View of the of Peter and Paul Fortress and the Neva River

Study Abroad in Russia
Check out Scott Dilts's Russian Diary, Spring 2007! (pdf)
Our students are encouraged to experience firsthand the excitement of being immersed in Russian culture through participation in a study program in Russia. Programs are available during the summer (five to seven weeks) or for an entire semester or academic year. Credits earned for coursework taken in approved programs may be applied toward the Russian major or minor at Notre Dame.

Church of the Intercession- on-the-Nerl at Bogoliubovo (1165)

In the past, our students have studied in St. Petersburg or Moscow on programs sponsored by the University of Arizona, the American Council of Teachers of Russian (ACTR), Duke University, and others. These days, there are programs in Russia available for any interest. Some combine intensive language study with internships in business, law, government, or journalism, while others incorporate volunteer social work opportunities at local charities. There are programs in Russia's major cities, and others in smaller towns with a rural charm such as the ancient Russian cities of Vladimir and Tver. Many programs give students the option of living either in a dormitory or with a Russian host family. All study abroad programs in Russia include rich cultural and intellectual offerings beyond the language coursework, including excursions to places of historic interest and to cultural events such as plays, concerts, films, and lectures. A travel option that allows students to visit other locations in Russia besides their "hometown" is also a part of most Russian language programs. Click here for a listing of intensive Russian language programs. 

Since the spring of 2002, we have had an agreement with ACTR that classifies the ACTR semester and academic year programs in Russia as Notre Dame facilitated programs. ACTR has been sending students to study in Russia since 1976 and currently runs programs in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Vladimir. Each program is staffed by a full-time American residential director, and one day a week is designated for excursions to places of cultural interest. In addition, special opportunities such as in-country research projects or internship positions in business and non-governmental organizations can be arranged. For more information on the ACTR Russian language programs, visit the International Study Programs Website. 

Various scholarships and grants are available, on a competitive basis, for both summer and academic year study programs in Russia. For more details click here.

Professor Gasperetti with Professor Merritt and his students at Dostoevsky's Tomb in St. Petersburg

Further Opportunities for Research and Study in Russia
Sophomores and juniors who think they might be interested in pursuing a prestigious Fulbright Research Fellowship to Russia after graduation are urged to begin thinking early about a possible research project. Fulbright Teaching Fellowships to Russia are also available. Campus application deadlines for the Fulbright come at the beginning of the senior year (usually early September). Watch for notices about upcoming information sessions during the spring of your junior year, or, for further information, contact the Office of Undergraduate and Post-Baccalaureate Fellowships in 103 O'Shaughnessy Hall or visit the Fulbright Program Website.

The National Russian Flagship Program administered by American Councils/ACTR offers an intensive program designed to address the critical need for U.S. professionals to attain the highest levels of Russian proficiency. The two-year-long program includes one year of domestic language study (at a choice of four different U.S. colleges) and one year of overseas immersion study in St. Petersburg, Russia. Students who have already achieved advanced-level proficiency in Russian are eligible to apply directly to the overseas program.

Other exciting study abroad opportunities may be available in our program on an occasional basis. In the spring of 2002 Professor Gasperetti traveled with the students from his course RU 451 "St. Petersburg as Russian Cultural Icon" to St. Petersburg and Moscow during spring break. The students were able to see firsthand many of the cultural landmarks they had read about in their coursework, including Dostoevsky's Tomb, Pushkin's living quarters, and the Bronze Horseman statue of Czar Peter the Great.