Russian and Portuguese

Russian and Portuguese together unlock two of the most geographically vast linguistic communities in the world. Russian is spoken across Russia and much of the former Soviet space, carries one of the great literary traditions of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries including Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, and Akhmatova, and remains central to geopolitical and cultural analysis of a region that shapes global affairs. Portuguese spans Portugal and Brazil as well as communities across Africa, particularly Angola and Mozambique, making it the dominant language of two continents and a vehicle for literary and cultural production of extraordinary richness and variety.

Studying both languages develops linguistic range and cultural depth that is truly international in scope.

At University College London you will study this four-year full-time degree with a typical entry tariff of 152 points. UCL's School of Slavonic and East European Studies brings exceptional expertise in Russian language and culture, while its department of Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies provides equally strong coverage of the Portuguese-speaking world. You will develop reading, writing, and spoken proficiency in both languages, working towards high competence in Russian and Portuguese alongside deep engagement with the literatures, histories, and contemporary cultures they carry.

The programme develops comparative linguistic analysis, translation skills, and the ability to interpret cultural and historical texts across two very different language families.

Graduates with Russian and Portuguese are valued in diplomacy, international trade, journalism, international development, the energy sector, legal and financial services with international clients, translation and interpreting, and academic research. The rare combination of two languages with global reach but limited UK-trained speakers is a significant advantage in competitive professional contexts. Further study in Slavonic languages, Lusophone studies, linguistics, or international relations is a natural progression for those seeking research or specialist professional careers.