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Is this program right for you?

This program is designed for students with 4 semesters of college-level Russian who wish to improve their proficiency with the Russian language. This is an intensive program that focuses on all language skills.

Program Snapshot

  • The longest-running study abroad program in Russia; held in beautiful St. Petersburg—300 years of history in one city
  • Intensive Russian language training for intermediate and advanced students
  • Homestay with a Russian family for maximum cultural and linguistic immersion
  • Sobesedniki: conversation partner program with Russian students
  • Local cultural excursions and field trips; two overnight excursions, including a multi-day trip to Moscow to visit sites of cultural importance such as the Kremlin

Subject Areas

  • Russian Language
  • Russian Studies

About St. Petersburg

Envisioned by Peter the Great as his “Window to the West,” French and Italian architects created a testimony to opulence with palaces, mansions, landscaped parks and gardens, canals, and vibrant colors. Having endured bombardment, famine, the horrors of Stalinist repression, and the city’s near total devastation in World War II, the people now cope with a new emerging political and economic reality. Known as Leningrad from 1924 to 1991, the city of nearly five million is easily navigated by bus, trolley, and an efficient metro system.

Where You'll Study

St. Petersburg State University

Founded in the 18th century, St. Petersburg State University is one of Russia’s leading institutions of higher learning. The University’s 16 departments provide instruction for more than 20,000 students. The campus has expanded from its original site on the Neva River, and now includes over 400 buildings around the city center and the suburb of Peterhoff. CIEE students study at the University''s Smolny campus, in a quiet neighborhood on the east side of downtown St. Petersburg.

Thoughts From Abroad

Summer is arguably the best time to study in St. Petersburg. The days are long and the nights so full of light that they’re called “white.” Bring a sweater, though. Alexander Pushkin, Petersburg’s and Russia’s most famous poet, teased that the northern summers are a caricature of southern winters. But the real draw is the city itself. For 200 years, St. Petersburg was Russia’s imperial capital, and the architectural splendor from that period has earned the city UNESCO status as a world heritage site. Inside its many historic buildings, its grand homes and palaces, and its churches and architectural ensembles, you will find some of the greatest treasures of world culture, including the Hermitage Museum, The State Russian Museum, and the Mariinsky Ballet and Opera Theater, to name just three of the most famous. The CIEE Study Center in St. Petersburg is located on the banks of the Neva in the sky blue baroque complex surrounding the 18th Century Smolny Cathedral. St. Petersburg is a wonderful city in which to study, and the summer is a great season.

— Nathan Longan, Resident Director

Staff Bios

Dr. Nathan Longan, Resident Director, received his B.A. in Russian studies at Dartmouth College in 1982 and his Ph.D. in Slavic languages and literature from the University of Michigan in 1992. He is a past participant of the CIEE Russia study abroad program. One of his central research interests is second language acquisition. He is the author of numerous articles on the topic and was a contributing author to the textbook Russian, Stage Two. Dr. Longan particularly appreciates the pace and cultural life of St. Petersburg, and especially the ballet and many art exhibits and installations.

Irina Borisovna Shuliakovskaya, Administrative Director, is a longtime St. Petersburg resident. She received her M.A. in Political Economy from St. Petersburg State University in 1986 and has many years of experience working with international educational exchange programs. Irina has been associated with CIEE in some capacity since the early 1990s. From 2002 to 2008, she was the Co-Curricular Coordinator and in 2008, she became the CIEE Administrative Director. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of St. Petersburg and is happy to share this knowledge with all CIEE participants.

Jarlath McGuckin, Resident Coordinator, graduated from the University of Rochester in 2002 with a B.A. in Russian and Political Science. In 2009 he received an M.A. in Russian Studies from the European University in St. Petersburg. In the spring of 2003, he began working for CIEE as Assistant for External Relations and then as Coordinator for Campus Relations in Portland, Maine at the CIEE corporate headquarters. Jarlath moved to Russia in the summer of 2006 to take on the role of Resident Coordinator at the CIEE Study Center in St. Petersburg. He is fluent in Russian and was a former participant in both the CIEE St. Petersburg and Prague programs. Click here to read more about what took him to Russia and the Czech Republic, and his passion for study abroad.

Recommended Credit

summer: 9 semester/13.5 quarter hours

Eligibility Requirements

  • Overall GPA 2.75
  • 4 semesters of college-level Russian or equivalent

Program Dates

Summer 20096/17/2009 - 8/15/2009
Summer 2010Available: 2/15/2010

Application Deadlines

Summer 20093/15/2009
Summer 20103/15/2010

Click here to check for deadline extensions.

Duration

Summer 20098 weeks
mid-June - mid-August
Summer 20108 weeks
mid-June - mid-August

CIEE Costs

CIEE program fees, inclusions, and estimated additional costs, are outlined below. Please note that CIEE reserves the right to adjust its fees in the event of significant change in exchange rates or other factors beyond its control. The actual cost of the programs may vary slightly for students from different institutions.

For comprehensive fee breakdowns and estimated additional costs, click the costs below:

  • Summer 2009 $6,200
    The CIEE fee for 2009 includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, tuition, housing and most meals, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, visa fees, most course materials, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

    Program Fees

    This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

    Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed below.

    Housing and Most Meals$1,600
    Medical Insurance$74
    Visa Fee$154
    Educational Costs (direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students; including $300 non-refundable Participation Confirmation Fee)$4,372
    Total$6,200

    The CIEE fee for 2009 includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, tuition, housing and most meals, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, visa fees, most course materials, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.



    Estimated Additional Costs

    The estimated additional costs indicated below are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

    Books and Supplies$50
    Local Transportation$150
    Transportation (round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure)$1,499
    Personal Expenses$600
    Additional Meals$125
    Total$2,424


  • Summer 2010 Available 12/15/2009

    Program Fees

    This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

    Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed below.

    Available 12/15/2009



    Estimated Additional Costs

    The estimated additional costs indicated below are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

    Available 12/15/2009


Scholarship Information

For a complete list of scholarships available, please vist our Scholarships section.