Central & East European Studies/History

Central and East European studies is a field that examines one of the most complex and historically rich regions of the world. The countries of Central and Eastern Europe, spanning from Poland and the Czech Republic through Hungary, Romania, and the former Yugoslav states to the former Soviet republics, have been at the crossroads of empires and ideologies, and their twentieth-century experiences, including fascism, communism, and the dramatic transitions of 1989, make them a particularly significant area of study. Combining this with history gives you the deep temporal perspective needed to understand how the region arrived at its current condition.

At the University of Glasgow, this part-time programme draws on the university's wide-ranging history curriculum, which spans medieval to modern times and covers Scottish, British, European, American, and global dimensions. The research expertise available includes work in slavery studies, gender history, war and intelligence, and genocide studies, ensuring that you encounter cutting-edge historical thinking as well as broad coverage. The Central and East European studies element adds regional depth and specificity, developing your understanding of the languages, cultures, politics, and histories of this distinctive part of the continent.

In your third year you will spend a year abroad, which in the context of this combination offers the opportunity for genuine immersion in the region. The part-time structure makes the degree manageable alongside other commitments.

Graduates from Central and East European studies and history programmes are well placed for careers in the foreign office and diplomatic service, international organisations, journalism, NGOs, academic research, education, heritage, and cultural institutions. The combination of regional expertise and historical depth is genuinely distinctive and valued in organisations working with or in the region. Postgraduate study in area studies, international relations, history, or related fields is a natural continuation.