The name for this program comes from the way Russians do their graduate studies. Departments of Universities or sectors of research institutions advertise a competition for a limited number (usually 1-3) "aspiranti." The successful candidates become  something like junior members of the department. They participate in its meetings and collective research projects. Each has his/her own research project, supervised by one of the senior members of the department. The aspirant will, from time to time, present his/her research to the department. 

In short, the aspirantura is an apprenticeship as a member of an academic department. 

We ask the Russian institutions which receive our students to take the aspirantura as their basic model in designing the program for their guest Canadian graduate student. 

The most fundamental differences, of course, are: 

Our student stays for only one semester, and

The student usually does not speak Russian. 

We find a senior scholar to be research supervisor for each Canadian aspirant. The supervisor's tasks include: arranging access to research libraries and other facilities, arranging contacts with other specialists who may be of interest to the advisee. He is also asked to assign one or more junior members of the department to provide additional assistance, including helping the Canadian aspirant get to know scholars his/her own age.  

The mini-aspirantura program assumes no knowledge of Russian. The basic idea of the program is that it is quite possible to do a program like this entirely in English. To be sure, it is better for the student to know Russian. Yet lack of the language need not be a barrier to a successful program. Moreover, once a student has got interested in Russia, there is strong motivation to learn the language. Although it is possible to do the mini-aspirantura without any Russian language program included, we strongly recommend combining it with language study. 


Resources Available to the Aspirant 

Supervisor: Senior scholar; reaches agreement upon research program, preferably before arrival in Russia; provides advice, guidance and feedback throughout the semester concerning the  student's ongoing research; strives to integrate student into the life of the institute, faculty, sector, kafedra, etc., including arranging for the student to present his/her work; arranges contacts with scholars and other individuals useful for the student's research project; makes suggestions to and supervises the work of the student's Russian pilot.   

Libraries and archives: Participants in this program will have access to facilities required for their research, such as libraries and archives. 

This model can be modified. For example, most students who have done it so far have not been integrated into the supervisor's academic unit and have not had a pilot. What they have done can be characterized as directed readings and research.  

MINI-ASPIRANTURA REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEEDURES 

With Application: 

A research proposal that summarizes:

the student's research goals in Moscow and how they fit into his/her overall program of studies; and

why they want to go to Moscow. 

Two letters of recommendation, submitted to InterUniversity Centre Canada directly by e-mail: one from a professor who knows the student's academic work and who is able to assess the proposal; the other from  someone who is in a position to assess the student's ability to adapt to life in a foreign country. 

Required by 5-weeks prior to departure 

A bibliography of works in English (or other languages of which the student has command), that the student will use in Moscow.  

Establishment of contact and some kind of working relationship between the student and supervisor by e-mail or fax. 

Students must take with them: 

Photocopies of materials in English to be used in his/her research project. 

The cost of a mini-aspirantura is $200-300US depending on your program of studies. This must be taken in conjunction with the Russian Language and culture courses or the Baltic Studies program. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO ENROLL PLEASE CONTACT InterUniversity Centre Canada