The Department of Russian and Slavic Studies gives students the opportunity to study abroad and explore the world through the UA study abroad programs. Students from the University of Arizona and from around the USA are invited to apply to the following in-country study abroad programs. We offer several language-intensive programs as well as two new opportunities that focus on cultural immersion. The latter will be held in English (or in Russian with translators), and no previous knowledge of Russian is required.
RSSS Summer School of Russian & Eurasian Studies (SSRES) in Kyrgyzstan
Offered: Summer of 2026
The Department of Russian and Slavic Studies, in collaboration with the Human Rights Practice Program at the University of Arizona, invites students to an unforgettable summer in Bishkek, the lively capital of Kyrgyzstan. Hosted at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA), this eight-week, faculty-led program combines intensive Russian language study with hands-on experience in human rights advocacy. Participants enroll in an immersive Russian language sequence that emphasizes practical communication skills for everyday life and professional contexts. Coursework is complemented by regular cultural programming designed to deepen understanding of Kyrgyz society, regional history, and the multilingual realities of daily life in Bishkek. A defining feature of the program is direct engagement with human rights work. Through site visits, guest lectures, and structured reflection, participants gain insight into how human rights challenges are addressed on the ground. Program highlights include a trip to Ala Archa National Park, a breathtaking reserve in the Tian Shan mountains, and a three-day excursion to Lake Issyk-Kul, a stunning high-altitude lake famous for its crystal waters and mountain scenery. This program is ideal for students interested in Russian language development, international education, human rights, humanitarian work, and experiential learning. For more information, please contact Professor Liudmila Klimanova at klimanova@arizona.edu.
RSSS Summer School of Russian & Eurasian Studies (SSRES) in Uzbekistan
Offered: Summer of 2027
The SSRES Program in Uzbekistan is an exciting three-week, culture-focused study abroad experience along the historic Silk Road.The program includes ethnographic excursions to the Fergana Valley, Samarkand, and Bukhara, offering students a unique opportunity to engage with Uzbekistan’s rich cultural heritage. Based in Tashkent, the vibrant capital of Uzbekistan, the program immerses students in a city where tradition and modernity converge. Tashkent, a historic crossroads of the Silk Road, features a striking blend of architectural wonders—from the grandeur of the Khast Imam Complex to the sleek, artistic designs of its metro stations. Participants will deepen their cultural understanding through cooking and pottery classes, local craft workshops, and direct engagement with Uzbek traditions. The program offers a 300-level course on the history and culture of Uzbekistan (3 credit units), featuring an opportunity for an on-site research project supervised by a local expert. Additionally, students will enhance their language skills through practical conversation classes in Russian and Uzbek. For more information, please contact Professor Liudmila Klimanova at klimanova@arizona.edu.
RSSS Summer School of Russian & Eurasian Studies (SSRES) in Kazakhstan
Offered: Summer of 2028
The SSRES Program in Kazakhstan gives Russian language students a unique opportunity to learn language and experience the culture in one of the most vibrant, successful post-Soviet Russian-speaking countries. The key features of this program are intensive Russian or Kazakh language (all levels are welcome!), and culture study in the beautiful and modern capital of Kazakhstan, Astana. During the six-week stay in Kazakhstan, students will have weekly excursions in Astana and around the country, including: a weekend-long trip to Burabay (the Switzerland of Kazakhstan), possible trips to Almaty, a visit to ALZhIR, a Gulag camp for the wives of the "enemies of the people," a trip to the Korgalzhyn nature reserve - the most northern habitat of pink flamingos, and other excursions to cultural and historical places of interest. The program offers an intensive immersive six-week intensive Russian course (beginning, intermediate, or advanced) and a non-credited practical Kazakh culture course as a bonus course for University of Arizona students. The program contact is Professor Liudmila Klimanova, klimanova@arizona.edu
"In 2012, I studied abroad in Moscow, Russia through the Arizona-Russian Abroad program offered by the University of Arizona. During the short eight months that I spent there, I learned so much more about the culture, history and every day life of Russia; things that one could never learn by reading a textbook. All of this knowledge came from not only visiting the famous museums and watching a ballet or two at the State Kremlin Palace, but also by going on a relaxing walk through Sokol’niki Park (my personal favorite part in Moscow) and having casual conversation with Muscovites. And half way through each semester, just when the students were growing tired from studying, we took a week-long to different cities: the first to Saint Petersburg, the second - Kazan. As a result of experiencing the submersion into such a different country, I have countless memories of my time there, a greater respect for Russia and the people and have become much more fluent in the Russian language (three months into the semester I had passed the state exams and achieved the Level-1 Certificate)."
-Keith Wright, about study abroad experience