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Orientation
IAP expects you to be an active participant in preparing yourself for your study abroad experience. As a participant on an IAP program, you will receive a pre-departure orientation, either in-person or online. The type and format of this orientation will vary by program and will be provided to you upon acceptance to the program. ACTR also holds a mandatory pre-departure orientation in Washington , D.C.
Visa
A student visa is required. U.S. citizens must have a U.S. passport valid for at least six months beyond the end of the program. ACTR will provide you with visa information.
Getting to Your Program
ACTR holds a mandatory pre-departure orientation in Washington , D.C. - which is also where the optional group flight departs.
Insurance
You will be enrolled in the UW System required health insurance through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) and the cost of the insurance coverage is included in program fees.
In partnership with the UW-Madison, American Councils for International Education (ACTR), a non-profit educational association and academic exchange organization, offers the opportunity to study the Russian language and area studies in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladimir, and Almaty, Kazakhstan. The programs, which are designed to maximize linguistic and cultural immersion into Russian society, emphasize the development of practical speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills as well as offering courses on contemporary Russian society and culture.
Students can experience the profound economic and political changes taking place in Russia firsthand. The largest of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Russia reaches from Europe to Asia. In Moscow, the capital city, discover the 850 year history of the city. St. Petersburg is largely regarded as Russia's cultural center. Vladimir, a city with 360,000 inhabitants, located south of Moscow, has all the amenities of a small city.
Vladimir is a historic, smaller city located 200 km east of Moscow. Vladimir has a population of more than 300,000 and has a relatively busy city life with cafes, restaurants, cinemas and theaters. Vladimir also has many historic landmarks, one of which is the "Golden Gates". Vladimir does not have a large international population like Moscow and St. Petersburg, making it an ideal place for a student who wants to improve his or her language skills and experience the heart of Russian culture. There are also a few Russian universities, which gives Vladimir a significant Russian student population.
Getting to Your Program
ACTR holds a mandatory pre-departure orientation in Washington , D.C. - which is also where the optional group flight departs.
Visa
A student visa is required. U.S. citizens must have a U.S. passport valid for at least six months beyond the end of the program. ACTR will provide you with visa information.
Returned Student Network
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Student Profiles
Check out student profiles to learn more about their experience abroad.
Daniel Hirsch
How to Apply
First, make sure you have reviewed the information for Prospective Students on the IAP web.
There is also specific Academic Planning information that you should review.
Next login to the IAP Online Application. UW Affiliate programs may require you to apply directly to the affiliate either simultaneously during the IAP application process OR after you have received a preliminary acceptance decision from IAP. Be sure to read the instructions carefully for information on when to apply to the affiliate.
The following supplemental application materials are also required as part of the application to this program and will become available to you through the on-line application:
Program Forms
ACTR Application Fee: Mail
ACTR RLASP Application
Unofficial Transcript (Student Record)
Unofficial Transcript - OPTIONAL - Additional File
Summer Program Forms
ACTR Application Fee: Mail
ACTR RLASP Application
Unofficial Transcript (Student Record)
Unofficial Transcript - OPTIONAL - Additional File
Please Note: Forms are subject to change. Complete the forms according to the checklist provided to you in the online application portal.
After the Deadline
IAP will review your application and make a preliminary acceptance decision. You will be notified about IAP's decision by email. The affiliate university or organization will make the final decision on your acceptance to the program.
Participate in one of three language program options in one of four cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladimir, or Almaty.
Moscow International University, located in central Moscow, prepares specialists in economics, finance, management, ecology, sociology, and foreign languages. American Councils places students in the MIU's Department of Russian as a Foreign Language.
Herzen University, located in central St. Petersburg, is one of the leading education institutions in all of Russia. American Councils enrolls students in the Department of Russian as a Foreign Language.
Vladimir's KORA Center for Russian Language Study is located in the historic "Golden Ring" of communities that have played a significant role in Russian history. The program offers undergraduate-level language programs, combined language training, and subject-area coursework in cooperation with a specialized "KORA" language training facility.
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) hosts the program in Almaty. While there is a growing national interest in speaking and learning Kazakh, Russian remains the country’s lingua franca; all official information, as well a street names, road signs, and public announcements are produced in both Russian and Kazakh.
Most students enroll in the Russian Language and Area Studies Program (RLASP), which provides approximately 20 hours per week of in-class instruction in Russian grammar, phonetics, conversation, and cultural studies. However, there are two more specific, tailored programs that run concurrently with RLASP:
The Business Russian Language and Internship (BRLI) program combines a specially-designed curriculum for business Russian and a ten to twenty hour per week internship with a U.S. or Russian business in Moscow or St. Petersburg. Students will attend classes at partner universities, and take part in an internship on some afternoons and one full day per week. This program requires prior knowledge of the Russian language (typically six semesters, although four may be sufficient). All internship placements are subject to availability.
The Individualized Russian Language Program for Heritage Speakers is intended to address the specific needs of students who speak Russian at home or with relatives, or who grew up speaking Russian and wish to strengthen their Russian skills. Program participants work with American Councils staff and host university faculty to develop a tutorial program serving their unique needs as language learners.
Note: the BRLI and Heritage tracks are only available at the St. Petersburg and Moscow sites. The Contemporary Russian and Russian Language Teachers Program are currently not IAP-approved tracks.
Program Web Page(s)
American Councils Russia Abroad
Course Equivalents
Use the links below to see a list of courses that past students have taken on this program and the UW equivalents. Note: This list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses, departments or equivalents. Courses may not be available the semester you are abroad. You will receive instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance.
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