Guide to studying Russian & East European Languages

CONTENTS

1. What's Russian & East European Languages?

2. Why study Russian & East European Languages?

3. What jobs can you get with a Russian & East European Languages degree?

4. What do graduates do and earn?

5. What qualifications do you need?

6. What degrees can you study?

7. How will you be assessed?

8. What are the postgraduate opportunities?

What's Russian & East European Languages?

A course in Russian Studies, or East European Languages, such as Czech or Polish, includes the language of that country and its rich history, literature and culture.

Language skills, and often optional modules give you a thorough grounding in the allied areas that interest you, while developing your writing, presentation and critical thinking skills.

In a Russian degree, you can study the great authors of Russian literature; the structure and history of the Russian language; Russian visual culture (film, art the built environment); and the history of Russia in modern times.

Degrees in East European languages, such as Czech and Polish, include modules in the history and cultures of those countries.

Courses similar to Russian & East European Languages include:

• Russian & East European Studies

Why study Russian & East European Languages?

Russia is a world superpower; its rich natural resources and influential manufacturing and R&D sectors mean that knowledge of the culture and language are prized by employers.

From film studies to international relations, Russia and East European countries have vast histories that you'll learn about in great detail. There are also rich cultures to explore. Take Russia, for example, which is home to intriguing visual art, theatre, ballet and more; the native country of icons such as Leo Tolstoy, Tchaikovsky and Anna Pavlova.

If a course focusing solely on one language is not for you, then you have the option to combine your studies with another language or even different subjects, such as Philosophy and Economics. This way you have the ability to broaden your horizons and bring fresh ideas to a normally linear focus.

Most universities offer the opportunity to study a semester or year abroad. Not only will this allow you to experience the culture first-hand, but you'll be speaking like a local in no time.

Graduates of Russian & East European Languages can pursue a range of different career paths, including translation, tourism, finance, media and teaching. If your dream is to work abroad, this degree will certainly be a good start to help make this a reality.

Skills that you'll develop during your degree will set you up for the professional world, whether you choose a career directly related to Russian & East European Languages or not. These skills include presentation, organisation, interpretation and teamwork.

What jobs can you get as a Russian & East European Languages graduate?

Graduates work in translating, teaching, marketing, law, banking, university administration, journalism, academia, government intelligence, HR and not-for-profit organisations.

What do graduates do and earn?

In the infographic below, the first table shows what graduates of Russian & East European Languages have gone on to do in the months after their graduation.

The second table shows the average salaries of undergraduate Russian & East European Languages students entering employment. The three skill levels – high, medium and low – reflect the UK's Standard Occupational Classification's major groups 1–3, 4–6 and 7–9 respectively.

Source: HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017/18

What qualifications do you need?

You don’t need an A Level (or equivalent) in these languages to follow a course in them or attain high proficiency by graduation.

However, useful subjects to have studied include a modern language, History, English Language or Literature, and Politics.

Grades and other entry requirements are different at every institution. Be sure to check for your chosen university or college.

What degrees can you study?

• BA Single Honours Russian Studies
• BA Dual Hons Russian and another modern foreign language (French, German, Spanish)
• BA Dual Hons Russian and Philosophy/History/Politics/Economics/Archaeology/Music/English
• 'With' degrees: Russian with Polish/Czech/Japanese; Chinese with Russian, Japanese with Russian, Linguistics with Russian, Russian with Czech or Polish, French with Czech or Polish, German with Czech or Polish, Spanish with Czech or Polish

How will you be assessed?

Language courses are assessed by examination and portfolio work; other modules have written assignments (essays, posters, blogs), individual and group presentations, and sometimes examinations.

What are the postgraduate opportunities?

Many graduates go into postgraduate training in applied fields like translation, or they move into related fields such as security, politics, history or linguistics.

Postgraduate students often continue to PhDs at universities in the UK, Russia or elsewhere in Europe.