Russian in Kazakhstan

Academics

Field of Study: Humanities

Develop your Russian language skills in this intensive language program designed for students with intermediate, advanced, and even heritage speaker proficiency. Through small, interactive classes in Almaty, Kazakhstan—the country's cultural capital—you'll rapidly advance your language abilities while exploring Russian literature, history, politics, culture, mass media, and area studies in an immersive academic environment.

Unique Study Opportunities

Study Russian with experienced faculty who specialize in teaching international students.
Build your conversational skills through weekly meetings with a local Russian-speaking language partner for language practice and cultural exchange.
Explore Russian language and culture through weekly excursions to museums, historical sites, theaters, and research centers, culminating in a regional studies field trip at the end of the program.

Language

Language of Instruction:

Language Study: Required

This program is focused on Russian language study. During Weeks 1–7, students complete 20 hours per week of Russian language classes and excursions. Coursework includes intermediate to advanced grammar, conversation, writing, phonetics, reading comprehension, and historical/social studies.

To support your success, your Russian language proficiency will be assessed both before departure and upon arrival. Based on your assessment results, you'll be placed in the most appropriate group, consisting of around 4–6 students per group.

Courses and Credit

Requirements while Abroad

To successfully complete this program:

Take a full-time course of study: 2 courses for a total of 12 quarter/8 semester UC units.
You may take one course for pass/no pass credit.

Current Program Courses

There are two courses required in this program:

Intensive Conversation (6 quarter/4 semester UC units)
Intensive Grammar (6 quarter/4 semester UC units)

Course Restrictions

Additional or optional coursework, internships, and research for academic credit are not possible on this program.

Catalogs and Resources

American Councils Academics and Courses Page: Review academic details on American Councils website.
UCEAP Course Catalog: See a list of courses students have taken on this program.
Campus Credit Abroad: Learn the types of credit (major, minor, general education, elective) students from your campus received at this location. There are currently no listings for this program in the database.

Academic Culture

This program emphasizes active language use through small classes and a student-centered approach focused on language acquisition. Instructors prioritize mastery of each concept before introducing new material, helping students develop a strong foundation in Russian. Weekly language partner meetings further support conversational practice while providing opportunities for cultural exchange and engagement with local life in Kazakhstan.

Grades

You'll earn direct UC credit and grades for all coursework. Summer grades are typically available in early October. Requests for early grades cannot be accommodated.