The Center of Russian Language and Culture of Saint Petersburg State University is one of the major centers of short-term study programs for international visitors to Russia.

In sharp contrast to the multitude of commercial language programs that have appeared in Russia in recent years, our programs continue the longstanding academic traditions of Saint Petersburg State University as a major center for the teaching of Russian as a Second Language. The quality of the Center's programs is maintained by the skill, dedication and experience of our University faculty.

The course curriculum of the Center includes a wide variety of programs developed by the experienced professors and gifted instructors of the Center. All our academic programs focus on the use language in of real-life situations. Saint Petersburg and its environs provide rich cultural material on which much of the Center's course materials are based. The curriculum also includes extensive area studies material and introduces students to various aspects of life in Russia, including Russian traditions and folk culture.

The Center offers courses in Business Russian for business people from the United States, Europe and Japan, educational programs for diplomatic representatives and their families and for various international organizations, including the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the International Red Cross, UNESCO and others.

Many of the Center's academic programs are accredited language and culture courses for students from various universities in Europe and North America. Many of our partner universities and organizations have long- standing affiliations with the Center, and students in these programs receive university credit at their home universities for their program of study at the Center.

The Center also provides, on a contract basis, instruction to foreign undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as teachers, businessmen and others who are interested in Russian language, culture, civilization, politics or area studies.

Founded in the early 18th century by Peter the Great, Saint Petersburg State University is one of the oldest universities in Russia. The Center has many years of experience in Russian language instruction to foreigners. In the United States alone, there are currently more than 7,000 graduates of Saint Petersburg State University language programs (over the past 30 years).

Every year the Center accepts approximately one thousand foreigners from all over the world for study at Saint Petersburg State University.

Saint Petersburg is an excellent choice for anyone planning to study in Russia. First of all, the people of Saint Petersburg are known to speak a "classical" variety of standard Russian. Our students are also attracted by the relatively reasonable cost of living in Saint Petersburg, especially in comparison with Moscow (on the average prices are at least 30% lower in Saint Petersburg!). Breathtakingly beautiful, historic Saint Petersburg offers a wealth of possibilities for excursions and cultural activities, such as the Hermitage Museum, one of the largest and most prestigious art museums in the world and the Mariinsky Theatre, home of the renomned Kirov Ballet. The political and social stability of Saint Petersburg has been constant, even through the turbulent years of political and governmental change in Russia.

Ancient Russian cities like Pskov and Novgorod, with their fantastic onion-domed churches and walled kremlins, are accessible for one-day excursions from Saint Petersburg by overnight train or long-distance bus. The Center of Russian Language and Culture is also able to organize trips for foreing students at weekends to Moskow, Finland, Baltic Republics, the capitals of which are not far from Saint Petersburg.

The various programs of study of the Center have proven to be effective for international visitors and students over many decades. We also arrange linguistic and cultural practice for Russian native speakers residing outside of Russia, especially second and third generation immigrants residing in other countries.

The total cost of a program depends upon its duration and the services rendered, and may be negotiated on an individual basis.

Vjatcheslav V. Kalugin,     Deputy director