Russian Heritage Program
Did you grow up speaking Russian at home? Would you like to study your family’s language formally and improve your reading, writing, and knowledge of grammar?
The School of Russian offers a 4-Week Russian Heritage Program uniquely designed to address specific learning needs of Russian-English bilinguals in rapidly paced classes and a 24/7 immersion environment.
Format
The 4-Week Russian Heritage Program begins with a required online pre-immersion module focused on the foundations of Russian literacy, followed by four weeks in residence on the Middlebury Campus in Vermont (July 16 – August 14). Students will start online lessons in late June, meeting with instructors and completing homework assignments online. Note that completion of the online pre-immersion module is mandatory and crucial to your success in the program. That is, students who enroll in the Heritage Program agree to complete the online module (including synchronous meeting and homework) prior to their arrival at Middlebury as an academic requirement of the program.
Once on campus, Heritage Program students will sign the Language Pledge® and participate in the School of Russian’s rich variety of co-curricular activities – from theater and choir to clubs and performances to dances and athletics – together with students in the 8-week and graduate programs.
Enrollment is limited to 15 students.
Eligibility
This program is for people who grew up speaking Russian at home through their teenage years and as a result can easily engage in conversations in Russian on everyday topics. Such bilinguals may or may not be able to read or write in Russian. Please note that Russian-language heritage alone does not qualify an applicant for this program. If you have a parent or grandparents who speak Russian but are not able to speak the language yourself, you should apply to the 8-Week Immersion Program.
Applicants are required to complete an interview with the program’s instructor, who will ascertain whether they have the language skills and profile to benefit from this specialized program.
Our expectation is that most applicants will complete high school before attending the program. However, rising high school seniors (current juniors) who are heritage learners are welcome to apply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis; additional application materials may be required. Please reach out to schoolofrussian@middlebury.edu at the time of application.
Summer 2026 Dates and Fees
| Dates | July 16 - August 14 |
| Credits | 6 semester hours (2 Middlebury Units) |
| Tuition, Housing, and Food | $8,150 |
Funding
Scholarships covering up to 25% of tuition, housing and food will be awarded. No separate application is needed. We encourage you to apply for admission as early as possible, as scholarship funding is limited.
Application Deadline
May 15*
*We encourage you to apply as early as possible, as the program could fill before May 15.
Application
In the application, select “Summer Language Immersion: Beginner Thru Advanced.” The Heritage Program will appear as a program option in the drop-down list. When asked to estimate your level of study during the summer (1-7), pick a number reflecting your reading and writing skills in Russian (1=beginner in these skills, 2=can read a bit, but writing and spelling are a challenge, 3=basic reading and writing skills, etc.). Your language background will be evaluated as part of the admissions process. Follow the instructions for submitting your recommendation and transcript(s).
Proficiency Requirements
Applicants whose background and language profile do not fit the intended purposes of the 4-Week Russian Heritage Program will be referred to the 8-Week Immersion Program. The 8-Week Program, with 7 levels of instruction, can accommodate various levels of proficiency and is designed to build a strong foundation in the language across the skills (from speaking and listening to reading and writing).
Contact
For more information, please contact the School of Russian:
Alumni
If you would like to connect with an alum to ask questions, please contact Oliver Carling at schoolofrussian@middlebury.edu.
Sophia Maroulis (School of Russian ‘24, ‘25): “Before Middlebury I was nervous to speak in Russian, I did not understand the case system, and I could not express my thoughts freely. Middlebury changed that. I also benefited tremendously from learning how Russian language and culture has evolved in the post-Soviet era since my family left.”