Join an innovative hub of training and expertise!

Indiana University’s Byrnes Institute (REEI) is recognized as one of the top Russian and East European Area Studies institutions in the United States, and we have been a continuously-funded U.S. Department of Education Title VI National Resource/FLAS Center for more than sixty years.

Boasting nearly 100 affiliated faculty members across the campus, we provide an interdisciplinary home to experts and students of Russia and Eastern Europe (REE). Our mission is to expose students with diverse career goals to the languages, cultures, and politics of the REE region by supporting research and instruction of the highest caliber at all levels. The Byrnes Institute offers opportunities to travel, study, and intern abroad. The Byrnes Institute’s over 2,000 alumni have built careers across the globe in a wide variety of sectors government service and NGOs, have careers in the corporate world and academia, and even fly airplanes!

The Byrnes Institute presents a wide variety of programming, including lectures by affiliated faculty and visiting scholars, roundtables and symposia devoted to timely themes, concerts, films, exhibits, and professional development events. The Прямая речь! (Straight Talk!) colloquium features Russian-language lectures by native speakers; the new series Українські діалоги (Ukrainian Dialogs) presents Ukrainian-language talks. We collaborate with other area studies centers in the Hamilton Lugar School and units across campus to develop and co-sponsor projects and events of interest to IU students, faculty, and the community at large.

Our undergraduate and graduate programs will help you meet your personal academic and professional goals by preparing you for a career of your dreams!

Academic Opportunities

Complement your undergraduate degree

Choose from three undergraduate minors.

Two master’s degree tracks

Gain a broad understanding of the Russian/East European world region while developing specialized expertise.

Dynamic dual degrees

Combine your Byrnes Institute master’s degree with a degree from one of eight professional schools.

Enhance your scholarly expertise

Choose from two programs to deepen your knowledge of the Russian/East European world region while working on your Ph.D.

Accelerated Master's Program

An integrated B.A./M.A. program open to any College of Arts and Sciences major

Hone your language skills

Explore streamlined summer language learning classes for several languages in the Russian/East European world region

Student Funding Opportunities

The Byrnes Institute has been designated as one of 10 U.S. Department of Education-funded Title VI National Resource/FLAS Centers for Russia and Eastern Europe for the 2018-2022 grant period. We offer students many funding opportunities including support for studying and research abroad, as well as conference travel.

Undergraduate funding  Graduate funding

Ready to take the next step?

Incoming first year students

Contact IU Admissions

Current IU undergraduate students

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Prospective graduate students

See our application process