PROGRAMS / RUSSIAN AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (RSL)       Site map

This Program is Available in:   Locations across Russia! See below for a full list of diverse locations   Frequently Asked Questions  About SRAS Programs; Housing; Airfare;  Visas; Safety in Russia; SRAS; Financial Aid; Credit Xfer; Applying; Budget; Other. Russian as a Second Language (RSL) program packages are designed for flexibility to suit almost any need or lifestyle. Study for a week or a year. Choose the bustling streets of Moscow or the rugged hills of Kyrgyzstan. Take advanced courses or start with the basics. You can even customize your program with added TORFL Testing, Internships, Home Stays, and/or Directed Study. With SRAS, it's all up to you. Curriculum RS-100/200/300 Russian Language Study   Students will receive at least 20 academic hours per week of individual or small-group language lessons. Topics for discussion, reading, and writing focus on daily Russian life, current events, history, and cultural studies. For more information see SRAS's suggested course outlines for beginning (100), intermediate (200), and advanced (300) courses. Some locations also offer lessons on regional history and culture. Customized courses are also available for advanced students and heritage speakers with specific interests. Contact SRAS for more information. Credits for RSL Study and Credit Transfer An academic hour is 40 minutes. A 15-week semester of RSL yields 15 credits. For custom periods, a rough equation of approximately 20 academic hours per credit may be used. Those planning to transfer credit earned abroad to their home university should discuss this with their university and SRAS in advance. Each university has its own policy on credit transfer that will need to be followed.  Click here for information on financial aid for RSL programs! Dates and Costs Semesters* Spring: Feb 1 - May 21, 2010  OR Fall: Aug 30 - Dec 17, 2010 Cost: $7 295     Credits: 15 Academic Year: Aug - May/June, 2011 Cost: $12 595     Credits: 30 Apply by: Oct 16, 2009 for spring                May 17, 2010 for fall & ac. yr. Summer* Early session: June 7 - July 30, 2010  Cost: $4 895  Credits: 9 Late session: July 5 - Aug 13, 2010 Cost: $4 195  Credits: 6 Apply by: March 1, 2010 for early session                March 31, 2010 for late session Flexible RSL* Costs: Base 4-week program: $3 395           Each additional week: $495 Name your own dates! Apply at least three months in advance. Not available in all areas or at all times. MISSED THE DEADLINE?     Contact SRAS about late submissions.      Program Locations St. Petersburg (SPbGU) Russia's cultural capital! Galleries, music, and theatre from classical to cutting edge. See also: The Arts in Russia Nizhny Novgorod (LUNN) Once an economic center and later a closed city, it feels at once medieval and Soviet. Novosibirsk (NGU) Founded to drive Soviet science, this sleepy Siberian city is now home to hi-tech firms.  Irkutsk (ILGU)  Lake Baikal, trails, and oil pipelines have made this Russia's environmental capital. See also: Siberian Studies Vladivostok (FENU) Where the Russian, Chinese, and Japanese cultures and economies meet. See also: Sino-Russian Relations Bishkek (AUCA or LSB) Choose this former Soviet regional capital, learn Russian and understand Central Asia. See also: Kyrgyz Focus Moscow (MGU) Where Russia's political and economic power is concentrated and exuded. See also: Russian Studies Abroad  Apply Now! *Program Details  *Costs: Program costs include tuition for study as outlined, dormitory accommodation, visa and registration, pre-departure materials, local orientation, health and accident insurance (with restrictions), cultural program, round-trip airport transfers, and SRAS in-country support. Programs in Moscow and St. Petersburg include mobile telephone with initial sim card. All prices subject to change without notice. *Prerequisites: There are no GPA or previous Russian language study requirements for RSL courses. The only limitations may be in scheduling of beginners' courses, which usually only start at the beginning of the semester or summer sessions. *Program Dates: Note that dates at Moscow State University or for year-long programs regardless of university may differ by several days; please inquire with us to confirm dates.   *About the Classes: Class size can range from 2 to 12, but is usually 4-6. You will find that the majority of your classmates are from Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, and Asia. When you arrive for your program, you will be placed in a group according to your language level, determined by a short written or oral exam. Depending on your level, you will be placed in a group that is already formed, or with other new arrivals of the same level. Note that for programs outside of Moscow and St. Petersburg, particularly in the summer, enrolment can be such that you may have individual lessons rather than group lessons. Individual lessons are more intensive than group lessons and thus those students on individual lessons will have a reduced schedule (but will cover the same amount of material and receive the same amount of credit). *Program Objectives: Two semesters of RSL is the equivalent of two to three years of college-level Russian at home. You will gain the language skills to be a strong candidate in many career opportunities in and related to Russia. After this academic year, we recommend continued studies in specific courses or internships related to your academic and professional objectives Youth in St. Petersburg. Photo by SRAS student K. Drischler.   Red Square. Photo by SRAS student H. Frank.   Traveling rural Russia. Photo by SRAS student K. Rozic.       (Moscow Coordinator) Lisa is AMAZING!! She is always available and willing to help anyone in the SRAS program and she really makes you feel supported which is hard to do in this crazy city. I love this program, I'm going to recommend that my department suggest it to other students every year. Thank you for everything!! N. Szablya, 2009         I feel like SRAS is an organization that cares about their clients. I don't know how many times I emailed (Program Director) Renee before my trip and had a response... no matter how insignificant it was, within a couple hours. I never felt like I was on my own... I feel confident recommending this organization to anyone who is looking to go to Russia. D. Bunkelman, 2004   Free Language Resources    Study at home, then study abroad! print this page email this page apply for this program