Admission to all American Councils Russian Language Programs is competitive and is based on Russian language ability, academic record, personal essays, and references. An outside panel of Russian language professionals reviews applications and selects the finalists.  American Councils Outbound staff may interview applicants as part of the admissions process.  Selected applicants will be contacted by telephone to schedule interviews.

Acceptance into the program is conditional on the student’s continued ability to meet eligibility requirements.  These requirements include mandatory attendance at the pre-departure orientation in Washington, DC, timely submission of all forms to the American Councils Washington office, and compliance with American Councils visa regulations.  American Councils reserves the right to withdraw acceptance to the program if a student suffers a severe drop in GPA, is the subject of legal or disciplinary action, or fails to maintain American Councils confidence that she/he will be successful on the program.

American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS requires that participants comply with a Personal Conduct Code.  Participants risk immediate dismissal from the program, loss of academic credit, revocation of visa and early return to the United States should they: behave in a way that endangers or impairs the abilities of other students to participate in the program and/or American Councils staff to meet their responsibilities to the group; violate Russian law, university rules, visa regulations or travel policies; possess, manufacture or distribute drugs; consume a level of alcohol that might cause physical injury, arrest or detainment; and/or fail to abide by academic policies outlined below.  Participants should understand that they are subject to the laws of the country they are visiting. In many cases Russian laws are much stricter and the penalties for violating them are much stronger.  All participants are expected to comply with the host country’s laws as well as the policies of American Councils for International Education.

All aspects of the academic program are monitored by an American Councils-appointed American resident director. All American Councils program participants are registered for academic credit at Bryn Mawr College.  Graduate students receive the equivalent of 15 academic hours for one semester of study, 30 hours for the academic year, and 10 hours for the summer program.  Undergraduates receive the equivalent of 16 academic hours for one semester of study, 32 hours for the academic year, and 8 hours for the summer program.

It should be noted that although students are participating in an American Councils program, they are also enrolling as a student at a Russian university. Therefore, students should be prepared for classroom conditions that may be very different from of those of U.S. universities and teaching methods that differ considerably from those of many American faculty.  Students should remain open and receptive to the reality of Russia. In many ways, the quality of each student’s academic experience will depend on his/her ability to accept cultural differences gracefully, his/her willingness to participate earnestly in classes, and his/her desire to form productive friendly relations with instructors.

(for RLASP, BRLI, Summer Teachers, and Individualized programs)

American Councils requires students to speak Russian in university classes, on the grounds of the university, when speaking with university staff, officials and teachers, and on group excursions. Violation of this policy will result in grade reduction.

American Councils for International Education and Bryn Mawr College require that participants be present for all classes and group meetings, as well as excursions (for certain programs). Excused absences include those due to observance of religious holidays and illness, but it is the student’s responsibility to alert the Resident Director as soon as it becomes evident that a class, meeting or excursion will be missed.  Habitual tardiness and unexcused absences will result in grade reductions or other disciplinary actions.

Final grades will be determined in Washington by the American Councils Office of Russian and Eurasian Programs. In doing so, the Office considers the grades awarded by instructors as well as evaluations and comments of the Resident Director.  Therefore, students should not assume that the grades his or her teachers announce in class will be the final grades – they may be adjusted as necessary to reflect the student’s overall participation in the American Councils program.  Many factors can affect grades – readiness to speak Russian outside of classroom, participation in weekly excursions, and overall effort put into coursework are of particular significance.  If a decision to change a student’s grade is made, it should come as no surprise; students will have received clear verbal or written warnings from the resident director before such a measure is taken.  Should a student be dissatisfied with his/her final grade, the student should contact the outbound staff in the Washington office.

Bryn Mawr College issues academic credit for participation in the American Councils program, but each participant is responsible for arranging credit transfer to his or her home institution.  As each college and university has its own regulations regarding credit transfer, the participant should contact his or her home school to determine how much of this credit may be transferred upon completion of the program.  This should be done before the student leaves the United States.  There is often a delay between the end of the program and the issuing of official transcripts by Bryn Mawr College. If you are a graduating senior, please make arrangements in advance.

Additional transcripts must be requested in writing directly from Bryn Mawr College. Transcript request forms can be found on the Bryn Mawr website at www.brynmawr.edu/registrar. Transcripts will not be released if the student has outstanding financial obligations.

All participants must attend the pre-departure orientation in Washington, DC.  Housing and meals are provided during the orientation. Attendance at pre-departure orientation is required for all program participants, regardless of time previously spent in Russia.  Following orientation, all students will travel to Russia as a group. Students are not permitted to travel to Russia independent of the group.  There are no exceptions to these rules.

International travel:  Students must travel to Russia with the group after orientation and they must leave Russia on the last day of the program.  Participants are not allowed to travel outside of Russia during their program and cannot travel to areas that are deemed unsafe by the U.S. Embassy or Russian government. Academic Year participants can leave the country during the winter break.

Independent travel within Russia: Participants must alert the program’s Resident Director of his/her intention to travel independently in Russia at least one week before any planned trip.  Participants are also required to complete an “Independent Travel Form” before leaving on any trip.

Extending the study abroad experience:
Students often decide while in Russia that they would like to continue studying abroad on American Councils programs for an additional term. Those students wishing to extend (whether from fall to spring, spring to summer, or summer to fall) must submit a new statement of purpose, new financial aid application (if applicable) and a recommendation for the Resident Director to the Washington, D.C. American Councils office by the following application deadlines: October 1 (Spring semester); March 1 (Summer term); April 1 (Fall semester).

Visas and other documents: Students must carry their passport, visa, migration card, and registration at all times while in Russia. Visas are valid only for through the dates of the American Councils program. Students must leave Russia on the last day of the program.

Host families provide participants with private rooms and keys to the home, as well as three meals per day on weekends, and two meals per day on weekdays.  American Councils requires that participants treat their host family with respect and courtesy.  Each participant must be understanding of the family’s customs, diets and schedules; have realistic expectations of what the family can do for the participant; keep his/her room tidy; inform the family when he/she expects to miss a meal or return home late; refrain from rude/offensive behavior; and must not invite guests over without the host family’s permission.  Under no circumstance will students be allowed to have overnight guests. Failure to comply with American Councils’ rules could result in expulsion from the host family and other disciplinary actions.

Russian universities have special dormitories for foreign students and American Councils students are generally housed in them. In these dormitories, residents live with other members of their group or Russian university students in a suite of two or three rooms with one shared bathroom. Single rooms are not available. Entry into Russian dormitories is strictly controlled and requires that students present proper identification – a pass or student ID. Guests must also present a photo ID upon arrival. Further, all guests must leave the dormitory by 11 p.m. Under no circumstance will students be allowed to have overnight guests in their dorm room.

Under a 1995 Russian law, any person applying for an academic visa must present documentation showing that the individual is HIV negative. Documentation must contain at least the applicant’s name, blood test results for HIV infection, including date of the test, and name of the doctor conducting the test.  A copy of the official lab report is sufficient, as is a letter on official letterhead signed by the doctor.  Please note that we cannot formally submit your visa application to the Russian embassy until we have received your certificate.  Late receipt of your HIV test could delay your visa processing, and therefore, your departure for Russia. HIV tests must be taken within three months of departure to Russia. Earlier tests will not be accepted by the Russian embassy.

American Councils would like to stress that this requirement is issued by the Russian government and will not affect your acceptance to American Councils programs.  Your participation in the program, however, is contingent upon your ability to qualify for a Russian visa.

A $500 non-refundable program deposit and a $200 non-refundable visa fee are due to secure placement on the program. The deposit and visa fee due date will be specified in the acceptance letter. After a student has accepted a placement on an American Councils program, invoice will be issued and sent either to the participant's permanent address or to their home institution if payment is arranged directly through the participant school. Payments must be postmarked by the due date indicated on the invoice. Please note that participants who choose to pay by credit card will be charged an additional 3% transaction fee. Late payments will be subject to a late payment fee as follows:

Academic year students may choose to pay the program cost in two installments: fall semester cost by the invoice due date and the remainder at least 14 days before the beginning of spring semester. Participants may petition American Councils in writing to establish a payment plan at least 14 days before the invoice due date. Participants must demonstrate financial hardship or other circumstances which would make it difficult to pay the invoice by the established deadline. If a payment plan is approved, a missed deadline in the payment plan will be subject to the same late payment fees as outlined above. Please note that American Councils has individual financial agreements with a number of US universities and it is student responsibility to check with the study abroad office on the university payment policy. If a participant is responsible for only a part of the program cost, he/she will be subject to the same late payment fees as outlined above.

N.B. All programs are considered to start on the first day of pre-departure orientation.

Withdrawal before the program starting date
A non-refundable deposit of $500 and non-refundable visa fee of $200 are required to hold your place on the program.

If written notification of withdrawal is received before the program starting date, American Councils will refund all program fees except for the following:

In cases where program deposit, visa fee or 25% of the program cost has not yet been received by American Councils, these fees will be due.

In the case of withdrawal by an American Councils financial aid recipient, all financial aid received must be returned to American Councils within 14 days of the withdrawal notification.

Deferral before the program starting date
A non-refundable deposit of $500 and non-refundable visa fee of $200 are required to hold your place on the program.

If written notification of deferral is received before the program starting date, American Councils will refund all program fees except for the following:

In cases where program deposit, visa fee or 25% of the program cost has not yet been received by American Councils, these fees will be due.

The non-refundable deposit of $500 and 25% of the program cost may be applied towards future participation on an American Councils study abroad program within the next 11 months.  Participants who defer acceptance to a program will be sent an American Councils Deferral Credit Form.  This form outlines the amount paid by the participant toward his/her initial program and must be returned to American Councils when the participant is ready to confirm participation in a program for a new term.  The Deferral Credit Form must be returned along with a written request for reactivation of the application by the appropriate application deadline.

In the case of deferral by an American Councils financial aid recipient, all financial aid received must be returned to American Councils within 14 days of the deferral notification.

Withdrawal on and after the program starting date
A non-refundable deposit of $500 and non-refundable visa fee of $200 are required to hold your place on the program.

If written notification of withdrawal is received on or after the program starting date or if a confirmed participant does not notify American Councils in writing of his/her withdrawal and does not attend the pre-departure orientation, American Councils will refund all program fees except for the following:

In cases where program deposit, visa fee or the appropriate percentage of the program cost has not yet been received by American Councils, these fees will be due.

In the case of withdrawal by an American Councils financial aid recipient, the financial aid will be pro-rated based on the amount of time a participant is enrolled in the program.  All funds exceeding the pro-rated amount must be returned to American Councils within 14 days of the withdrawal notification.

By accepting their position on the program, participants give permission for photographs taken by them or of them to be used by American Councils in advertizing materials for outbound programs. If participants do NOT want to have their image appear in publicity materials, they can send a written request to the outbound department, stating their preference.