Romanian and East European Studies

Romanian and East European studies is a programme that places a rarely studied but historically significant language at the centre of a broader engagement with one of Europe's most complex and dynamic regions. Romanian is spoken by approximately 26 million people in Romania and Moldova, and is the only Romance language in eastern Europe, carrying a linguistic heritage distinct from its Slavic neighbours. East European studies extends this focus to the history, politics, cultures and societies of the wider region, from the Baltic states and Poland through the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and the Balkans, to Ukraine and beyond.

At University College London, which has a strong tradition in Slavonic and East European studies, this four-year full-time programme develops your proficiency in Romanian alongside scholarly engagement with the history, politics, literature and contemporary affairs of eastern Europe. You will develop language skills in Romanian through structured tuition while also engaging with regional history from the medieval period to the present, the politics of post-communist transition, the cultures of specific countries or communities, and the contemporary dynamics of a region that has been central to European politics and history. UCL's research strengths in the area provide a rich scholarly environment.

Graduates from this programme occupy an unusual and valuable position in the graduate market, as expertise in Romanian and East European affairs is genuinely rare. Careers in diplomacy, international organisations, journalism, academic research, translation, cultural institutions, business and the civil service all provide routes for people with this combination of language skills and regional knowledge. Postgraduate study in East European studies, history, politics, translation or international relations is a natural progression for those who wish to develop specialist expertise or pursue academic careers.