Russian Overseas Flagship

The Language Flagship is a national effort to change the way Americans learn languages. Flagship offers pathways for students of all academic majors and language levels to pursue advanced-level language study in one of six languages: Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, or Russian.

The Russian Overseas Flagship, established in 2004, provides an immersive overseas experience for undergraduate students enrolled at one of eight US Flagship universities. The program helps participants develop superior proficiency in Russian, a critical language to US competitiveness and security.

There is both a domestic and an overseas component to the Russian Overseas Flagship. The domestic component supports students in reaching the language proficiency required for the overseas component in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The overseas component features formal language coursework, direct enrollment courses, individualized tutorials, conversation partners, bi-weekly excursions, including several overnight trips, and home stays with Russian-speaking families. Participants also benefit from extensive opportunities for professionally focused language development through internships with local organizations.

Participating Flagship universities include: Indiana University Bloomington, Portland State University, University of Georgia, and University of Wisconsin-Madison.


 

At a Glance

The Russian Overseas Flagship Capstone year is hosted by al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty, Kazakhstan, one of the premier institutes of higher learning in Central Asia. Students who have completed the domestic component of the program spend nine months living, studying, and working in the host-country. Faculty lead 30+ hours of classroom-based language learning per week, which are supplemented by time with host families, language partners, extracurriculars, and a professional internship. In their free time participants have the opportunity to explore Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan with a burgeoning arts and music scene, as well as travel to the diverse regions and unique natural landscapes of the country.

Upcoming Deadlines 

2025-2026 Application

January 13, 2025

Boren Scholarships

January 29, 2025

Click here to learn more about the Boren Awards.