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Study Abroad in the Caucasus

Study language, identity, history, and regional affairs across distinct cultural, political, and geographic landscapes.

Located between the Black and Caspian Seas, the Caucasus has long been a crossroads of empires, trade routes, languages, religions, and cultures. Today, its position between Europe, Russia, Turkey, Iran, and Central Asia continues to shape questions of identity, security, economic development, and international relations.

Within a relatively small geographic area, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan reflect extraordinary linguistic, religious, cultural, and geographic diversity. The three countries share centuries of interconnected history while differing significantly in language, religion, political orientation, economic development, and relationships with neighboring powers.

These contrasts make the Caucasus particularly valuable for students interested in language, international relations, history, political science, anthropology, identity, and cultural studies. Studying in the region provides direct exposure to societies navigating questions of historical memory, cultural continuity, conflict, migration, and political and economic change.

The Caucasus in the Eurasian Corridor

Within the Eurasian Corridor, the Caucasus occupies a crossroads between the Black and Caspian Seas and between Russia, Turkey, Iran, and the wider Middle East. Trade routes, migration, empires, and cultural exchange have moved through this space for centuries; today, transportation networks, energy routes, and competing regional interests continue to reinforce its strategic importance.

Eurasian Corridor map with the Caucasus highlighted and Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan labelled.

Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan navigate this geography in very different ways. Their relationships with neighboring powers and international institutions provide contrasting perspectives on security, economic development, regional cooperation, and foreign policy, while their location makes the Caucasus an important link between Europe and Central Asia.

Countries of the Caucasus

Georgia

SRAS’ primary study base in the Caucasus, Georgia brings questions of language, identity, history, civil society, and regional security into focus within one of the region’s most culturally and geographically diverse countries.

Learn About Studying in Georgia

Armenia

Explore history, identity, cultural continuity, and regional diplomacy while examining Armenia’s relationships with neighboring states and its position within the wider South Caucasus.

Learn About Studying in Armenia

Azerbaijan

Examine how energy resources, rapid economic development, cultural identity, and relationships with neighboring states have shaped Azerbaijan’s distinctive position within the South Caucasus.

Explore Azerbaijan Further

Learning Across the Region

The Caucasus can be explored through multiple academic perspectives, with language, identity, history, culture, and international relations often intersecting in ways that deepen understanding of the region.

Language

Study Russian, Georgian, Armenian, or Persian while exploring how language reflects identity, history, and relationships among communities across the region.

International Relations & Security

Examine regional conflicts, diplomacy, energy, security, and the relationships among neighboring states and regional powers.

Identity & Society

Explore nationalism, religion, ethnicity, memory, migration, and cultural change.

History & Culture

Explore ancient cultural traditions, religious heritage, shifting borders, imperial legacies, and the ways historical memory continues to shape contemporary societies.

Programs in the Caucasus