How to Apply

The application period for the Monterey Symposium 2025 has ended.

The deadline for applications is February 17, 2025. Selected candidates will be notified of acceptance by March 8, 2025. 

The Monterey Symposium is open to students enrolled in or accepted to a master’s or PhD program, particularly those interested in careers in government, international organizations and non-governmental organizations. Applicants with a master’s degree, who plan to obtain a PhD and are currently employed in the field of international relations and Russian/Eurasian affairs, with a proven record of commitment to the field, and Western journalists, who work in a field and report from Eurasia and Caucasus, are welcome to apply. 

There is no tuition fee for the Monterey Summer Symposium on Russia. Travel and accommodation are  covered by the Monterey Initiative in Russian Studies.

Applicants for fellowship at the Monterey Summer Symposium on Russia must have advanced proficiency in Russian language.

Applications should include the following:

  • Cover sheet*
  • CV
  • Statement of purpose (maximum 600 words)
  • Abstract of current research (maximum 200 words)
  • Details of Russian language proficiency (maximum 200 words)
  • Two letters of recommendation (please have the letters emailed directly to Professor Anna Vassilieva)
  • Official transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended

All applications must be in English and should be submitted electronically to Professor Anna Vassilieva: avassili@middlebury.edu and Ivo Walinga: iwalinga@middlebury.edu.  

Selected candidates from the shortlist will participate in an online video interview with Professor Vassilieva and the Monterey Symposium Selection Committee.

*Please note that the cover sheet should list all documents submitted for consideration. This ensures that we are receiving a full application package and can follow up on pieces that may not have been delivered.  

For more information on the Monterey Summer Symposium 2025, please contact Professor Anna Vassilieva at avassili@middlebury.edu, or Ivo Walinga: iwalinga@middlebury.edu.