Russian and Social Anthropology

Russian and social anthropology at St Andrews is a combination that pairs a major European language with access to a unique body of literature and culture with the scientific study of human social diversity in the present day. The MA (Hons) in Russian teaches you to use Russian with sound grammatical accuracy and a high level of oral aptitude. In addition to language teaching, you will gain a deeper and more diverse understanding and appreciation of Russian-language cultures, histories, and societies through modules dedicated to literature, film, cultural history, and contemporary society.

Social anthropology examines how human communities around the world organise themselves, create meaning, and relate to each other, developing ethnographic methods and comparative frameworks that are distinctive in the social sciences.

At the University of St Andrews, this four-year full-time programme develops genuine Russian language proficiency alongside social anthropological understanding across the extended Scottish MA (Hons). You will develop your Russian progressively through literary and cultural texts, contemporary material, and language practice, while also engaging with anthropological theory, ethnographic fieldwork, and the comparative study of human societies. A year abroad is part of the programme, giving you the opportunity to develop your Russian through immersion in a Russian-speaking country and broaden your cultural understanding.

With a typical entry tariff of 184 UCAS points, this is a competitive programme at one of the UK's most prestigious universities. Graduates pursue careers in diplomacy, international organisations, journalism, translation and interpreting, the civil service, NGOs, international business, academic research, education, and any field where Russian-language competence and cross-cultural analytical skills are professionally valuable. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in Russian, anthropology, area studies, or international relations.