Serbian / Croatian and East European Studies

Serbian and Croatian, formally distinct but mutually intelligible, form the dominant language of the central and western Balkans, spoken across Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and diaspora communities around the world. Studying this language alongside East European studies gives you access to a region of enormous historical complexity and contemporary significance: the site of post-communist transition, the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s, ongoing European integration debates, and vibrant literary and cultural traditions that remain largely unknown to English-speaking audiences. It is a field where genuine linguistic skill opens doors that few specialists in Western Europe possess.

At University College London, this four-year full-time programme gives you the opportunity to develop excellent proficiency in Serbian and Croatian from the foundation upwards, or to build on existing knowledge if you already have some exposure to the language. Alongside intensive language study, you will engage with the literature, history, and culture of the South Slavic region and Eastern Europe more broadly, developing the contextual knowledge that makes linguistic ability genuinely useful. The programme draws on UCL's exceptional resources in Slavonic and East European studies, placing you within a scholarly tradition of deep area expertise.

Graduates are prepared for careers in diplomacy, international organisations, journalism, translation and interpreting, the cultural sector, academia, business, and NGO work in the region. Speakers of Serbian and Croatian with strong analytical and cultural knowledge are genuinely rare among Western European graduates, which makes this qualification highly distinctive in a competitive job market. Postgraduate study in Slavonic languages, East European studies, translation, or international relations is a natural progression, and many graduates pursue research careers or specialist roles in governmental and intergovernmental organisations with a remit in the Western Balkans or Eastern Europe.