Semester Abroad: BA students
Language acquisition courses at LUCRES are taught by experienced Dutch instructors and award-winning native speakers. But we also know that you can only learn the real language by spending time in a Russian-speaking environment. That's why a semester abroad is part of our regular BA programme.
Whether you enroll in the BA programme Slavic Languages and Cultures or the BA programme Russian Studies, you will spend one semester (3 months) of your second year in Saint-Petersburg, as part of the regular programme. The programme LUCRES offers is co-ordinated by our partners of the Netherlands Institute in Saint-Petersburg.
Courses
The courses offered in Saint-Petersburg most prominently include language acquisition courses. Additionally, you can pick a number of courses from a range of disciplinary subjects. The courses offered in Saint-Petersburg are part of our regular BA programme. They are subject to monitoring and evaluation as to their contents and quality. The incorporation of the Semester Abroad in the regular programme means that:
- credits obtained in Russia count towards the 180 ECTS credits required to complete the BA programme;
- the Semester Abroad causes no delays in obtaining the BA degree.
Co-ordination
Travelling to Russia always needs careful preparation, even more so when you'll actually be staying there for a longer period. Accommodation, tickets, insurance, proper enrollment in university, and an official invitation are among the requirements to obtain the necessary visa – enough to give any first-time visitor a headache.
That's why LUCRES has a special co-ordinator for the Semester Abroad, who prepares and co-ordinates all the necessary procedures, and who will see to it that the arrival and enrollment in Saint-Petersburg goes well.
Costs
We'll be honest: studying abroad is not exactly cheap. Transport, accommodation and tuition all cost money. But Leiden University, its Faculty of Humanities and LUCRES all think it is important to acquire an international outlook even before you start the Master programme. This helps us to keep the additional expenses for students as low as possible.
