Russian Studies and History

Russian studies and history is a combination that brings a major world language and its literary and cultural traditions together with historical inquiry, opening a perspective on one of the most consequential national stories of the past two centuries and on the contemporary world it has produced. Russia has been central to modern European and global history in ways that cannot be understood without serious engagement with the language, and the literary and cultural tradition in Russian is of extraordinary richness, encompassing some of the greatest novels, poems and plays in any language.

At the University of Edinburgh this four-year programme develops your Russian language skills alongside a broad historical education, examining the past with the care and critical rigour that the discipline demands. You will study the history of Russia alongside the cultural and linguistic traditions that the language carries, reading literature and engaging with historical primary sources in Russian as your proficiency grows. Edinburgh's Russian studies and history departments both have strong research profiles, and you will encounter current thinking from academics working on these materials throughout your studies.

The absence of a year abroad from the programme structure means the language learning happens primarily within the institutional framework, making the pedagogic quality of the language teaching central to your development.

Graduates of Russian studies and history are well placed for careers in areas where engagement with the Russian-speaking world and its history is relevant. Journalism, diplomacy, international organisations, policy research, intelligence and security roles, publishing, academic research and cultural institutions are among the most common destinations. The combination of historical analytical depth and Russian language proficiency is unusual and valuable in a world where Russia's place in global affairs remains a matter of acute concern and interest.

Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in Russian studies, history, international relations, area studies or security studies.