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PhD Russian and East European Studies

Start date
September
Duration
PhD: 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time
Course Type
Postgraduate, Doctoral research
Fees

For 2023-2024
UK
Full time: £4,620*
Part time: £2,310
International students
Full time: £20,340
More Fees and funding details.

The School is one of the leading UK and international centres for Politics, International Relations, International Development,  International Security and European Studies.

Although students wishing to undertake postgraduate research in Russian and East European Studies need to register for a PhD or MPhil in Politics / IR the research undertaken will be focused on Russia and Eastern Europe and will be supervised by a member of CREES. Learn more about the research interests of our staff and how to contact them.

The School of Government brings together academic staff, research fellows and doctoral researchers across the Social Sciences. We offer much more than a degree. As a student here, whether undergraduate or postgraduate, you have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of events, with some or all of the costs paid for by the School.

We offer PhD research degrees on a full- or part-time basis with postgraduate research supervision in the following fields:

  • Russian and Soviet History
  • Russian, Ukrainian and Central and East European Politics
  • Central and Eastern Europe and European integration
  • Nationalism, identities and ethnic conflicts
  • Economics of transformation, economic policy and regional economics of Russia
  • Contemporary East European culture, media and society
  • Caucasus and Central Asia: politics, international relations, society and religion

Fees

Standard fees apply.

Research degree fees 2023-24
Fee band Full time Part time
Home students £4,620* £2,310
International students (Band D) £20,340 -
*Research fees also apply to combined research and taught programmes unless otherwise indicated.

Scholarships and studentships

Scholarships may be available, please contact the Department directly.

International students can often gain funding through overseas research scholarships, Commonwealth scholarships or their home government.

Postgraduate scholarship and funding database

How To Apply

When clicking on the Apply Now button you will be directed to an application specifically designed for the programme you wish to apply for where you will create an account with the University application system and submit your application and supporting documents online. Further information regarding how to apply online can be found on the How to apply pages

Apply online

Our Standard Requirements

Learn more about entry requirements and see our Guidance for applying for a PhD.

International Requirements



International Students

You can satisfy our English language requirements in two ways:


  • IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band
  • TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) including online: PTE Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
  • Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced – minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component

If I gain a postgraduate research degree in Russian and East European Studies, what are my career prospects

Graduates from Birmingham’s Centre for Russian and East European Studies develop a broad range of transferable skills including: familiarity with research methods; the ability to manage large and diverse quantities of information; the ability to organise information in a logical and coherent manner; the expertise to write clearly and concisely and to tight deadlines; critical and analytical ability; the capacity for argument, debate and speculation; and the ability to base conclusions on statistical research.

Due to the non-vocational nature of a postgraduate degree in Russian and East European Studies, many graduates choose jobs unrelated to their course of study, and have made their mark in a wide range of careers. A number of our PhD graduates stay in academia and forge successful teaching and research careers.

What type of career assistance is available to doctoral researchers in Russian and East European Studies?

The College of Social Sciences, to which the Centre for Russian and East European Studies belongs, has specially designated careers advisors and careers consultants who can provide guidance for doctoral researchers on career paths, CVs, training opportunities, application and interviews. The University’s central Careers’ Service also runs workshops and offers personally tailored advice and guidance including 1-1 careers advice, 1-1 CV advice. The Career’s Service also runs CV writing workshops especially for postgraduates in the College of Social Sciences, giving advice on how to compile CVs for both employment and for academic roles.

The University also has dedicated careers advisors for International students who run workshops and networking opportunities with potential employers. These are especially popular with International postgraduate researchers.

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