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CIEE Summer Russian Area Studies in St. Petersburg, Russia (Outgoing Program) Print 
  • Locations: St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
  • Program Terms: Summer, Summer I, Summer II
  • Homepage: Click to visit
  • Program Sponsor: CIEE 
  • Dates / Deadlines
Fact Sheet:
Fact Sheet:
Program Type: study abroad Program: Affiliate
GPA Requirement: 2.5 Housing: Homestay, Hotel
Fields of Study: Art History, Business, Multiculture Studies, Political Science, Russian Language of Instruction: English, Russian
Program Description:

Summer Russian Area Studies

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

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Program Overview

Warm weather and white nights make St. Petersburg extra special in summer, and with a heritage filled with larger-than-life figures like Peter the Great, George Balanchine, and Fyodor Dostoyevsky, there’s no shortage of fascinating topics to explore. Come with little or no Russian language, and return with new skills, fresh perspective, and memories to last a lifetime.

Unique Experiences

LIVE IN A 300-YEAR-OLD CITY

where traditional and modern forces converge

INCREASE YOUR UNDERSTANDING

of Russian history, culture, business, and politics - with your choice of courses taught in English

STUDY RUSSIAN LANGUAGE

in a city so spectacular that its entire downtown is a UNESCO Heritage Site

Read student stories

Excursions & Activities

  • Explore city highlights like the Hermitage, the Peter and Paul Fortress, and the Russian Museum, and take a walking tour based on Dostoevsky’s book, Crime and Punishment.
  • Enjoy the fascinating phenomenon called White Nights - stroll along the banks of Neva and the city’s numerous canals in almost broad daylight.
  • Attend a ballet, concert, or soccer game, and get a taste of Russian and Georgian cuisine with cooking classes.
  • Walk in the footsteps of famous writers in St. Petersburg, home to Russia’s most celebrated artists of the 20th century: Anna Akhmatova, Vladimir Nabokov, Joseph Brodsky, and Sergei Dovlatov.
  • Spend a day enjoying summertime open-air concerts, yoga and pilates classes, and film screenings at the New Holland, a man-made island previously used for ship-building.
  • Visit the biggest planetarium in the world: located in a building that housed natural gas used for lighting St. Petersburg streets more than a century ago. Planetarium ?1 hosts interactive exhibits, educational classes, and classical music concerts.
  • Travel overnight to explore beyond St. Petersburg.
  • Get to know Russian peers during day-trips, sports events, cinema club meetings, pub quiz trivia nights, and more.

Projects

Volunteering: Students can give back to the community through various volunteer projects with local organizations.

Engagement with locals: CIEE organizes weekly events with Russian peers such as Scavenger Hunts, Game Nights, trips to museums, and much more! CIEE Russian Buddies are an endless source of support: always ready to assist in facilitating the integration of CIEE students into life in St. Petersburg.

What's Included

  • Tuition
  • Housing
  • Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
  • On-site airport meet-and-greet
  • Orientation – an introduction to Russian culture, your academic program, and the city, plus practical information about living in your host city
  • Full-time program leadership and support in your host city
  • Field trips and cultural activities
  • Overnight excursions
  • Insurance and other travel benefits, with CIEE iNext
  • 24/7 emergency on-site support

1 out of 3 CIEE students receives a scholarship - get yours!

GAIN Travel Grants - up to $2,000 toward travel costs guaranteed to all Pell-elgible students.

Gilman Go Global Grants - $2,500/semester and $1,000/summer, guaranteed to all Gilman applications.

Merit-Based Scholarships - $2,500/semester and $750/summer, awarded to students deomonstrating high academic achievement.

Minority Serving Institutions (MIS) Grant - $2,000/semester and $500/summer, guaranteed to all students attending MSIs.

Learn more

Why CIEE

  • 200+ study abroad programs in 40+ countries
  • $8 million in scholarships offered each year
  • 1 in 3 students receives a scholarship
  • Study tours and cultural activities included
  • Internships and volunteering opportunities
  • Rigorous academics
  • Cultural immersion
  • iNext travel insurance included

Questions?

Our highly experienced staff have extensive knowledge of all CIEE programs and services. If you are a student with questions about completing your application, or you want to sign up to receive program updates and news, our staff are happy to help.

Contact Us


Dates / Deadlines:
Dates / Deadlines:
Term Year App Deadline Decision Date Start Date End Date
Summer 2026 03/25/2026 ** Rolling Admission TBA TBA
Summer I 2026 03/25/2026 ** Rolling Admission TBA TBA
Summer II 2026 03/25/2026 ** Rolling Admission TBA TBA

** Indicates rolling admission application process. Applicants will be immediately notified of acceptance into this program and be able to complete post-decision materials prior to the term's application deadline.