Ukrainian and East European Studies

Ukrainian and East European Studies brings together language learning, history, politics, and cultural analysis to offer a rigorous engagement with one of the most important and often misunderstood parts of the European continent. The countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet space have been at the centre of some of the defining events of the modern era, and understanding them requires linguistic access as well as intellectual depth.

At University College London you will develop proficiency in Ukrainian and engage seriously with the history, politics, literature, and culture of the region. You will study the Soviet and post-Soviet experience, nationalism and state formation, the politics of memory and identity, and the contemporary geopolitical landscape of a region that is now, more than ever, of direct importance to global affairs. Language classes are central to the programme and run throughout your four years, building your ability to read primary sources, access contemporary media, and communicate with speakers of the languages you are studying.

Seminars and tutorials train you to construct rigorous arguments from complex and sometimes contested evidence.

This four-year full-time programme gives you the time to develop genuine linguistic and regional expertise, combining analytical depth with practical communicative ability. UCL's strong research culture and international connections mean you will be studying in an environment where East European studies is taken seriously as a scholarly field.

Graduates go on to careers in diplomacy, international relations, journalism, think tanks, NGOs, the civil service, business operating in the region, and academia. The combination of language ability and substantive regional knowledge is in demand across many professional contexts, and it provides an excellent foundation for postgraduate study in area studies, history, politics, or international law.