Central & East European Studies/Psychology

Central and East European Studies and Psychology is a combination that brings together a deep, area-specific understanding of one of the most turbulent and consequential regions of the modern world with the scientific study of human behaviour and the mind. Central and Eastern Europe has been shaped by war, revolution, the rise and fall of communism, and the post-1989 transformation that continues to generate new and sometimes alarming political developments, from the rise of populism to the Russo-Ukrainian war and instability across the Caucasus and Central Asia. Psychology provides the tools to understand individual and collective behaviour, including how trauma, social change, authoritarianism, and group dynamics affect people.

At the University of Glasgow, this four-year full-time programme takes you through the key issues in a crucial area of the world, from the Baltic to the Balkans and from Berlin eastwards, while simultaneously developing your psychological understanding of how human beings think, feel, and behave. The region studies strand will give you linguistic skills and cultural knowledge alongside historical and political analysis. The psychology strand covers the major areas of the discipline, from cognitive and developmental psychology to social and clinical approaches.

The year abroad gives you direct immersive experience in the region or in a different academic environment. Together, the two subjects produce graduates with an unusual combination of area expertise, analytical depth, and cross-cultural understanding.

Graduates are well placed for careers in international relations, diplomacy, journalism, NGO work, research, and organisations concerned with political development and democratic governance in Central and Eastern Europe. The psychology element opens paths in counselling, human resources, mental health support, and research. Postgraduate study in area studies, international relations, psychology, or political science is a well-established route for those who wish to develop their expertise further.