 21, 2026  
• Course offerings: 
• 3-credit course in English translation: Russophone Literature of the Caucasus (Wake Forest transfer credit for RUS 341) 
• 4-credit optional Russian language course at multiple levels (Stetson University transfer credit)  
• Prerequisites: NONE; you do not need to speak or study Russian to participate 
• Accommodations: Homestay with a local family (Russian-speaking or English-speaking, depending upon student preference). 2 meals/day provided. 
• Excursions: 
• Cooking masterclass with traditional Georgian supra 
• Wine region tour and tastings in Kakheti 
• Polyphonic singing class 
• Georgian dance class 
• 3-day overnight trip, possibly to Svaneti 
• City walking tours of Tbilisi 
• Cost: $5,315 program fee + $2,850 tuition + round-trip airfare estimated at $1,600 + $100/week or less on food (2 meals/day included in homestay) 

Spring Break & Summer Study Abroad with SRAS — Deadlines and Info Sessions

Spring Break 2026 Programs

Application deadline: January 20

Spend your spring break abroad with academically focused, one-week programs in:

• Russian Language in Riga, Latvia
• Media Literacy in the Baltics (Riga, Latvia)
• Wine and History in Tbilisi, Georgia

These short programs are a great way to gain international experience when you have time and/or budget constraints.

SRAS.org/springbreak

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Summer 2026 Programs

Application deadlines begin March 1

SRAS summer programs are available in:

• Armenia
• Georgia
• Kyrgyzstan
• Latvia
• Poland

Study topics such as:

• Language
• Security
• Geopolitics
• History
• Regional and cultural studies

SRAS.org/summer

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Upcoming Zoom Info Sessions

SRAS is hosting several live Zoom info sessions where you can learn more and ask questions:

Security and Society Summer School INFO Session
Saturday, January 17 — 11:00 AM ET

Caucasus Programs INFO Session
Saturday, January 17 — 12:00 PM ET

Bishkek Programs INFO Sessions
Thursday, January 22 — 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, January 24 — 10:00 AM ET

Plus regular INFO sessions where you can ask questions about any of our programs.

You can register for any session at: SRAS.org/INFO

American Councils Study Abroad Deadline Reminder

AC Study Abroad Spring 2026 applications are open, with the submission deadline fast approaching on October 15, 2025. For undergraduates, graduates, and scholars, we will be offering the following programs: 

Advanced Russian Language and Area Studies Program, currently offered at:

• Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) in Almaty, Kazakhstan
• Tallinn University in Tallinn, Estonia
• Yerevan State University in Yerevan, Armenia 
  

Eurasian Regional Language Program, offering 10 different languages at the sites below, including: 

• Kazakh in Almaty, Kazakhstan
• Romanian and Ukrainian in Chisinau, Moldova
• Farsi, Dari, Tajik, Uzbek and Pashto in Dushanbe, Tajikistan
• Georgian in Tbilisi, Georgia
• Armenian in Yerevan, Armenia
  
  

American Councils continues to offer very generous financial aid. Scholarships administered directly by American Councils can be applied for within each program's application. 

To schedule online advising appointments, please click here. 

To schedule virtual classroom visits, please click here. 

If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to Max Shelton at mshelton@americancouncils.org

Bard-AUCA Study Abroad Program Spring 2026

Applications are open for the Spring 2026 Bard-AUCA Study Abroad Program in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan! Hosted by the American University of Central Asia (AUCA), a Bard College dual-degree partner since 2009, the program invites undergraduate students to spend a semester studying in an international liberal arts setting at one of Central Asia’s leading institutions.

Please find the program details below. Also, please feel free to share with students who may be interested. Questions are welcome at torlova@bard.edu.

Spring 2026 Bard-AUCA Study Abroad Program

January 5 - May 23, 2026

Deadline: November 1, 2025.

For more information and to apply visit the website.

The Bard-AUCA study abroad program provides students a chance to engage deeply with the languages, cultures, and politics of Central Asia while living and studying in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. With coursework in fields such as Anthropology, Central Asian Studies, Political Science, and regional languages, the program is especially fitting for students interested in the post-Soviet space. Russian language development is supported across all levels, and students can choose one of three academic tracks based on their academic goals and language proficiency:

• Beginning Russian Language Track

• Intermediate/Advanced Russian Language Track*

• Liberal Arts Track

*Students with at least one year of college level Russian can apply for the Intermediate and Advanced Russian Language Track.

Key aspects of the program include:

• One-week Russian Intensive

• Russian Language Courses

• Russian-speaking Home-Stays

• Enrollment in 2-5 academic courses

Additional program highlights:

• Cultural program 

• Support from peer tutors

• Student clubs, extracurricular activities, and civic engagement projects

• Volunteering and internship opportunities

2025 Russian Study Abroad programs at Daugavpils University, Latvia -- Learn Russian in the EU

Learn Russian in the European Union (Daugavpils, Latvia) is accepting applications for the following Russian study abroad programs:

- 2025 Spring Semester Study Abroad Program.

- 2025 Summer Russian Language and Area Studies Program, 5 weeks

- 2025 Summer Intensive Russian Language Program, 6 weeks

- 2025 Fall Semester Study Abroad Program.

Daugavpils University will host all these programs and award undergraduate credits. We will appreciate your sharing this information with your students and colleagues.

PROGRAM SUMMARY

2025 SPRING SEMESTER

The following study options are available:

- Russian Language and Political Science;

- Russian Language and East European Studies;

- Russian Language, Literature, and Culture.

Application deadline November 25, 2024

Document submission deadline December 1, 2024

Optional pre-semester Russian January 13, 2025

Semester start date January 27, 2025

End date May 16, 2025

Duration 16 weeks

Total in-class hours 320

Credits 30 ECTS

2025 SUMMER RUSSIAN LANGUAGE AND AREA STUDIES PROGRAM, 5 weeks

Application deadline April 14, 2025

Document submission deadline April 21, 2025

Start date May 25, 2025

End date June 28, 2025

Duration 5 weeks

Total in-class hours 120

Russian class level Intermediate, Advanced

Credits 9 ECTS Russian, 3 ECTS Area Studies

2025 SUMMER INTENSIVE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE PROGRAM, 6 weeks

Application deadline May 18, 2025

Document submission deadline May 25, 2025

Start date June 30, 2025

End date August 8, 2025

Duration 6 weeks

Total in-class hours 144

Russian class level Intermediate, Advanced

Credits 13.5 ECTS Russian

2025 FALL SEMESTER

The following study options are available:

- Russian Language and Political Science;

- Russian Language and East European Studies;

- Russian Language, Literature, and Culture.

Application deadline July 24, 2025

Document submission deadline July 31, 2025

Optional pre-semester Russian August 18, 2025

Semester start date September 1, 2025

End date December 19, 2025

Duration 16 weeks

Total in-class hours 320

Credits 30 ECTS

INTENSIVE PRE-SEMESTER COURSE

Students may select an optional intensive pre-semester course before starting the Fall or Spring Semester programs. This 2-week Russian language course enables students to brush-up the language skills, refresh grammar and active vocabulary, and ensure a smooth start of the academic program. The course doesn’t give academic credit.

ALL PROGRAMS INCLUDE

- Homestays with vetted and trained Russian host families, breakfast and dinner included.

- Exciting excursions, study trips around the Baltic states, and cultural experience.

- Airport pick-up and two-way transfer.

- Local insurance, 24/7 in-country support, and many more.

DAUGAVPILS

Daugavpils is the second largest city in Latvia and the largest Russian-speaking city in the European Union. Daugavpils is a Russian language enclave, where modern standard Russian is the language of daily communication.

Please find full details at Learn Russian in the EU website.

SRAS Summer Study Abroad - Application Deadlines

Application deadlines for the following early summer programs (end of May start) have been extended to March 15:

Batumi: Russian as a Second Language

Bishkek: Russian as a Second Language

Yerevan: Russian as a Second Language

Warsaw: Security and Society in the Information Age

The application deadline for all sessions starting after June 15 remain March 15. This includes the 6-week sessions for Batumi, Bishkek and Riga - in addition to the Ukrainian Language Workshop and Polish Language & Culture – both in Warsaw.

STUDY ABROAD: Russian Summer School 2024 in Yerevan

DAEDLINE: May 15, 2024 ---- apply here Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce some updates to the schedule of ASPIRANTUM’s Russian Language Summer School 2024. Originally, the program was set to run from July 7 to August 30, spanning 8 weeks. However, in response to feedback from students whose university classes commence in mid-August, we have decided to offer more flexible start dates. Students now have the option to begin the program on June 23, June 30, or July 7, and can choose to participate in a 4 to 10-week course. This adjustment allows students who start the summer school on June 23 to complete an 8-week (160-hour) course by August 16. Please find further details about the course below. To apply, please visit: https://aspirantum.com/courses/russian-language-summer-school Students may select a 4-10 weeks (80 - 200 hours) program starting from June 23, June 30, or July 7, 2024 (please mention the preferred start date in your application form). 10 weeks - 200 contact hours (1 hour = 60 minutes) 9 weeks - 180 contact hours 8 weeks - 160 contact hours 7 weeks - 140 contact hours 6 weeks - 120 contact hours 5 weeks - 100 contact hours 4 weeks - 80 contact hours The Russian summer school 2024 will have 1 or 2 groups (upper elementary and intermediate) of up to 12 participants (the ASPIRANTUM Russian language groups during the last 8 years have usually had 2-8 students). In 2023, we had a cool group of eight students. They were all at the same level and ended up in one group. You can check out what they had to say about their experience below. The intermediate syllabus covers a wide range of topics, including Economic Russian, Military Russian, Legal Russian, Cultural Russian, Technological Russian, Medical Russian, and more. You can find the daily topics in the syllabus: https://aspirantum.com/curriculum/intermediate-russian-syllabus During our summer school, we have planned exciting trips to some of Armenia’s most renowned cultural heritage sites. These include the Quba Mere Diwane Yezidi Temple, the Garni Pagan Temple, the Geghard Monastery, the Mausoleum of Kara Koyunlu Emirs, the Amberd Fortress, and the picturesque Lake Sevan. We will also visit Martuni, Ayrivank on Lake Sevan, Ejmiatsin, Tsaghkadzor, Bjni, Khor Virap, Noravank, and more. These tours offer students a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in local culture. They will have the chance to milk and shear a sheep, savor cheese under a shepherd’s tent, and sample the finest Armenian cuisine in traditional restaurants. Additionally, they can enjoy a refreshing swim in Sevan Lake, situated 1900 meters above sea level, and Kari Lake, located at an elevation of 3185 meters. To get a glimpse of what these tours entail, you can watch a recap of our previous excursions here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3PmyCWDsvg and here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R4JlteBOxw The deadline to apply to the 4-10 weeks 2024 Russian language summer school is May 15, 2024. The participation fee is: $5490 - 8 weeks $4990 - 7 weeks $4490 - 6 weeks $3990 - 5 weeks $3490 - 4 weeks Discount: If you apply before March 15, 2024, and make the payment by March 21, 2024, the participation fee will be: $4990 - 8 weeks $4490 - 7 weeks $3990 - 6 weeks $3590 - 5 weeks $2990 - 4 weeks Dostoyevsky Scholarships Eligible candidates can apply for Dostoyevsky Scholarships. Please see the details here: https://aspirantum.com/scholarships/dostoyevsky-grants-to-learn-russian The Dostoyevsky scholarship will cover $1400, and the student, if awarded the scholarship, will have to pay $1400 less for the course. To apply fro the summer school, please visit: https://aspirantum.com/courses/russian-language-summer-school Below, I am sending you the testimonials of our students who participated in our summer schools. 1. Ecem Saricayir, PhD Student, Cornell University, USA - https://aspirantum.com/testimonials/ecem-saricayir--russian-language-4-weeks-summer-school-2023 2. Willem de Mol van Otterloo, Student, Cambridge University, UK - https://aspirantum.com/testimonials/willem-de-mol-van-otterloo--russian-language-6-weeks-summer-school-2023 3. Chika Nweke, Khan Academy, USA - https://aspirantum.com/testimonials/chika-nweke--russian-language-8-weeks-summer-school-2023 4. Catherine Pasternack, Student, UCLA, USA - https://aspirantum.com/testimonials/catherine-pasternack--russian-language-4-weeks-summer-school-2023 5. Xiaochuan Yu, MA in Development Studies, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Switzerland - https://aspirantum.com/testimonials/xiaochuan-yu--russian-language-8-weeks-summer-school-2023 6. Eleanor Inglin, Student, University of Birmingham, UK - https://aspirantum.com/testimonials/eleanor-inglin--russian-language-4-weeks-summer-school-2023 7. Katarzyna Swierad-Redwood, PhD Student, University of Notre Dame, USA - https://aspirantum.com/testimonials/katarzyna-swierad-redwood--russian-language-8-weeks-summer-school-2023 8. Annabel Baldwinson, Student, Australian National University, Australia - https://aspirantum.com/testimonials/annabel-baldwinson--russian-language-4-weeks-summer-school-2023 About 2023 Russian summer school: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_ySPv_7XUE About 2022 Russian summer school: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs0fjgpb7jc About 2021 Russian summer school: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKXYf_4sscg

CFA: American Councils 2023 Programming and Deadlines

Deadline: February 15, 2023 (summer); March 15, 2023 (fall)

American Councils is pleased to offer the programs featured below in Summer and Fall 2023. The application deadline for Summer 2023 is February 15, 2023 while Fall 2023 applications are due on March 15, 2023.  

• Advanced Russian Language and Area Studies Program, currently offered at:   
• Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) in Almaty, Kazakhstan  
• Yerevan State University in Yerevan, Armenia   
   
• Balkan Language Initiative, which offers the following languages and locations:   
• Albanian in Tirana, Albania  
• Bosnian in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina  
• Bulgarian in Sofia, Bulgaria  
• Macedonian in Skopje, North Macedonia  
• Serbian in Belgrade, Serbia  
• Montenegrin and Serbian in Podgorica, Montenegro
  
  
  
• Eurasian Regional Language Program, offering 15 different languages at the sites below, including:   
• Armenian in Yerevan, Armenia 
• Azerbaijani and Turkish in Baku, Azerbaijan   
• Chechen, Georgian, and Ukrainian in Tbilisi, Georgia  
• Kazakh in Almaty, Kazakhstan  
• Kyrgyz in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan 
• Pashto, Persian (Dari/Farsi/Tajiki), and Uzbek in Dushanbe, Tajikistan   
• Romanian and Ukrainian in Chisinau, Moldova 
  
  
• Overseas Professional and Intercultural Training Program (summer only): 
• Internships in 19 different countries in the Balkans, Caucasus, East Asia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia  
• Disciplines in Business and Innovation, Democracy Building and Human Rights, Ecology and Environmental Issues, Education Management, Gender and Women’s Rights, Journalism and Mass Media, Marketing and Communications, Public Health, and Social Services. 

Program participants live with host families, meet with conversation partners for several hours per week, and go on weekly excursions to aid cultural integration and support academic learning. All activities are conducted in the target language to foster greater language gains.   

  

Participants receive between 15 and 20 hours of instruction in small classes each week, earning 8 undergraduate/10 graduate credit hours in summer and 16 undergraduate/15 graduate credit hours for semester programming from Bryn Mawr College upon successful completion.   

  

Generous financial aid is available through the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Education, and several American Councils Scholarships, including the Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship and the Dan E. Davidson Scholarship for advanced language students. To learn more, please visit our Financial Aid page.   

  

If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at mshelton@americancouncils.org.