Summer Intensive Russian Language
Unique Experiences
Explore the medieval underground bastion passages
and visit UNESCO World Heritage sites
Walk the roofline
of the Tallinn TV Tower
Visit Noblessner Seafront Quarter
and become familiar with Estonian sauna culture
Your Destination
Tallinn is Estonia’s captivating capital, where centuries of history meet a modern, tech-savvy culture. Its unique geographic and cultural position makes it an ideal location for Russian language immersion, with a significant Russian-speaking population and opportunities to engage with the language in daily life. Explore Tallinn’s beautifully preserved medieval Old Town, visit museums that highlight Estonia’s complex history, and experience its blend of Baltic, Nordic, and Russian influences. Whether you're an intermediate or advanced Russian language student, Tallinn is the perfect place to study abroad and deepen your fluency through real-world practice and cultural exploration.
Program Highlights
- Academic Course: Take CIEE courses delivered in-person at the CIEE Center.
- Immersive Experiences: Participate in activities, excursions, study tours, and more that showcase your host city's culture, values, and local art, film, music, cuisine, and sports scenes.
Excursions & Activities
CIEE’s excursions and cultural activities in Tallinn will open doors for you to explore Estonia’s rich diversity, language, culture, history, and timeless beauty in ways that will enhance your time abroad.
Samples of past excursions and activities:
- Explore Tallinn’s old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, one of Europe's best-preserved towns from the Medieval Period
- Network with the Baltic American Freedom Foundation alumni businesses and other local startups
- Tour major Estonian cities, such as Pärnu (the summer capital of Estonia) or Tartu (the City of Good Thoughts)
Please note: Activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience.
Program Blogs
Studying and Interning Abroad in Tallinn: A Reflection on International Cooperation
This blog post comes from our Spring 2025 student, Chloe who had the opportunity to intern at the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the country's largest business network dedicated... keep reading
No Crowds, No Small Talk, No Regrets: Studying in Estonia
This blog post comes from Caleb, our Spring 2025 student. During his semester abroad, Caleb interned at the International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS), Estonia’s leading think tank focused... keep reading
Chasing the Sun: My Journey in Tallinn, Estonia
This blog post comes from our Spring 2025 student, Caroline who had the opportunity to intern at Mondo, an Estonian NGO focused on global education, development cooperation, and humanitarian aid... keep reading
Housing & Meals
Housing
CIEE Tallinn offers diverse housing options to ensure you're comfortable in your home away from home. From homestays to student residence buildings, your accommodation preferences will be met. Additionally, all housing options are located in neighborhoods with convenient access to public transportation, shops, cafés, and eateries.
Homestay: Includes a single room in a homestay with an Estonian and/or Russian-speaking host family to immerse you in the city’s language and culture. Homestays feature a kitchen, living room, and bathroom shared with the host family and are located within 30 minutes of the city center by public transportation.
Residence Hall: Includes a private room in a student residence building located within 5 minutes of the city center. All rooms boast a kitchen, private bathroom, free Wi-Fi, and tv, as well as bed sheets, blankets, towels, and weekly cleaning included in the fee. Students use self-service laundry facilities with other students/guests in the building.
A note: The default criterion to assign housing is first-come, first-served; however, other factors may also be considered. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we'll let you know before you arrive. Non-standard housing options require an additional fee that can be found in the program Dates and Fees.
Meals
- Homestays: Breakfast and dinner are provided
- Hotel-Residences: Meals are not included
Academics
CIEE Tallinn: Study in Tallinn’s city center at Tallinn University, CIEE’s partner institution, just a 10-minute tram ride from the historic Old Town and within walking distance of Kadriorg Park, Estonia’s largest urban park, as well as the harbor and key cultural landmarks. CIEE Tallinn offers a modern learning environment with a library, study areas, and student lounges.
Course Information
Summer 2025
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
- MSI Grant
- CIEE STEM Scholarship
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
| Educational Costs | $4,250 ** |
| Housing | $2,000 *** |
| Insurance | $200 |
| Total Fees | $6,750 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
*non-refundable
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
| Educational Costs | $6,160 ** |
| Housing | $1,890 *** |
| Insurance | $200 |
| Total Fees | $8,550 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
| Meals not included in program fee | $238 † |
| International Airfare | $1,500 †† |
| Local Transportation | $30 ††† |
| Books & Supplies | $50 †††† |
| Personal expenses | $160 ††††† |
| Total Costs | $1,978 |
*non-refundable
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†For students in homestays, families provide 2 meals a day. For students in residence halls, you should budget approx. $335 per month for groceries if you plan on making your own meals, and more if you plan on eating out regularly.
††Round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure
†††Public transportation Card
††††Russian textbooks
†††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Our Staff
Evelyn Müürsepp
Center Director
Evelyn had 15 years of experience in Estonian Government before joining CIEE, where she supported the launch of the CIEE Tallinn Center. Tallinn is Evelyn's hometown, and she enjoys the...
Mari Prok
Student Life Manager
Mari holds a Master's degree in Social Sciences, blending a multicultural background with over four years of hands-on experience in marketing & IT project management, event planning, and client relations.
Get Started
1
2
Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.
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Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
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