Russian Studies

Russian studies is a discipline that demands and rewards genuine intellectual ambition. Russia's literary tradition is one of the richest in the world, its twentieth-century history among the most turbulent and consequential, and its contemporary geopolitical significance makes Russian one of the most important languages a student in the humanities or social sciences can choose to learn. The discipline combines advanced language acquisition with the study of literature, film, cultural history, politics and ideas, treating Russia and the Russian-speaking world as a complex object of sustained inquiry rather than simply a linguistic destination.

At University College London you will develop your Russian to an advanced level, building fluency in reading, writing, speaking and listening alongside deep engagement with the country's cultural and intellectual heritage. You will study major works of Russian literature and film, examine the history of Russia from the imperial period through the Soviet era to the present, and engage with theoretical and critical approaches that illuminate the relationship between culture and political life. UCL's four-year programme gives you both the time to develop real linguistic proficiency and the academic depth to engage with Russia on its own terms.

The department is one of the strongest in the UK, with scholars working across literature, linguistics, history, cinema and cultural theory.

Graduates in Russian studies go on to careers in diplomacy and foreign affairs, journalism, translation and interpreting, the civil service, intelligence and security, international business, academia and cultural organisations. The combination of rare linguistic ability, analytical rigour and deep area knowledge is highly valued in contexts that require genuine understanding of Russia and its role in world affairs. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in Russian, Slavonic studies, international relations, translation or history.

At a moment when understanding Russia matters more than ever, this is a degree of real consequence.