Explore the frontlines of European history, culture, and security while mastering Russian in one of the world’s most innovative and dynamic capitals.
Tallinn, Estonia is a city where medieval towers rise beside tech startups, where tradition meets the digital future, and where the conversations of today shape the geopolitics of tomorrow. As a student in this program, you’ll live with a welcoming local family, connect with university peers, and discover how the Baltic States have become a bridge between East and West.
Dive into the intersection of language, politics, and culture as you:
Study NATO, regional security, and Eastern European history and society in the context of Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
Learn Russian language at any level—from beginner to advanced—through immersive, small-group instruction.
Earn academic credit in history, political science, and international studies while exploring how the region is redefining democracy and identity in the 21st century.
Experience the region firsthand through excursions, cultural activities, and discussions with local experts and community leaders.
Whether you’re preparing for a career in international affairs, security studies, journalism, or global business, this program gives you the skills and perspective to stand out.
· Study NATO, regional security, and Eastern European history and society in the context of Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
Learn Russian language at any level - from beginner to advanced - through immersive, small-group instruction.
Earn academic credit in history, political science, and international studies while exploring how the region is redefining democracy and identity in the 21st century.
Experience the region firsthand through excursions, cultural activities, and discussions with local experts and community leaders
With a population of just over 450,000, Tallinn is an exceptional setting for students seeking to study Russian, NATO, regional security, and Eastern European culture. Known both as “The Silicon Valley of Europe” and “The Medieval Pearl,” it blends the intimacy of a compact, historic capital with the dynamism of a modern European hub. Its distinctive mix of ethnic Estonians and a substantial Russian-speaking minority reflects the region’s complex historical and cultural layers. As an active member of NATO and a global leader in digital governance and cybersecurity, Estonia offers unmatched insight into transatlantic cooperation, regional security, and the resilience of democratic institutions at Europe’s eastern edge—all within a vibrant academic and social environment that values openness, innovation, and critical engagement.
(4 credits) This course provides a historical survey of the region beginning in the early 20th century, with particular attention to the world wars, the Holocaust, NATO and the Warsaw Pact, the collapse of the Soviet Union, ethnic conflicts, the war in Ukraine, immigration, and the current security situation. Students examine such questions as: What trends can be identified in the regional politics of Eastern Europe over the past century? How might identifying those trends help to avoid future crises? What are the major obstacles to peace and stability in Eastern Europe today? How has Russia’s influence in the region altered over the course of history? How does the role of the U.S. affect the security of Eastern European states?
(4 credits) This course examines the major intellectual and artistic movements shaping Eastern Europe in the 20th and 21st centuries with particular attention to film, art, and music. How have the region’s artists and thinkers responded to the violence and upheaval that has so often defined Eastern Europe over the past century? How have these responses shaped the views and beliefs of the population? How have they responded most recently to immigration, the rise of new political parties, and the war in Ukraine? How have Eastern Europe’s artists and intellectuals influenced western thought and global culture more broadly?
(4 credits) Designed to provide students a greater understanding of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, this course examines each of the Baltic states through the lenses of history, culture, language, economy, and politics. What features define Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania? What unites these states? What makes each separate and distinct? How has entry into the European Union changed their societies? What are the major economic and political concerns of the 21st century? What are the key challenges that lie ahead for each?
(4 credits) Students complete five hours per week of in-class Russian language study in small groups. Russian language classes are designed to produce measurable gains in speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills through high energy, student-centered instruction and communicative teaching strategies. Students are placed in small groups according to language proficiency.
Participants live with specially selected host families, who provide two meals per day, seven days a week. Participants reside in fully furnished, private rooms. In addition to invaluable logistical support, host families offer unique insight into daily life in Estonia; life in a warm, supportive environment; regular advice and assistance; and wide-ranging discussions of cultural nuances as participants adapt.
One day per week, students participate in cultural excursions arranged and led by the RD in consultation with university faculty. Excursions are designed to expose participants to a wide range of historical, religious, and architectural sites to broaden students’ understanding of classroom materials and host country culture. Before each excursion, faculty provide historical and cultural context for the planned outing; instructors and local students also join many of the scheduled trips. Weekly excursions typically include: a walking tour of Old Town Tallinn, handcraft/traditional art workshops, Kumu Art Museum, Eesti Meremuuseu (Seaplane Harbor), cooking classes, and the Tallinn Outdoor Museum. Program excursions also include cities outside Tallinn, such as Tartu and Narva, as well as other historical and cultural places of note. In addition, the RD leads students on an extended trip to either Latvia or Lithuania during the semester to further broaden their experience of the Baltics.
Visit museums, monuments, and heritage sites to explore local history deeply.
Experience daily traditions through festivals, performances, and authentic community interactions.
Tour local museums to get a deeper sense of regional history.
Travel beyond Tallinn to discover unique regional landscapes and culture.
To provide further assistance with acculturation and additional opportunities to develop language skills, students are matched with peer conversation partners. Program faculty interview and select conversation partners from students enrolled at Tallinn University. Conversation partners formally meet with students twice per week. In addition to academic support, conversation partners take a personal interest in their American colleagues, often inviting them to their homes and introducing them to their friends and family. Many students report that their conversation partners provide invaluable opportunities for them to find new social networks. The development of such friendships is a key component of successful acculturation and language development. Students also typically develop new friendships through a wide range of extracurricular activities, including sports teams, culture clubs, discussion clubs, musical instrument lessons, choirs, and volunteer service in the host community.
Tallinn University (TLU) is one of Europe’s most forward-thinking universities - known for its cutting-edge programs in digital technology, media, education, and the humanities. With over 7,000 students from across the world and partnerships with more than 400 universities, TU offers a vibrant, global learning environment. Its modern campus sits just minutes from Tallinn’s medieval Old Town and the stunning Gulf of Finland.
Multiple sources of funding are available to support participants in paying for programs abroad. Participants are encouraged to apply for private scholarships, federal aid and grants, college/university scholarships, and American Councils fellowships and scholarships.
All participants must attend a mandatory pre-departure orientation before the program begins. Sessions cover health and safety, academic culture, host-family life, culture shock, and strategies for maximizing language learning. Students meet resident directors, peers, and alumni, with lodging and meals provided. Upon arrival, participants attend an in-country orientation led by program staff.
While abroad, participants have access to full-time in-country staff who offer academic, administrative, and personal support, as well as 24/7 emergency assistance. The AC Study Abroad team in Washington, D.C. stays in close contact with students, host institutions, and families throughout the program.
All participants are covered by Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) for the duration of the program. CISI provides up to $250,000 in medical coverage per accident or illness and full emergency medical evacuation coverage.
American Councils provides visa support for participants for the duration of the program in the host country, if applicable. Students are responsible for obtaining any additional visas required by their travel plans. Visa instructions and forms are provided after acceptance.
