Finnish and Yiddish

Finnish and Yiddish are two languages that, despite very different origins and structures, each open windows into distinctive and important cultural worlds. Finnish belongs to the Finno-Ugric language family, quite unlike the Indo-European languages that dominate Europe, and carries a rich literary tradition that includes the Kalevala epic and a body of modern literature that is highly regarded internationally. Yiddish, the vernacular of Ashkenazi Jewish communities for centuries, produced a vast and varied body of prose, poetry, theatre, and journalism, and remains a living language spoken today in several communities.

Studying both together develops exceptional linguistic range and a deep engagement with two cultures that have each navigated questions of identity, survival, and cultural continuity in distinctive ways.

At University College London, which has one of the most respected departments for the study of Jewish languages and cultures in the world, you will pursue this four-year full-time programme with a typical entry tariff of 168 points. The programme develops your ability to read, write, and speak in Finnish and to read and engage analytically with Yiddish texts, both literary and historical. Alongside the linguistic training you will encounter the literatures, histories, and cultural contexts that give these languages their significance.

You will develop skills in comparative linguistic analysis, close reading, and cultural and historical interpretation that are transferable to a wide range of professional and academic contexts.

Graduates from this programme are exceptionally well placed for careers in academic research, translation, archival and heritage work, and cultural organisations engaged with Scandinavian, Baltic, or Jewish culture and history. Roles in diplomacy, international organisations, education, journalism, and the arts are also open to linguists with unusual and highly valued language combinations. Further study in linguistics, Scandinavian studies, Jewish studies, or related areas is a natural continuation for those seeking academic or specialist professional careers.