FAQ - Overseas
- Am I eligible if my Russian is strong, but I never studied in Russia?
- I grew up in a Russian-speaking family -- am I eligible to apply?
- Do I need to attend the summer intensive program before going to St. Petersburg?
- Can I travel abroad while in Russia?
- When is the application deadline and how can I apply?
- Is there financial aid available?
- How much does the program cost?
- Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to apply?
- How do I assess my language skills before applying?
- How large is the Overseas Flagship group?
- Do I get academic credit for participating?
- Can you tell me more about the Overseas Flagship academic curriculum?
- Do I have to be enrolled in a university prior to applying to the Overseas Program?
- Can I study subjects other than Russian in St. Petersburg?
- May I participate in the Overseas Flagship Program if I never majored in Russian?
- Can I be accepted to the Overseas Program if I did not participate in a Domestic Program?
- Is the Overseas Program right for me?
- How is Russian Overseas Flagship different from other language and study abroad programs?
You have to complete at least 6 weeks of language study in Russia or a Russian-speaking country before the beginning of the program. Time spent in Russia as a tourist, being employed or volunteering, having an internship, or living with relatives does not count. Also, you cannot complete your study in Russia requirement during the summer when the overseas Capstone program begins. However, you may satisfy the requirement by going abroad for the fall or spring semester during your Capstone application year (i.e., if you are applying to the Russian Overseas Flagship Program 2013-14, you can study 6+ weeks in Russia in the fall of 2012 or spring of 2013, but not during the summer of 2013). If you are participating in a spring semester program in Russia during your Capstone application year, you may be accepted, but your participation in the year-long Capstone program will be conditioned upon your successful completion of the spring semester program.
Yes, as long as you can demonstrate the necessary level of Russian proficiency and have previously studied in Russia for at least 6 weeks. American Councils recognizes the fact that heritage students often experience specific language acqusition issues. The 2012-2013 student group includes five heritage speakers who follow a specially designed program that includes classes with other students and separate lectures that address issues pertaining to heritage speakers only. Our faculty has also developed a special study manual for heritage speakers.
No. Indeed, students are required to attend a study abroad program in Russia prior to the summer when the overseas Capstone program begins (i.e., if a student applies to the Russian Overseas Flagship Program 2013-14, he/she has to complete his/her study abroad before the summer 2013).
Yes. Although, obviously, you will not be able to travel for pleasure during the academic semester, you may travel in Russia or visit other countries during your winter and spring vacations. In doing so, you should, of course, follow the U.S. Department of State recommendations for travel to different countries.
All applications submitted to American Councils must be received in our office by January 15, 2013. Please remember that if you are applying for a Boren scholarship or fellowship, you will need to submit a separate application to the Institute of International Education (IIE). Please contact IIE directly for their requirements and deadlines. For more information about applying, please click here.
The Language Flagship provides support for students enrolled in domestic Flagship institutions to participate in the overseas Flagship programs through the domestic Flagship institutions. Interested students should contact the domestic Flagship program where they are enrolled for additional information.
Other Student Support Options
Boren Scholarships (for undergraduate Flagship students)
Boren Fellowships (for graduate Flagship students)
Interested students should contact IIE via email at boren@iie.org.
The cost of the Overseas Program varies from year to year depending on the cost of academic, housing, and administrative services in Russia and the United States. The program cost is also periodically adjusted for the current value of U.S. dollar and inflation in Russia. The cost of the 2013-14 academic year program will be $27,064 for Domestic program participants and $29,250 for at-large students (due to higher tuition cost for students who are not participants of the Flagship Domestic programs). In addition, students are encouraged to budget about $3,300 for meals not covered by homestays and miscellaneous expenses in St. Petersburg.
No, there is no citizenship requirement to apply to the Overseas Program. However, if you are not a U.S. citizen, you may not be able to apply for government financial aid.
To apply to the Overseas Program, you need Russian proficiency equal to 2 or 2+ on the ILR scale (Advanced-Med or Advanced-High on the ACTFL scale). You can self-test your current Russian skills using the following links:
In 2012-13, the Russian Overseas Flagship group includes 20 students. They are divided into four smaller groups for the purpose of taking classes. Our experience shows that classes of 5 students are perfect because they afford each student a lot of instructor’s attention while allowing the students to have a meaningful conversation and learn from each other’s mistakes and successes.
Yes. Students who successfully complete the Russian Overseas Flagship Program receive academic credits for their Flagship courses. American Councils has arranged for the recognition of overseas Flagship course work through Bryn Mawr College, a domestic Flagship institution, for American students who require a U.S. transcript of work completed under this program.
University of Wisconsin-Madison students receive credits through their own institution.
The Flagship curriculum, carefully designed by American and Russian specialists in Russian language teaching, includes several instructional components that supplement each other to provide a diverse, yet intensive language training to students. The curriculum components are:
- Intensive courses focusing on discourse development, designed specifically for the Language Flagship students,
- Direct enrollment, for credit, in one of St. Petersburg State University courses in the area/s of student’s specialization,
- Individualized tutorials,
- Bi-weekly excursions guided by language instructors,
- Internships with local NGOs, government, or businesses, and
- Homestays with Russian families.
If you are an undergraduate student, you need to be enrolled in one of our Russian Flagship domestic institutions prior to going overseas. If you have already earn a bachelor’s degree (or expect to earn it before going to St. Petersburg), you do not need to be enrolled in a domestic college or university.
Yes. In addition to Flagship courses, each semester you will be able to take one specialization course in your area of study or interest at St. Petersburg State University. The course will be completely in Russian, and you will take it alongside with Russian students.
Yes, as long as you have already achieved Russian proficiency equal to 2 or 2+ on the ILR scale (Advanced-Mid or Advanced-High on the ACTFL scale), and partiicpated in a 6-week or longer language study program in Russia.
Yes. In addition to the Russian Domestic Flagship students (i.e., participants of one of the four Russian Domestic Flagship programs), the Russian Overseas Flagship Program accepts a limited number of applicants who are not part of the Russian Domestic Flagship. These applicants are called "at-large." Besides possessing the required Russian language proficiency and study experience in Russia, the at-large applicants have to hold a bachelor’s degree prior to the beginning of the Overseas Flagship Program. Domestic students receive priority consideration during the selection process. The cost of the program is also different for the Domestic and at-large applicants.
The Overseas Program is a nine-month-long full-immersion program conducted entirely in Russian in St. Petersburg, Russia. Therefore, you need to have already achieved Russian proficiency equal to 2 or 2+ on the ILR scale (Advanced-Mid or Advanced-High on the ACTFL scale) to participate. You will be expected to achieve a Superior level of Russian after the successful completion of the Overseas Program.
The Russian Overseas Flagship is unique in several ways. First, unlike usual study abroad programs, the Russian Overseas Flagship program focuses on language training in conjunction with classes in a variety of subjects. Second, the Overseas Flagship program provides a higher level of language instruction than most of other language study programs, with Flagship students graduating at a near-native level of language proficiency. Third, the Overseas Flagship program employs a combination of the most efficient current teaching methods, including special (sheltered) language courses, enrollment in classes at St. Petersburg University, individual instruction with tutors, excursions guided by language instructors, internships with local businesses and organizations, and homestays with Russian families. As a result, the Flagship students graduate with a superior command of Russian and high proficiency in all aspects of the language, from informal conversation to specialized professional terminology. Finally, through complete immersion and carefully designed curriculum, the Overseas Flagship students gain the inside understanding of Russian culture, traditions and habits, and behavior of Russian people, which helps many Flagship alumni launch successful Russia-related careers.
