Baltic May Term

Program Description

The University of Texas at Austin's (UT Austin) Clements-Strauss Intelligence Studies Project (ISP) announces its newest summer programmatic offering, Baltic Perspectives: History, Geopolitics, and Security in the 20th and 21st Centuries ("Baltic May Term"). This intensive study abroad program will focus on exploring the histories, geopolitical dynamics, and security environments of one of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) and the European Union's (EU) least studied though increasingly important regions. Students will spend over three weeks in-region traveling across Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, with the potential for travel to other countries, from Wednesday, May 5 to Friday, May 28, 2027.

This program will examine the region’s history over the past two centuries and provide an in-depth overview of these countries’ relationships with notable state actors and multilateral institutions such as the United States, Russia, the Soviet Union, the EU, and NATO. Through on-the-ground engagement with local experts, policymakers, and academics, students will deepen their subject matter expertise over the security, political, and historical factors that have not only marked these countries’ pasts but continue to shape the present-day opportunities and future challenges that may lie ahead. Outside of classroom lectures led by distinguished scholars and practitioners, students will benefit from a variety of expertise-building excursions ranging from visits to local historical sites and universities to exclusive sessions with regional governments' ministries.

ISP is working closely with UT Austin institutional partners to ensure that this May Term provides UT course credit through the LBJ School of Public Affairs, Department of European and Eurasian Studies, Department of History, the McComb's School of Business' - Business, Government, and Society Department, International Relations and Global Studies Program, and the National Security and International Business Minor.

The Baltic May Term's program fee is $2,500 and includes most program expenses such as flights and transportation, lodging, program excursions, and 50% of all meals. Scholarships are available for students based on financial need.

Students interested in multiple Clements Center-sponsored May Terms (Texas Intelligence Academy, Korea May Term, or London May Term) may apply to only one program. Multiple submissions will not be considered.

PROGRAM DATES:  May 5 to 28, 2027

INFO SESSION:  Monday, September 28, 2026 (3:30PM to 5:00PM) in Flawn Academic Center (FAC), Room 430

APPLICATION OPENS:  Friday, September 11, 2026

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  Friday, November 6, 2026, 11:59PM (Central)

Students selected as semifinalists will be contacted by November 13, 2026 to set up an interview. Finalists chosen to participate will be notified on or before December 4, 2026.

To request financial aid, accepted students should write a one-page statement describing their financial situation and email it to in*****************@***********as.edu by December 15, 2026.

 

Eligibility:

  • Enrolled as a current UT student (undergraduate or graduate)
  • Graduation date - December 2027 or later 
  • Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • U.S. citizenship (includes dual-citizenship)

 

Application Materials:

  • Personal Statement: Prepare a personal statement elaborating on your interest in European security, Russian, East European, or Eurasian affairs, Eastern European history, and/or public affairs more broadly. Clearly explain why you are interested in participating in the Baltic May Term, your academic interests, previous relevant experiences and/or coursework, career ambitions, and any potential hardships you may have overcome while pursuing your educational and professional goals. Personal statements should be no more than two pages long, double-spaced with 12-point font and submitted as a PDF. 
  • Resume or Curriculum Vitae: Provide a one-page resume that describes your education, professional experiences (including volunteer work and internships), leadership roles, and/or other extracurricular experiences. Include your U.S. citizenship status and expected graduation date. Please submit as a PDF. 
  • Transcripts:  Submit a PDF of your current official transcript or unofficial transcript/academic summary. The document must illustrate your history of higher education coursework and grades. For first-year undergraduate or graduate students, provide your previous transcripts and your current listing of UT courses.
  • References:  Provide two references (name, title, email address, and phone number). At least one reference should be a UT faculty member/professor who can speak to your academic work. 
  • Disclosure Statement (if applicable):  Include a statement addressing the following points: 
  1.  Any student disciplinary actions taken against you or pending at your current institution or any other institution you have attended.
  2.  Any criminal convictions and/or deferred adjudications, as well as any pending criminal charges. A conviction includes the initial plea, verdict, or finding of guilt, plea of no contest, or pronouncement of sentence by a trial court, even if that conviction may not be final or sentence actually imposed, until appeals are exhausted. Only minor traffic violations may be excluded. For each pending charge or conviction, provide the following details:
    • Date, city, and state of arrest
    • Name and location of the court where the case was/will be heard
    • Details of the violation of which you were charged and/or convicted 
    • Dates of imprisonment 
    • Dates of probation period
    • Amount of fine

Please note that disclosure of such information does not automatically disqualify you from the Baltic May Term; however, nondisclosure of this information is considered falsification of your application. 

Apply Now

Applications for 2027 will open mid-September 2026. Please carefully review and complete all of the steps to submit your application for the Baltic May Term. Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you have any questions about the application process, please contact us at in*****************@***********as.edu.

Student Feedback on the Baltic May Term

"The Baltic program gave me the opportunity to experience firsthand many of the security challenges I had previously studied in security focused classes. Traveling through Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia pushed me to think more critically about how NATO deterrence, Russian influence, hybrid warfare, infrastructure, and historical memory intersect across the region. Those conversations also helped me brainstorm new ideas for my work with Tearline, particularly ways that open-source research and satellite imagery can be used to examine strategic infrastructure and indicators of geopolitical competition... The experience was life changing and moved knowledge from textbook to reality." 

Priyanka B.

Baltic May Term Class of 2026

"Having never been to the Baltic countries before, the program was a chance not only to experience the unique cultures of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia but to learn about each country's history and how this informs the challenges and opportunities each faces today. I was particularly impressed by the fighting spirit of the Baltic nations, which was on display at Latvia’s Remembrance Day proceedings, Estonia’s Memorial to the Victims of Communism, and the Lithuanian Rifleman’s Union training at Pabradė. These experiences and our conversations with the Baltic scholars and patriots we met with has both made me more deeply appreciate the security we enjoy in the United States and informed my research into NATO's evolving posture on its eastern flank." 

Connor C.

Baltic May Term Class of 2026