STUDY ABROAD IN RUSSIA

The erstwhile Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991 into fourteen different independent republics and since then, has been officially known as the Russian Federation, commonly referred to as Russia. Spreading across two continents, it is the largest country in landmass with an area of 6,595,600 square miles, stretching from Poland in the west to the Pacific in the east.

Russia has always been a fascinating place for all, especially for Americans, probably because of the extremely differing ideologies and the cold war between the two countries that lasted for almost five decades. A high school summer abroad in Russia can indeed prove to be an experience as varied and vast as the country itself.

The Russian education system is well planned and is a fall out of a strict communist regime that laid more emphasis on education rather than on anything else. It is no wonder that the country is rightly proud of its 100% literacy rate.

Russia, if you believe a common local saying, has two capitals - Moscow, for government and state affairs and St. Petersburg, for culture and art. Most of Russia’s 48 universities are located in these two cities and are major destinations for study abroad students. Russia is mostly known for its study abroad programs in the Russian language and culture, political science, history, and environmental studies.

The Kremlin excites those students who are interested in high school study abroad in programs for architecture and Moscow’s Red Square is a typical place to research the remnants of communism. The art collection of St. Petersburg’s Hermitage is considered to be the worlds best and is most suited for study in history and studio art.

Summer study abroad students of literature find St. Petersburg a very appropriate place to study Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Nabokov. The city is also home to the equestrian statue of Peter the Great, immortalized by Pushkin’s famous poem - The Bronze Horseman. It is indeed an inspirational structure for all upcoming poets. The world-renowned Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow is known to mesmerize study abroad students of performing arts with its ballet productions.

The icing on the cake is that study in Russia is extremely cheap and the facilities that come along with it are the best way to explore the cultural life of Russia. With a student’s ID card you can enjoy theatre and get involved in other cultural activities for a pittance.

All study abroad aspirants must have a student’s visa before landing in Russia. Entering Russia is comparatively easier than other countries. A passport, valid for 3 months beyond stay, photographs, and an official invitation from an authentic Russian organization are all that you will need to attach to your completed visa application.

Although the low cost of study almost negates the need for study abroad scholarships, they can still be accessed by approaching the universities and the foundations of your own country as well as in Russia.

Russia is not only a vast country in size but has a vast diversity in culture also. It is practically impossible to generalize Russian culture due to the vast plurality of citizens and cultures within its borders. From ethnically Russians to people living in the breakaway republics to those living in far off Siberia, the multiplicity of cultures and ethnicity is by itself an interesting topic for study abroad students.