Indiana University SWSEEL FAQ

Yes. For fellowship information go to: http://www.indiana.edu/~iuslavic/swseel/fellowships.shtml. You may apply for a Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowship by completing the “Fellowship Information” page of the on-line SWSEEL application.

Other links to nationwide and Big Ten university competitions applicable to SWSEEL are included on that page.

Non-IU students should check with their home institution for additional funding and loan opportunities.

If you are participating in the 8-week Summer Workshop in Bloomington, you need only fill out the “Fellowship Information” page on the online Summer Workshop application. You DO NOT need to fill out a separate FLAS application.

Notification will be made two to three weeks after the March 20 deadline to the first group of fellowship recipients. Additional fellowship offers are made throughout April, May and June, due to the fact that:
1) some recipients decline fellowship offers; and
2) funds become available from other FLAS Centers.

4. If I receive a letter that I am an “alternate,” how likely is it that I will receive a fellowship?

An “alternate” is the next person to receive a fellowship award if more funding becomes available from other FLAS Centers, or if a fellowship recipient declines a fellowship offer. If you receive an alternate letter in April, there is a strong chance that you will receive a fellowship award.

The beginning levels of Russian (levels 1-3, or 1st and 2nd year Russian) are lowest priority for fellowship allocations for FLAS according to the guidelines established by the organization funding this award (the U.S. Department of Education). We normally do not have our fellowship committee read applications at the early level unless you meet special criteria that would exempt you from the lower priority guidelines. Such special criteria would be:
1) mastery of another less commonly taught language (a student who has spent 4 or more years mastering Chinese cannot also be expected to have room in the course schedule for first- and second-year Russian as an undergraduate)
2) graduate students in under-represented fields for FLAS, such as the hard sciences, medicine, or business.
Please let us know if you believe either of these criteria apply to your situation. If you do not qualify for an exception, please be advised that your chances of receiving a fellowship are not great. In most years, we expend our entire fellowship budget without making any awards to beginning level Russian students. Only when we have received extra fellowship funding very late in the process (after the workshop has already begun) have students at that level been supported. If you meet one of the special criteria mentioned above, please fill out the fellowship section of the online SWSEEL application, indicating that you would like to be considered for a FLAS fellowship.

6. If I receive a fellowship do I need to pay the $130 application/administrative fee? When is the $130 administrative fee due?

Every SWSEEL participant must pay the $130 application/administrative fee, regardless of whether you receive a fellowship. Once you have been accepted to SWSEEL, you will receive an acceptance letter asking that you pay the $130 administrative fee. This fee covers administrative costs and reserves you a space in SWSEEL.

7. Can the same recommendations and transcripts be used for both the Summer Workshop and the FLAS applications?

Yes. Send only one set of supporting documents (transcripts, letters) to:
SWSEEL, Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures
Indiana University
Ballantine Hall 502
Bloomington, IN 47405.

8. What kind of transcripts are necessary?

If you are an IU student, SWSEEL will accept unofficial transcripts, which can be printed from INSITE. Students from other institutions are required to send transcripts to: SWSEEL, Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, Indiana University, Ballantine Hall 502, Bloomington, IN 47405. (Graduate students should send graduate transcripts and undergraduate transcripts from the last university attended.)

9. Can high school students participate in the Summer Workshop?

Yes. We do accept applications from exceptional high school students. We require two letters of recommendation from high school teachers.

10. Who attends the Summer Workshop?

Graduate students, undergraduates, professionals, exceptional high school students, and others participate in our courses. Participants come from all over the United States, as well as from other countries.

11. Do I need previous background in the language in order to participate in the Summer Workshop?

No. All languages offered at SWSEEL begin with first-year instruction.

12. Do I have to live in campus housing?

While on-campus housing is an option for all participants, and is strongly encouraged, you are not required to live on-campus. Make sure to mark your preference on the online summer workshop application. If you do not choose to stay in on-campus housing, the responsibility of finding housing is yours.

13. Am I allowed to speak English?

Students of Russian above the beginning level are asked to sign a contract agreeing to speak only Russian in the dorm, classroom, and dining facilities. Students studying other languages are not required to do the same. Of course, it is always beneficial to speak as much of the focus language as possible outside of the classroom.

14. Do I need to purchase course materials before I arrive in Bloomington?

No. All books and course materials will be available at the IU Bookstore or in class.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)