Frequently Asked Questions
Which students gain the most from studying at Smolny?
Study at Smolny College is not only for Russian Studies majors, although such students will naturally benefit greatly from the experience. Students interested in art, architecture, history, music, sociology, political studies, international relations, human rights, literature, or the sciences, etc., will find that Smolny offers courses suitable for their majors.
Will I take classes with Russian students?
Absolutely. In fact, you might be the only native English speaker in some of your classes.
What makes Smolny different from other programs?
Smolny is the only college in Russia to offer a broad range of liberal arts courses along with Russian as a Second Language. Strictly speaking, Smolny is not a "study abroad program." It is a four-year college with a diverse curriculum. Smolny's unique character allows students from the United States to be immersed in classes with Russian students. International students can take Russian as well as other academic courses that can meet requirements for the B.A. degree at their home college or university.
Does Smolny have a campus?
Smolny College is housed on the St. Petersburg State University campus, where it has its own space on the banks of the Neva River. It is an urban campus, less than a mile from the famed Hermitage State Museum. Current courses are taught at three separate locations, but Smolny will be completely moved to the historic Bobrinskiy Palace, which is being renovated to serve as Smolny's new campus.
How much Russian do I need to get the most out of the experience?
A good, working knowledge of Russian is required to take advantage of courses and opportunities offered at Smolny. Therefore, at minimum, an equivalent of four semesters of college-level Russian is required.
Students must enter the Bard-Smolny Program with a minimum proficiency of intermediate-mid, as measured on the American Council of Teacher of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) scale. Developed by U.S. language professionals, the ACTFL scale measures language proficiency. You are encouraged to ask your Russian teacher about how to determine where you place on the scale.
All students are required to take a language assessment as part of the application process.
Students who will have less than four semesters of college-level Russian prior to entering the Bard-Smolny program, and who have no other supplementary experience of Russian, are particularly encouraged to pursue a summer Russian language immersion program. Bard pre-approves five language immersion programs, including Bard's Summer Language Intensive (SLI) program. In certain cases, admittance into the program may depend on successful completion on one of these pre-approved of summer immersion program.
We encourage you to contact us for a list of pre-approved summer language immersion programs, to obtain more information on Bard’s Summer Language Intensive, and/or to discuss any other questions or concerns about the language proficiency requirements of the Bard-Smolny Program.
Who teaches at Smolny?
The Smolny College faculty is composed of respected academics, writers, and artists. In fact, Smolny is known for having one of the best teaching staffs of all departments at St. Petersburg State University. This is because Smolny, as a liberal arts college with a holistic curriculum, can draw faculty from all departments as well as from other distinguished St. Petersburg institutions, such as the Academy of Fine Arts, the St. Petersburg Conservatory, and the European University.
Are there courses in English?
Russian is the principal language of instruction. However, each semester a small number of courses are taught in English. Some American students find that they can meet their needs best by combining Russian as a Second Language (typically eight credits) with a course taught in Russian and a course taught in English. Smolny also offers practicing art courses in music, art, and photography, which place less emphasis on reading and writing.
The Smolny course list indicates which classes have been offered in English.
How many classes will I take each semester?
The average student enrolling at Smolny takes five classes per semester for a total of 15 credits. This typically includes a series of three Russian as a Second Language (RSL) courses (3 credits each) and two subject-based courses based on a students major, minor or area of interest (3 credits each). Language ability will determine whether the subject-based courses are taken all in Russian, all in English or one in Russian and the other in English. Students may also audit any course with the professor's permission.
Heritage and advanced Russian speakers may be able to take more than two subject-based courses and fewer, more targeted RSL courses. In certain cases, heritage speakers may be able to opt-out of RSL courses all together (pending RSL faculty approval).
All students will receive personalized academic advising on course selection once admitted into the program.
Click here to see sample course plans
What if I need a very specific class in order to graduate from my home school?
Prior to applying to Smolny we recommend that you review the program and course description information available on our website to get an idea of the kinds of courses that are typically on offer at Smolny. You should also plan to meet with your academic advisor to discuss how studying on the Bard-Smolny may or may not fit into your academic plan.
If you have a specific need that does not seem to be met by our program or if you are not clear whether a specific course you need will be offered the semester you plan to study at Smolny, we strongly encourage you to contact us. We are happy to discuss with you options and possibilities based on your particular situation and need.
Will I have the opportunity to travel outside of St. Petersburg?
An extensive and carefully planned cultural program is an integral part of North American students' time at Smolny College. The cost of the cultural program is covered by program tuition fees. You will visit many of the attractions within the city of St. Petersburg, such as the Hermitage Museum, the Russian Museum, the Dostoevsky Museum with walking tour, and the Anna Akhmatova Museum. Day trips may include Novgorod and the imperial palaces at Pushkin, Pavlovsk, and Peterhof.
Students are encourage to travel on their own during the academic breaks and after the program. Trips may include Moscow, Pskov, and Vyborg, to name a few prominent destinations. However, please be aware that your visa will expire on February 1st after the Fall semester and July 1st after the Spring semester. Overstaying your visa could lead to disastrous consequences, so be cognizant of the need to depart Russia safely in advance of your visa's expiration date.
Can I afford the program?
Bard College works to make studying at Smolny possible for accepted students. If your aid package from your home institution does not transfer, limited scholarships may be available from the Bard-Smolny program. Additionally, federal and state loans may apply. We also highly recommend that you check with the financial aid office at your home institution. Your academic advisor and study abroad office may also have ideas of other sources of funding and scholarships. If you have further questions, please contact the Bard-Smolny program staff.
How big is Smolny?
The Smolny student body is approximately 450 students.
How many Americans will there be in my program?
Each semester there are between 15 to 25 North Americans on the exchange.
I already speak Russian at home, do I need to take RSL?
Students who are heritage speakers may have different language needs, such as strengthening writing and reading skills. Smolny has the ability to tailor language instruction to fit different needs. Subject to RSL faculty approval, fluent speakers may opt out of the RSL requirement. More information on heritage speakers at Smolny is available here.
Can I do special projects at Smolny? Can I start a student group?
North American students are encouraged to contribute to the social and academic life of the Smolny community. Limited funds are available for Russian and U.S. student projects. Students working together in the past have sponsored film festivals, and discussion groups and established unique student interest committees. Some have used our virtual campus classroom to link with like-minded colleagues in the U.S.
Who issues credit/transcripts for Smolny?
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