Founded in 2004, The Birch is the first international undergraduate publication devoted exclusively to Slavic, East European, and Eurasian studies. Any undergraduate student at any college or university is welcome to submit work to be published in our issues, featured both online and in print.
We accept creative writing (poetry, prose, creative nonfiction, short stories), literary criticism (essays and book reviews), and essays on the politics, culture, and history of the region. The Birch editorial board is composed of current undergraduate students at Columbia University.
About The Birch Journal 2026
In this edition of THE BIRCH, we continue a 20-year legacy of empowering undergraduate voices in their study of issues seldom covered by global media, fostering discourse that goes beyond mainstream narratives of Russia, Eurasia, and Eastern Europe. The articles in this journal cover under-discussed topics that exist in the underbelly of our societies. From youth gangs in Georgia to HIV in Russia, from narratives of alcoholism to the realities of prostitution, our edition seeks to critically reject fixed thought processes and expectations. We hope that writers and readers alike will begin to question beyond the obvious and to interrogate the underlying assumptions that constitute this political and cultural moment.
We are beyond grateful to our writers, without whom THE BIRCH would not be possible, our team of passionate editors, the Columbia University Department of Slavic Languages, and the Harriman Institute for their unwavering commitment to our mission. We would also like to thank you, our reader, for allowing us to share undergraduate voices, the next generation of scholars, thinkers, and change makers within the Russian, Eurasian, and Eastern European spaces. We are honored to present you with the 2026 edition of THE BIRCH.
From Slova, The Birch Online Journal
Submissions for the The Birch Journal are now open!
The Birch is a forum for undergraduates to publish scholarly essays. These can be adapted from original research projects, class papers, and senior theses. Please limit your submissions to the print journal no more than two essays, each no more than 4000 words (not including footnotes). Citations should be done in Chicago style (in-text citation and bibliography). When submitting your essay, please indicate what section of the journal you are submitting to.
In addition to an annual printed issue, The Birch publishes articles, academic essays, and creative work online on a rolling basis.
We accept:
Academic Essays (no word limit)
Op-eds (750-1500 words)
Reviews (500-750 words)
Creative Writing (no word limit)
Translations (no word limit)
Photography + Art
Online submissions are accepted on a rolling basis. Pieces will undergo an editing process within 2-3 weeks of acceptance.
The Birch is a forum for undergraduates to publish scholarly essays. These can be adapted from original research projects, class papers, and senior theses. Please limit your submissions to the print journal no more than two essays, each no more than 4000 words (not including footnotes). Citations should be done in Chicago style (in-text citation and bibliography). When submitting your essay, please indicate what section of the journal you are submitting to.
Submissions for The Birch 2027 Print Edition will open in October 2026.
