The best way to become fluent in a foreign language is through immersion, and that means traveling to and living in the target country. Studying overseas also enriches a student’s experience with world cultures and improves international relations. However, studying abroad can be an expensive proposition.
The following are organizations that offer funding for language study in Russia.
National Security Education Program (NSEP) Supports Undergraduate and Graduate Study
The National Security Education Program (NSEP) provides funding for U.S. graduate and undergraduate students to study the language and culture of regions around the world critical to U.S. interests. Russia qualifies as a country in which the U.S. wishes to support language study. NSEP has several funding options for studying Russia.
The NSEP’s Boren Scholarship provides up to $20,000 for qualifying undergraduate students. The award covers tuition, travel and living expenses, housing, and health insurance. The application deadline is in February each year.
The Boren Fellowship provides up to $30,000 for graduate students qualified to study in Russia. The application deadline is in late January each year.
The National Flagship Language Program is a two year advanced language study and immersion program focusing on Russian. The program provides for intensive study at any of several U.S. colleges and universities, followed by study at St. Petersburg State University in Russia. Those who complete the program will earn a Master’s degree. All academic expenses plus a modest stipend for living expenses are included. The application deadline is in mid-January.
Critical Language Scholarships for Intensive Summer Institutes
The U.S. State Department has teamed with the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) to offer Critical Language Scholarships (CLS) for intensive summer language institutes in Russian (at the intermediate and advanced levels) as well as several other targeted languages. The institutes run from seven to ten weeks. The focus is on group-based intensive language instruction, along with cultural enrichment experiences.
Students of diverse disciplines and majors are encouraged to apply, however participants are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship period. Applicants will also be expected to apply their language skills in their future professional careers. All program costs are covered for participants, including travel and living expenses, housing, and a stipend. The deadline for applications is in November.
Gilman International Scholarship Program for Undergraduates
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program funds grants for low-income undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens, but wish to study abroad. Over 1,700 scholarships averaging around $4,000 are awarded annually, with additional funding available to those who study a critical need language, such as Russian.
Applications for the Gilman scholarships are due in early October and early April. The Gilman Scholarship Program is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.
Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships (FLAS)
The U.S. Department of Education sponsors the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships Program (FLAS) which funnels funds to college and university foreign language programs. Eligible graduate students should apply for fellowships directly to an institution that has received an allocation of fellowships from the U.S. Department of Education.
These funds can be used for both domestic and overseas language and international studies programs, as well as some intensive summer language programs. Students should check with the university of their choice to see if that institution is receives FLAS funding.
A list of participating universities can be found at the FLAS website.
Fulbright Scholarships for Study in Foreign Countries
The Fulbright Program, sponsored by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, offers three types of grants for individuals wishing to study in Russia: Fulbright Full Grants, English Teaching Assistantships, and the Critical Language Enhancement Award, which provides Fulbright Scholars the opportunity to receive three to six months of intensive language study in addition to their Fulbright grants.
Alfa Fellowship Program
CDS International is a nonprofit organization that supports intercultural understanding and provides international career training opportunities in a variety of countries, including Russia. The CDS’s Alfa Fellowship is a professional development exchange program which places qualified young professionals in work assignments at leading organizations in Russia in the fields of business, economics, journalism, law, and public policy.
The program includes language training, seminar programs, and extended professional experience. Fellows receive travel, free housing, monthly stipends, and insurance.
IREX Grant Opportunities for Study in Russia
IREX (International Research and Exchange) is an international nonprofit organization that administers leadership and innovative programs to improve the quality of education, strengthen independent media, and foster pluralistic civil society development. IREX offers grant opportunities to help advance the education of students, scholars, and professionals through study in a number of target countries, including Russia.
Language Exploration Grants Through SRAS
The School of Russian and Asian Studies (SRAS) is a privately funded educational consulting company located in Woodside, California. SRAS represents Russian universities, recruiting students internationally who wish to expand their Russian studies and spend time at a university in Russia, while attaining credit from their home institutions.
SRAS offers some work study internships (with living stipends and discounted tuition). The organization also funds a limited amount of Research Abroad Grants, and the smaller Charles Braver Language Exploration Grant intended to help with the cost of SRAS study abroad programs. SRAS also accepts students funded through other programs such as the Boren and the Gilman scholarship programs.
Russian is a language of critical importance in today's world, and funding from a variety of government and private non-profits is available to encourage undergraduate and graduate students, teachers, scholars, and professionals to study in Russia. The organizations listed above are not the only sources of funding for Russian language study, but are the most prominent and provide a starting point in the search for grants, scholarships, and fellowship to support study abroad.
Margaret M. Williams - Margaret M. Williams (Peggy) has been a teacher for over 25 years. She currently teaches first grade in a classroom that combines native ...
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