Portuguese and Russian

Portuguese and Russian is one of the most distinctive language combinations available at university level, bringing together two of the world's most widely spoken and geographically significant languages. Portuguese is the language of Brazil, Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, and several other nations, with more than 250 million native speakers. Russian is the language of one of the largest countries in the world, with deep traditions in literature, science, music, and political thought, and it is spoken across Central Asia and parts of Eastern Europe as well.

Together, they open access to an extraordinary range of cultures, literatures, and histories.

This four-year full-time programme at the University of Oxford represents one of the most academically demanding language programmes available in the UK. Oxford's modern languages tradition is distinguished by the seriousness with which it treats the literature, culture, history, and linguistics of the languages studied, alongside the development of genuine linguistic proficiency. You will study both languages to an advanced level, reading major literary texts in the original, engaging with the history and culture of the relevant countries and regions, and developing the analytical and critical vocabulary to discuss these materials at the highest academic level.

Immersion in both linguistic communities, including time abroad, is central to reaching the level of fluency the programme demands.

Graduates from this programme pursue careers in diplomacy and international relations, international business, translation and interpretation, journalism, academia, the law, and the intelligence and security services. The combination of two major world languages with an Oxford education is an extremely strong basis for any internationally oriented career. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in linguistics, comparative literature, international relations, area studies, or law, and the research skills developed at Oxford provide excellent preparation for doctoral work.