Russia in Central Asia Summer Program (Bard)

Deadline: March 15, 2025

Bard Abroad is currently accepting applications for the Russian in Central Asia Summer Program, hosted by our long-term dual-degree partner, the American University of Central Asia (AUCA). The application deadline is March 15, 2025. This summer, we will be offering the following language courses: 

● Beginner Russian: Taking Advantage of Multiculturalism (NEW)

● Beginners to Intermediate: Transitional Russian

● On the Road to Proficiency: Russian from Intermediate to Advanced

Please see the program description below for more details. If you have any questions or would like any further information, feel free to contact torlova@bard.edu.

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Fieldwork Opportunities in Russian and Kazakh Folklore

Deadlines: May 2, May 6, 2025

Partnership for Russian, East European and Eurasian Folkloreinvites students and established scholars in folklore, cultural anthropology, ethnomusicology and related areas to join our field research teams to document Russian and Kazhak folklore in Kazakhstan. 

The research expeditions are led by Dr. Yelena Minyonok and Dr. Alevtina Tsvetkova, respected folklorists with years of experience in guiding students and collaborating with established scholars. Volunteers pay their own way plus a share of the general expedition expenses.  

Some financial assistance is available. 

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Study Abroad: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (Bard College)

Deadlines: March 15, April 1, 2025

Bard College is currently accepting applications for the following programs in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The programs are hosted by the American University of Central Asia (AUCA), Bard’s long-term dual-degree partner.  

1) Russian in Central Asia Summer 2025 Program

Program Dates: June 5 to August 2, 2025.

Application Deadline: March 15, 2025.

For more information and to apply visit the website.

2) Fall 2025 & Academic Year 2025/26 AUCA-Bard Study Abroad Program

Fall 2025: August 15 – December 20, 2025.

Academic Year 2025/26: August 15, 2025 – May 23, 2026. 

Application deadline: April 1, 2025.

For more information and to apply visit the website.

Please feel free to contact  torlova@bard.edu with any questions about the programs or application process.

Study Abroad: The Evolution of a Patronal Autocracy: The Case of Russia (Central European University, Budapest)

Deadline: February 14, 2025

Course date: July 21–25, 2025

The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has heightened the geopolitical importance of the region, catalyzing significant shifts in Eastern Europe and Eurasia – including Russia itself. To fully grasp these changes, a deep understanding of Russia’s post-communist evolution is crucial, coupled with a comparative analytical framework tailored to the region’s complexities.
This course, led by esteemed Eastern European and Russian émigré scholars, will explore the political, economic, and social dynamics that have shaped Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union, extending to the present ramifications of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Participants will engage in lectures and discussions to analyze Russia’s development trajectory, examining concepts like informality, patronal autocracy, and relational economy to assess the trends of democratization and de-democratization. Transcending the conventional “hybrid regime” paradigm of political science, this course introduces participants to new interdisciplinary approaches informed by the Eurasian literature on the region.

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Study Abroad: The Evolution of a Patronal Democracy: The Case of Ukraine (Central European University, Budapest)

Deadline: February 14, 2025

Course Date: July 14–18, 2025

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine has not only endangered Ukraine’s sovereignty but also highlighted the regional power dynamics and the ongoing struggle between autocratic and democratic governance structures in Eastern Europe. This course examines Ukraine’s structural evolution since its independence, providing an essential framework for understanding the contemporary shifts in its political, economic, and social landscape—particularly through the lens of “patronal democracy,” which governs Ukraine’s unique political dynamics.

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Russian Language Program in Tbilisi, Georgia (Harvard University)

Deadline: January 30, 2025

Harvard Summer Program in Tbilisi, Georgia

Dates: June 8 – August 3, 2024

Applications due: January 30, 2025

Program Director: Dr. Veronika Egorova

This eight-week program offers a unique blend of cultural and Russian language immersion in the ancient capital city of Tbilisi. Participants will have the chance to explore Georgian and Russian culture, history, literature, and film, making it an unparalleled experience for intermediate Russian language learners.

Key Program Highlights:

  • Intensive intermediate-Russian language courses every weekday.
  • Additional sessions for conversational practice and exposure to Georgian culture, history, literature, and film.
  • Opportunities to engage with city experts, writers, artists, preservationists, politicians, and NGOs.
  • Extensive travel within Georgia to gain a deeper understanding of the region and its traditions.
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Study Abroad: Spring Break in Georgia (SRAS)

Deadline: January 5, 2025

Join SRAS for Spring Break in Georgia. In this 8-day trip you will be immersed in Georgian landscape, food, and culture. We will be based in Tbilisi with day trips to Kakheti (wine country) and Kazbegi (mountains). Enjoy the amazing culinary side of Georgia with the full “Georgian table,” cooking class, and tastings.

The itineraries are based on weather conditions during that time period, which means we stay based (accommodations) in Tbilisi so as to be able to more easily make adjustments to the day trips. We have left plenty of time for independent exploration and we will offer some optional activities and give you recommendations. We’ll keep an eye on any cultural events taking place during your stay and we’ll introduce you to our spring semester students based in Tbilisi and to locals.

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Fulbright-Hays 2025 Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowships Program

Deadline: January 15, 2025

The Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) fellowship program provides opportunities for doctoral candidates to engage in full-time dissertation research abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies. The program is designed to deepen research knowledge and increase the study of modern foreign languages, cultural engagement, and area studies not generally included in U.S. curricula.

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The Summer Professional Development and Fellowship Opportunity for US Teachers of Russian (Al Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan)

Deadline: February 15, 2025

American Councils and ACTR are pleased to announce the 2025 Summer Professional Development and Fellowship Opportunity for US Teachers of Russian at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Summer Fellowships Awards provide round-trip international and domestic air transportation from the participant’s home to Almaty, tuition, housing and 2 meals per day, pre-departure orientation in Washington, DC, cultural program, insurance and an allowance for the acquisition of teaching materials.

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2025 Summer Institute for the Study of East Central and Southeastern Europe

Deadline: October 30, 2024

SISECSE will provide participating scholars with time and space to dedicate to their own research and writing in a collaborative and interdisciplinary setting. The program covers travel, accommodation, and per diem expenses. Scholars are expected to be in residence and to participate in all planned events for the duration of the institute.

Learn More and Apply

In addition to conducting their own research, scholars will have the opportunity to participate in a series of immersive discussions on a broad topic of shared academic interest. In 2025, discussions will explore “Epistemic Mistrust: Authorship, Credibility, and Knowledge Production.” Whether in times of crisis and war, or times of peace and stability, who do we trust to tell the truth? Whose stories do we listen to? With a growing lack of trust in traditional sources of knowledge—including suspicion of academic institutions—public confidence in the value of research is eroding. Nevertheless, humanistic approaches are essential for fostering critical thinking and promoting interdisciplinary dialogue. Participants will consider diverse questions: how can scholars in the humanities or interpretive social sciences help cultivate a more nuanced understanding of truth? How can we enhance the relevance and accessibility of academic research? How can we make the process of knowledge production and dissemination more inclusive?

Eligibility 
The competition is open to scholars in any field or discipline in the humanities and interpretive social sciences pursuing postdoctoral or advanced research in East Central and Southeastern Europe, including Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine. We seek to foster conversations across generations and fields.
 
Scholars must be based at institutions in North America (Canada, Mexico, US) or East Central and Southeastern Europe (see the list above).
 
Applications must be submitted in English, but the written work produced by the grantee can be in any language. Work proposed must be in the humanities and interpretive social sciences and must employ humanistic approaches and methods.

This program is made possible thanks to a generous donation by Carl and Betty Pforzheimer.

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