February 14, 2012
If you’re considering IMARES, this program offers many comparative advantages. To begin with, IMARES faculty are unparalleled. They are experts in their fields and always very accessible. Many of them were also trained at top institutions in the West.
It would be difficult to find a higher concentration of outstanding Russia scholars in the US or Europe. IMARES provides an opportunity to learn from these individuals through a program based in Russia and taught in English. Its concentration of excellent professors plus an incredible faculty-to-student ratio beneftis IMARES students. All of these are great reasons to consider EUSP.
Studying Russia in Russia also provides benefits. For example, history scholars can learn about historical events in class and then visit locations for additional perspective. For political science and sociology students, you have the ability to witness first-hand key developments and dynamics at play in Russia. There are also a myriad of cross-cultural enrichment opportunities for everyone when studying at EUSP.
I’ve personally benefitted enormously from my experience at EUSP. Interactions with faculty members were always very enriching. I benefitted from the quality and depth of courses and discussions, as well. Moreover, I found faculty members accessible, helpful with any questions, and supportive both inside and outside the classroom.
In 2007, I arrived in Russia with a fundamental understanding of and appreciation for the country. By graduation, I had sharpened my knowledge dramatically and even expanded my knowledge into topics such as Russia in the global economy and among emerging markets. Now, I am enrolled in an M.A. program for international economics at George Washington’s Elliott School of International Relations where I will continue to benefit from my EUSP experiences.
Ultimately, it would be extremely difficult to find such a quality institution as EUSP. Russia is rich with culture, at the heart of a critical region in terms of security, and an important emerging market in the global economy. This program has the quality and depth to add value to your understanding and experience. There is no better place to study Russia than at Russia’s only English-language MA program. The memories developed from St. Petersburg’s plentiful opportunities for cross-cultural exchange plus the opportunity to study with an ecclectic group of international students only add to the list of benefits EUSP provides.
Whether you’re hoping to develop an initial background in Russian studies or sharpen an already solid understanding, there is no better place to engage in these pursuits. I highly recommend you consider EUSP.
John Walsh,
M.A. (Russian Studies), IMARS class of 2008