This is a Major/Minor degree with Major in Russian Studies (80 credits per year) and Minor in Central and East European Studies (making up one-third or 40 credits per year).
Our aim is to provide you with the opportunity to develop an in-depth and wide-ranging understanding of Russia and Eastern and Central Europe, drawing on the cutting edge of research in these fields. You'll become familiar with general concepts in the social sciences, literary, cultural and historical studies, and will be able to apply these to the specific cases of Russia and other former communist countries in our region. Apart from your knowledge of the region, you'll also develop valuable skills, such as giving seminar presentations, use of IT, conducting research projects (for the final year dissertation), and the kind of skills that employers really look for in graduates.
First year
No prior knowledge of the Russian language is necessary to enter our programmes. In the first and second years, students are divided into groups according to whether they are beginners or have an A level or equivalent in Russian. (Students with AS level Russian are placed in the advanced group and given extra tutorial support to catch up, while students with GCSE Russian will normally be placed in the beginners’ group.)
At the end of the first year, beginners travel to the city of Petrozavodsk in Russia for an intensive four-week language programme, for which many of the costs are covered by the University.
As well as the core Russian language module (40 credits), there is a choice of modules on Russian history, Russian literature, Russian and East European politics and cultural politics.
Second year
In addition to more advanced language classes you can choose from a variety modules including Cultural Politics of Russia and Eastern Europe, Contemporary Russian and East European Politics, Russia in Revolution 1900–1936, International Politics and Security in Russia and Eurasia, and Nineteenth or Twentieth Century Russian Literature. You also have the option of studying Beginner’s Polish.
Third year/Year abroad
You can choose to spend your year abroad in various locations including Moscow, St Petersburg, Yaroslavl, Petrozavodsk, Tver and Volgograd, spending either two semesters in one place or splitting them between two different places, for instance a semester in Moscow and a semester in Tver. There is also the opportunity to spend a semester in Krakow, Poland under the ERASMUS scheme.
Fourth year
In addition to the core Russian language module, you can choose from a variety of modules including:
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Advanced Cultural Politics of Russia and Eastern Europe
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Advanced Contemporary Russian and East European Politics
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Business Russian
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Additional Russian (English-Russian translation and Russian-English aural translation)
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the Russian Economy: from Plan to Market, Political History of Central Eastern Europe
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Russian Political and Intellectual Thought from 1950 to 1989
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Advanced International Politics
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Security in Russia and Eurasia, and Russia in the Modern World
You also write an extended essay or dissertation on a Russian or Central East European Studies topic of your choosing. In addition, modules in Ukrainian and Polish languages are offered.
Career opportunities
Birmingham Russian graduates of recent years have taken up a wide range of posts in Russia, UK and other countries. In Russia, for example, our graduates have worked in journalism, the diplomatic service, and the agromachinery industry. Other graduates have chosen to make use of their language skills in the UK, working as translators, teachers, researchers, library staff (Bodleian), forensic accountants or political analysts amongst other careers.