A Language Pathway at the Crossroads of Europe and Asia

Tbilisi sits at one of the world’s most dynamic cultural and geopolitical crossroads. Located between Europe, Russia, and the Middle East, Georgia’s capital has long been shaped by the movement of peoples, languages, and empires. Today, it remains a place where multiple identities and histories intersect—creating a rich and layered environment for language study.

Here, you will study Russian in an intensive, small-group setting while engaging with the language as it is used across diverse communities and regional networks. While Georgian is the official language, Russian continues to function as a shared language across much of the South Caucasus—used in travel, business, and cross-cultural communication. In Tbilisi, you will build confidence and fluency by using Russian in daily interactions through coursework, homestays, and structured activities.

This program is designed for students who want to prioritize language acquisition while also gaining exposure to the wider region. Semester students complete at least 8 credits of Russian language as the core of the program, with options to add electives or internships that provide additional cultural and regional perspective. Students seeking a more interdisciplinary, regionally focused curriculum may also consider the parallel Identity and Conflict in the Caucasus program.

Language in Context

In Tbilisi, Russian operates as a bridge language—connecting people across national borders, linguistic traditions, and generations. It is widely used in travel throughout the Caucasus, in cross-border exchange, and in many informal and professional settings. At the same time, its role varies by context, shaped by history, identity, and evolving regional dynamics.

Studying Russian here allows you to experience how language functions across cultures rather than within a single dominant system. You will gain not only communicative ability, but also an understanding of how Russian continues to operate across the South Caucasus and the broader region.

Program Details

 You will build your semester around intensive Russian language study combined with optional electives and experiential learning. Semester students typically complete 16 credits, with at least 8 credits of Russian language as the core of the program.

Courses combine structured classroom instruction with conversation practice, cultural engagement, and regional travel, allowing you to apply Russian in real-world contexts while gaining exposure to the South Caucasus.

Contact us for course syllabi.

RUSS 101-102/201-202/301-302/401 Russian Language Study

You will develop practical speaking and listening skills while strengthening grammar and expanding vocabulary through intensive, small-group instruction. Russian serves as a widely used bridge language across the Caucasus, supporting communication in travel, professional environments, and cross-cultural interaction. Through coursework, peer conversation sessions, and daily use, you will build confidence using Russian in a variety of real-world settings. 8 credits. Additional Russian Language Electives Elementary – Intermediate / A1–A2 Levels Russian Language in Context

You will strengthen conversational fluency through guided practice focused on everyday communication scenarios. The course emphasizes active speaking and listening skills, reinforcing language use in real-world contexts. 4 credits

Grammar Booster (Advanced Russian Grammar)

You will strengthen your command of Russian grammar through targeted review and application. Emphasis is placed on accuracy, clarity, and confidence in both spoken and written communication. 4 credits

Intermediate – Advanced / B1–B2 Levels

Advanced Conversation and Stylistics

You will refine advanced speaking skills while developing control over register, tone, and stylistic nuance across professional and social contexts. 4 credits

Russian Language through Media

You will develop advanced comprehension through engagement with authentic Russian-language media, including news, interviews, and digital content. The course emphasizes interpreting real-world material and articulating informed perspectives. 4 credits

Regional and Cultural Electives

Georgia Through Cinema

You will explore Georgian identity, history, and social change through film, engaging with local filmmakers and developing analytical or creative projects. 4 credits

“Food Fight!” The Intersection of Food and Politics

You will examine how food reflects political, social, and economic systems through lectures, tastings, and field-based experiences. 4 credits

Human Geography: Terrain, Traditions, and Transformation in Georgia

You will explore how geography shapes settlement, identity, and development in Georgia and the wider region. 4 credits

Elementary Georgian

You will be introduced to Georgian language and script, building foundational communication skills while deepening engagement with local culture. 4 credits

Applied International Studies Practicum (Georgia)

Analysis, Program Design, and Professional Communication

You will develop transferable professional skills for careers in international affairs, development, policy, and cross-sector organizations. Through seminars, workshops, organizational visits, and practitioner engagement, you will learn to analyze institutions and stakeholders, design programs and projects, and communicate findings through professional briefs and presentations.

Using Georgia’s civil society and institutional landscape as an applied learning environment, you will connect field observations with professional analysis while preparing for internships, graduate study, and early-career roles. 4 credits

Internship in Area Studies

You will gain professional experience through placements with local organizations, media outlets, NGOs, or cultural institutions. Internships may be conducted in English or Russian depending on the placement.

This option allows you to apply language skills in a practical setting while developing cross-cultural and professional experience. 2/4 credits.

RUSS 101-102/201-202/301-302/401 Russian Language Study

All SRAS summer programs provide intensive language training with structured opportunities for practice inside and outside the classroom.

Russian in Georgia is used across a range of social and professional contexts, particularly in urban environments and regional interaction. Students benefit from both formal instruction and regular conversational engagement.

Summer (10 weeks): 200 hours/10 credits
Summer (8 weeks): 160 hours/8 credits
Summer (6 weeks): 120 hours/6 credits
Summer (4 weeks): 80 hours/4 credits

Contact us for course syllabi.

The SRAS cultural program in Tbilisi is designed to integrate language study with direct experience of Georgia’s diverse regions and cultural traditions. Activities and excursions provide opportunities to use Russian while engaging with local contexts and regional perspectives.

In Tbilisi, activities may include cooking classes, sulphur baths, city tours, markets, museums, and performances.

Travel outside the city introduces the geographic and cultural diversity of Georgia and the wider region. Destinations may include:

  • Kakheti (wine region)
  • Kazbegi (Caucasus mountains)
  • Batumi (Black Sea Coast)
  • Borjomi and Vardzia

Optional semester travel: Azerbaijan, Armenia (extended trip)

Partner School

Novamova is a private language school founded in 2001. Novamova is a modern school using innovative and immersive teaching methods. The school actively combines intensive classroom training with hands-on, practical usage through conversation partners, various masterclasses, discussion groups, film and literature clubs, and more. Novamova has quickly developed a strong international reputation and partners directly with a number of well-known American universities and educational organizations. With schools in Kyiv and Tbilisi, NovaMova leads educational programming throughout Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Moldova. 

Transcripts and Credit Transfer

This program is hosted by NovaMova Language School in cooperation with SRAS. The School of Record is Stetson University (Florida, USA). Credit transfer to your home institution is usually possible. A US School of Record means that your program is supported by and documented by an accredited US university, making credit transfer relatively routine.

Contact us for course syllabi.

In Tbilisi, all students live with host families and are provided with two meals per day. Homestays vary and may include families, couples, or individual hosts, many of whom have extensive experience hosting international students.

Homestays are central to the learning experience in Tbilisi. Through daily interaction—shared meals, conversations, and participation in household life—you will engage with Russian in natural settings. This consistent exposure helps reinforce classroom learning, build confidence in speaking, and develop a deeper understanding of how language is used across different contexts and generations.

Hosts are welcoming and engaged, offering both structure and flexibility in how students participate in daily life.

Tbilisi is a city defined by layers—of architecture, culture, and history shaped by centuries of exchange across empires and regions. Its Old Town blends medieval, Persian, Soviet, and contemporary influences, with narrow streets, wooden balconies, and modern cafés sitting side by side.

The city’s food culture reflects this diversity, combining local traditions with influences from across the region. Markets, bakeries, and restaurants are central to daily life, while music, dance, and art continue to play a visible role in public and social spaces. Tbilisi’s pace of life encourages interaction—long meals, open public spaces, and a strong culture of hospitality.

At the same time, Tbilisi is highly livable and accessible. Affordable, walkable, and well-connected, it offers an easy entry point into the Caucasus, with opportunities to explore mountain landscapes, historic towns, and neighboring countries throughout the region.

Find out more about:

Budget Breakdowns:

Scholarships and Grants:

  • Federal aid can help pay for your program if your university pre-approves credit transfer and agrees to manage payment. Check with SRAS and your university for details.
  • All Scholarships and Grants that we know of that can be applied to our programs are listed on our site. Contact SRAS for assistance in building your strongest application!
  • SRAS Program Grants are stackable! 
  • SRAS Ambassadors can write while abroad or educate students at home after their return – and earn stipends!
  • SRAS Online Research Internships award partial scholarships for study abroad.
  • Boren Awards: This program is compatible with Boren requirements. Contact us about how to build your strongest application for Boren funding!

  1. Complete our application (press the “Apply Now” button to create your SRAS account — you will be able to return to the application later).
  2. Alert your home university (if you are currently a student).
    Some universities have deadlines for study abroad that are much earlier than SRAS deadlines -— so involve your home university’s study abroad office in the process as early as possible! They can help ensure that all goes smoothly with credit transfer and financial aid, and perhaps point you to additional funding sources.
  3. See our Planning Guide for more important information about academics, health and safety, and more.

If you are still unsure this is the right program for you, please join an SRAS Info Session or schedule an SRAS advising session to discuss how we can help fulfill your goals and needs!