History and Russian
History and Russian is a combination of particular depth and contemporary resonance, bringing together the rigorous methods of historical scholarship with linguistic access to one of the most extensive and consequential national traditions in modern history. Russia's history, from the Tsarist Empire and the Bolshevik Revolution through the Soviet period to the post-1991 era, is central to any serious understanding of the twentieth century, and Russian as a language remains essential for engaging with Russian-language sources, culture, literature, and the ongoing political and military developments that make Russia one of the most studied nations in the world.
At the University of Oxford, this four-year full-time degree uses the tutorial system to give you rigorous, individually tailored intellectual development alongside seminars and lectures in both History and Russian. You will study historical periods and themes with the depth and primary-source engagement that Oxford's approach demands, and develop advanced proficiency in Russian through intensive language teaching and engagement with literature, film, and contemporary media in the original. The combination allows you to read Russian historical sources directly, which transforms your ability to engage with debates about Russian history and to evaluate evidence in ways that depend on secondary translations cannot match.
Oxford's research environment in both history and Slavonic studies is internationally recognised, and the degree's combination of analytical and linguistic rigour is genuinely exceptional.
Graduates of History and Russian from Oxford enter careers in academia, journalism, diplomacy, intelligence, the civil service, international business, think tanks, law, and cultural organisations with Russian or Eurasian interests. The combination of historical depth and Russian language competence is a distinctive and valued credential. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in history, Russian studies, international relations, or security studies, and the degree is an outstanding foundation for research careers in Slavonic and Eastern European history.