MA in Russian Culture and the Arts (MARCA)

MA in Russian Culture and Arts (MARCA Petropolitana)

A one-year Masters' program in Russian and Soviet culture, literature, arts, high and popular culture as well as history and society more generally.  Based in St. Petersburg, the 'cultural capital' of Russia.  The program collaborates with the famous IMARES program and provides access to the world-renowned museums (the Hermitage, the Russian Museum), the city libraries and archives as well as to the imperial residences (Peterhof, Tsarskoe Selo, Pavlovsk, etc.)

Professional academic training plus diverse personal experience in Russian cultural life

All instruction in English plus intensive Russian language classes (optional)

• Unique special courses in Russian/Soviet visual arts and architecture for graduate students in humanities
• General courses in Russian and Soviet culture, literature history and society with special emphasis on St. Petersburg and its cultural impact
• On-site classes in world-renowned museums – the Hermitage, the Russian Museum, imperial residences – Peterhof, Tsarskoe Selo, Pavlovsk, etc.
• Easy access to other cultural resources – libraries, archives, museums and theaters
• Based in the European University at St. Petersburg (EUSP), a high-end research and graduate institution
• Lecturers with wide international experience from EUSP and other leading academic institutions – the Hermitage, the Institute of Russian Literature (Pushkinskii Dom), the Herzen University, etc.
• In delivering courses in Russian history, politics and society MARCA co-operates with IMARES, the internationally recognized Masters’ program in Russian and Eurasian social and political studies

The applicants should hold a BA degree or its equivalent

There is no Russian language prerequisite since the core curriculum is delivered in English

Applications should include:
1. A completed and signed application form;
2. Your statement of purpose (not more than 500 words);
3. Two letters of recommendation from academics
who are closely acquainted with your academic work;
4. Certified transcripts of previous undergraduate
and graduate studies, with grade-point averages;
5. Your Curriculum Vitae

You can send all the above, including a scanned transcript of studies, by e-mail to imares(at)eu.spb.ru

• Two semesters of 14-weeks each, minimum of 20 contact hours per week
• the choice of 4 courses in the area of interest plus 2 courses in a minor area
• Each subject course carries 8 ECTS credits (4 US credits) and is taught for 4 academic hours per week plus homework. Delivered through lectures and seminar sessions, each course involves submitting one or two essays.
• Each student submits a Master’s Essay generally about 15,000 words
• Russian language is taught for 8 hours per week in groups corresponding to proficiency level.

EUSPb provides visa and registration support. It also helps to lodge international students in Russian families or to rent separate apartments. Students use the library, computer facilities and other university services. For more information on EUSPb student life visit our website.

• Empire, State, Building: Architecture as a Mirror of Russian Politics
• St. Petersburg in Russian Literature (the 19-20th Centuries)
• Visual Images of Russian Identity in the 19th – early 20th Century Art and Architecture
• The Political Culture of the Russian Revolution
• From Icon to Avant-Garde: a Survey of Russian art through the centuries
• The Social History of Russian Literature
• Unofficial Late Soviet Culture
• Russian Avant-Garde: Myths, Hypotheses, Facts
• The Home of Russian Tsars: Palace, People, Collections
• The Soviet Nonconformist Art in its Social and Political Context
• Russian Classical Music

The MA degree in Russian culture and arts is issued after two successfully completed semesers (28 ECTS each) and submitted and reviewed dissertation (12 credits).

10,500 US dollars for the whole program or

5,250 US dollars per semester

A few places are provided at the EUSP dormitory in the center of the city, but more commonly arrangements are made for those who wish to rent a room from Russian families or share an apartment with other students. The cost of living in St. Petersburg is still substantially lower than the cost of living in Moscow. As of September 2011, prices for an average separate bedroom in a centrally located apartment start at $350 per month. Rent for a non-shared apartment at a semi-periphery of the city starts from $500. Overall estimated living expenses for 10 months, including lodging, food, local transportation, books and study materials range from $6,500 to $8,000 on a moderate budget.