Financial Aid
Loans, Scholarships, Fellowships, and Grants
for Study Abroad in and Study of Russia and other Former Soviet States
The following is a list of every scholarship, aid, and grant program that we know of that can help fund study abroad to Russia and other former Soviet states. Most are specifically for US citizens. If you have information on a financial aid source that is not listed here or would like to comment on those listed, please contact us.
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Study Abroad
in Russia!
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If you are looking for funding for educators, click here!
How can you earn credit towards your degree while studying abroad? Click here!
I. Currently Open Scholarship Cycles:
The following are all scholarship cycles currently open that we know of. If you know of others, let us know!
Reset Translation Grant gives $500 each semester to support one student-translator to come abroad and practice the craft! (more info)
Deadline for Spring, 2013: Oct 13, 2012
Deadline for Summer, 2013: Mar 15, 2013
Deadline for Fall, 2013: May 15, 2013
Vestnik: The Journal of Russian and Asian Studies Jury Award will award $200 to the best original student research published in its next issue! Deadline: June 15, 2012 (more info)
The Charles Braver Language Exploration Grant will award $500 to an SRAS applicant for language study in Russia, Kyrgyzstan, or Ukraine each semester. (more info)
Deadline for Spring, 2013: Oct 13, 2012
Deadline for Summer, 2013: Mar 15, 2013
Deadline for Fall, 2013: May 15, 2013
Home and Abroad: Creative offers $7,000 to students who want to build writing, research, art, and language skills at home and abroad. Deadline: Oct 15, 2012. (more info)
Stanislavsky Scholarships from SRAS award $750 for actors to study their craft in Russia. Deadline: March 15, 2013 (more info)
SRAS Research Abroad Grants award $1000 to upperclassman and graduate students who will conduct research in Russia or Kyrgyzstan over the 2012-2013 school year. Deadline: May 15, 2013 (more info)
The Home and Abroad Program offers $10,000 to students who want to build translation, writing, research, and language skills at home and abroad. Deadline: May 15, 2013. (more info)
II. Directly Applicable to Study Abroad Programs
The following resources are generally open to a wide range of study abroad programs (including those from SRAS) and may be directly applied to overseas study, professional development, research, and/or travel.
Boren Scholarships and Fellowships
Boren Scholarships and Fellowships provide unique funding opportunities for US undergraduate and graduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests, and underrepresented in study abroad, including Eurasia. This is part of the National Security Education Program.
Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships (FLAS)
FLAS provides academic year and summer fellowships to institutions of higher education to assist meritorious undergraduate and graduate students of foreign languages and related area or international studies. Check with your financial aid office to see if your institution is participating.
Gilman International Scholarship Program
Gilman Scholarships offer grants for U.S. citizen undergraduate students to pursue academic studies abroad. Those students currently receiving federal Pell Grant funding at 2-year or 4-year colleges or universities are eligible to apply.
Fulbright
Fulbright awards several types of grants to applicants who hold a BA, MA, or the equivalent of those degrees (but not a Ph.D.). Those grants most applicable to SRAS programs are the Full Grant for Study/Research and the Critical Language Enhancement Award. See also listings at The Fulbright Program in Russia.
IREX
IREX is an international nonprofit organization providing leadership and innovative programs to improve the quality of education, strengthen independent media, and foster pluralistic civil society development. It offers several programs for those interested in Russia.
GI Bill
The GI Bill can be used for degree study (and only degree study) in Russia at approved institutions. Preparatory language studies, if needed for entry into degree studies in Russia, are not eligible for coverage with the GI Bill.
Karabakh Foundation
This foundations offers fellowships that award a stipend and travel support as well as assistance in using archives, libraries and arranging meetings for scholars visiting Azerbaijan (for up to three weeks).
Whitaker International Fellows and Scholars
Whitaker Fellows are biomedical engineers (or bioengineers, which is considered synonymous) ranging from graduating seniors to those conducting doctoral studies. Whitaker Scholars are biomedical engineers who have/will have a PhD by the beginning date of their awards.
East European Studies Program
Provides funds from the State Department to support research that will contribute to a better understanding of the region and policy related to it.
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Study Abroad
in Russia!
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III. SRAS-Specific Scholarships and Aid
The following short list of resources are available to help fund study abroad through SRAS.
Home and Abroad
The SRAS Home and Abroad Program offers $10,000 to students who want to build translation, writing, research, and language skills at home and abroad. The scholarship may be applied to any SRAS program held in Irkutsk or Vladivostok lasting a full academic year. A rigorous internship component will be included with the program.
Home and Abroad: Creative
SRAS's Home and Abroad: Creative offers $7,000 to students who want to build writing, research, art, and language skills at home and abroad.
Charles Braver Language Exploration Grants
This SRAS-specific grant ranges from $500 to $1000 and is open to students who have completed two semesters of Russian, Chinese, or any Central Asian language.
SRAS Research Grants
This SRAS-specific grant offers students planning to do research while on a regular SRAS program $1000 to help with their endeavours.
Acting: Stanislavsky Scholarship
As part of its Acting in Russia program, SRAS offers three $750 scholarships each summer for actors study their art in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Translation: The Reset Grant
SRAS's Translate Abroad Program is a practical academic program offering intensive Russian lessons and professional, hands-on translation experience. In a small effort to improve the quality of the world's translations, SRAS is offering one $500 grant each semester to help young translators go abroad to study their craft.
NGO Scholarship Program
This program provides discounted internship placements to qualified students in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Bishkek.
SRAS Alumni Rewards and Student Initiatives
SRAS rewards alumni who return to Russia and/or refer students to SRAS! We also offer awards to students who have served active military duty or who receive Boren, FLAS, or Gilman scholarships. We also offer discounts to students who sign up together or who can offer their talents to helping SRAS achieve its goals!
IV. Other Program-Specific Scholarships and Aid
These scholarships can applied to specific programs offered by organizations other than SRAS.
Intensive Summer Language Institutes
Critical Language Scholarships (CLS) provide group-based summer intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences for eight to ten weeks.
The Alfa Fellowship Program
The Alfa Fellowship Program is a high-level professional development exchange program placing qualified young professionals in work assignments at leading organizations in Russia in the fields of business, economics, journalism, law, and public policy.
OSCE Master of Arts in Politics and Security Program
While places available for Americans are limited (applicants from Central Asia preferred), they are available and come with full tuition, housing allowance, monthly stipend, and paid insurance.
Dr. Chan Young Bang Fellowship for Global Education funds five graduate fellows to enrol at KIMEP in Kazakhstan tuition-free.
ISS Scholarships offer tuition-free summer study at KIMEP in Kazakhstan.
The Russian Presidential Academy Scholarships
The academy offers several scholarships for students interested in earning a two-year MBA in International Management, Project Management, or Change Management.
American Councils Research Grants
American Councils administers the Title VIII grants from the US government which host scholars heading to a range of Eurasian countries. The funds are then applicable to programs administered by American Councils.
V. University-Supported Programs Only
The following sources of financial aid are applicable only to those students who will be studying abroad under a program approved and accredited by their home university. Most universities will consider accrediting study abroad programs on an as-needed basis. Check with your study abroad or academic advisor to see how this might be possible. Universities charge for this, usually substantially increasing the cost of studying abroad. However, this arrangement opens more doors for funding.
Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation
Woodrow Wilson Fellowships support the development of future leaders at a variety of career stages in several critical fields.
The Global Studies Grant for Student Travel and Study Abroad
This grant annually provides a supplemental grant of $1000 for American students who already are studying abroad under the auspices of an official study abroad program conducted by an accredited academic institution.
SMART Grants
Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grants are available to upperclassmen who are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant and who are majoring in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, engineering or a critical foreign language.
Federal Student Aid (FSA)
There are many other types of Federal Student Aid, including Pell Grants, FSEOG, Perkins Loans, PLUS Loans, the GI Bill, and Stafford Loans. Read through the Federal Guide to Financial Aid to familiarize yourself with these and more.
The Ohio State University's Project Aspire
This program awards $30,000 to language majors interested in becoming teachers.
Study Abroad Loans
Study Abroad Loans is a private company that also offers loans to students enrolled in a US institution at least half time.
International Education Financial Aid
The IEFA is a database of financial aid sources for study abroad, including loans from private companies.
VI. Taxes, Etc.
WHAT ABOUT TAXES?
Generally, scholarships and grants used by degree students for tuition, fees, or books is tax free. However, if the money is used for travel or non-degree activities, it is taxable. See the IRS site for full info.
NOTES ON OTHER SOURCES:
If you have others to recommend, please contact us. If you have had experience with any of the above and would like to share that experience with us, please contact us.
There are many other private loan companies, scholarship and financial aid search engines, and books on the topic that can help you with funding your study abroad experience. However, make sure you check for publication/last update dates before you start spending hours on the information you find, or before you pay for a book or a membership fee. There are also scams out there, companies that will offer you loans, but with hidden charges and even several "scholarship scams," companies and people that charge the application fees for scholarships, but don't actually give scholarships. Talk about your options with your advisor, never sign up for or pay for something that looks less than professional.
Find Out More!
History of Russian Holidays
Internships in Russia
Health and Safety in Russia
The SRAS Newsletter
The SRAS Library on Russia
Journal for Students
More Free Resources!
Questions or comments?
Contact the editor.
2012-03-23 - The SRAS Home and Abroad: Creative Program
2012-01-23 - The SRAS Home and Abroad Program
2011-06-03 - The Charles Braver Language Exploration Grant
2010-11-28 - Alumni Rewards and Student Incentives
2010-08-24 - SRAS Research Abroad Grants
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