Polish and Yiddish
Polish and Yiddish are two languages whose histories are profoundly intertwined, both rooted in Central and Eastern Europe, and both carrying the weight of one of the twentieth century's most important and devastating chapters. Polish is the language of a nation of nearly forty million people with a rich literary tradition spanning centuries, a turbulent modern history, and a pivotal position in contemporary European politics. Yiddish, the language of the Ashkenazi Jewish diaspora, was spoken by millions of people across Eastern Europe before the Second World War and remains an active language today, the carrier of a cultural, religious, and literary heritage of extraordinary depth and poignancy.
At University College London, this four-year programme develops proficiency in both languages alongside serious engagement with the cultures, histories, and literatures they represent. You will work on Polish and Yiddish at an advanced level throughout the programme, developing reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills while also engaging with the literary and historical traditions of each language. The programme situates both languages within their shared and divergent histories, exploring the Jewish experience in Poland and Eastern Europe, the relationship between Polish and Jewish cultures across the centuries, and the transformations wrought by war, Holocaust, and diaspora.
UCL is one of the very few universities in the UK where Yiddish can be studied at degree level, making this a genuinely distinctive and rare academic opportunity.
Graduates with this combination go on to careers in cultural and heritage organisations, academic research, journalism, translation, Jewish community organisations, diplomatic and foreign service roles, and a range of other fields where deep knowledge of Central and Eastern European cultures and history is valued. Further postgraduate study in Jewish studies, Slavonic studies, history, or translation is a natural pathway for those wishing to develop their expertise.