The Monterey Summer Symposium on Russia (MSSR) is a seven-week-long summer program that brings together leading Russian and American experts and top American graduate students to explore bilateral relations, Russian foreign and security policy, culture, and economics. The curriculum consists of several daily lectures and seminars in an intimate setting that allows MSSR fellows to learn from the best minds in the field, think together, ponder the vicissitudes of Russian history and politics, and discuss ways to alleviate the current crisis in bilateral relations. Over half of the curriculum is taught in Russian. MSSR 2018 will include teaching modules on Russia and Northeast Asia, cybersecurity, the history of bilateral relations, U.S.-Russian arms control negotiations, Russian iconography, the Russian military, among others. Ambassador Jack Matlock, Dr. Dmitri Trenin, Matthew Rojansky, among others, will be teaching at MSSR 2018.
Fellows who complete the program will acquire a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of contemporary Russia. Through intensive instruction in both English and Russian, they will have the opportunity to strengthen their language skills in the context of their academic interests. The program is funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York.
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How to Apply for MSSR 2018
The Symposium on Russia is open to students enrolled in or accepted to a Master’s or Ph.D. program, particularly those interested in careers in government, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations. Applicants must have advanced proficiency in Russian language.
Successful applicants will receive full tuition, as well as a full support for housing and transportation. The seven-week symposium will take place at the Middlebury Institute’s campus in Monterey, California from June 25-August 10, 2018.
Applications must be received before February 23, 2018 and should include:
– Cover sheet
– C.V. (max. 2 pages)
– Statement of purpose (maximum 600 words)
– Abstract of current research (maximum200 words)
– Details of Russian language proficiency (maximum 200 words)
– Two letters of recommendation
– Official transcripts, one from each post-secondary institution attended
Send application materials to avassili@miis.edu. All applications must be submitted in English. Successful applicants will be notified by March 1, 2018.
Monterey Summer Symposium on Russia 2017
Thirteen MA and PhD candidates from the top Russian studies programs in the world are members of the inaugural MSSR cohort. The symposium totaled 220 hours of classroom instruction, taught by 25 leading experts in Russian Studies and international relations. Of the 105 classroom sessions, 77 were taught in Russian.
2017 Resources
Full Program | Experts’ Bios | Podcasts | Fellows’ Bios