BA Russian Studies
About this course
BA in Russian Studies, a Russian Studies degree centred on the political, historical and cultural aspects of Russian society. Core topics include Research Methods. Students spend the third year completing a compulsory year abroad. The first year establishes foundations through compulsory modules such as Russian Short Fiction from Romanticism to Postmodernism, Introduction to Russian Studies I, and Introduction to Russian Studies II. The second year continues language and cultural study through various optional modules. The third year consists of Year Abroad Term 1 and Year Abroad Term 2. The final year includes compulsory language study via Comprehension of Russian (Year 4) and Use of Russian (Year 4), alongside optional choices covering cinema, literature, and politics such as Contemporary Russian Cinema, The Making of Modern Ukraine I, and the SSEES Research Project (Half).
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: ABB (Previous study of a foreign language is preferred (not necessarily one of the named languages) but not required. Applicants may study two languages at beginner level and may seek advice from the departments concerned if needed.) IB: 34 points (A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5. Foreign language preferred.)
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Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 80%: 12 offers from 15 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 70 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 85%
- Learning opportunities: 83%
- Assessment and feedback: 80%
- Academic support: 91%
- Organisation and management: 80%
- Learning resources: 91%
- Student voice: 75%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 75%
- Left higher education: 25%
What graduates do next
Based on about 6 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 50%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 15%
- Unemployed: 20%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 20%
- Managers, directors and senior officials: 15%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 15%
- Sales occupations: 10%
- Natural and social science professionals: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 85%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 70%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 40%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 215 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 4%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 3%
- East Midlands: 1%
- West Midlands: 2%
- East of England: 7%
- London: 67%
- South East: 8%
- South West: 4%
- Wales: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 55 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 84%
- Baccalaureate: 5%
- Access course: 1%
- A degree: 5%
- Other HE qualification: 3%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Russian Short Fiction from Romanticism to Postmodernism
- Introduction to Russian Studies I
- Introduction to Russian Studies II
- Literature and Memory
- Comprehension of Russian (Year 1A)
- Use of Russian (Year 1A)
- Comprehension of Russian (Year 1)
- Use of Russian (Year 1)
- Representations of Russia
- Russian and Soviet Cinema: History, Ideology, Society
- Introduction to Politics
- Understanding Politics and Society
- Minority Languages of Russia: Cultural, Linguistic Diversity and Endangerment
- Old Church Slavonic and Comparative Slavonic Grammar as a Language Learning Strategy
- Writing from the Other Europe
- Comprehension of Russian (Year 2A)
- Use of Russian (Year 2A)
- Comprehension of Russian (Year 2)
- Use of Russian (Year 2)
- Russian Poetry from Pushkin to Brodsky
- Russian and Soviet Cinema: Gender, Sexuality, and Biopolitics
- Chekhov: The Quest for Freedom
- Year Abroad Term 1
- Year Abroad Term 2
- Comprehension of Russian (Year 4)
- Use of Russian (Year 4)
- Narratives of Exile
- Contemporary Art and Politics in Eastern Europe and Russia
- SSEES Research Project (Half)
- The Making of Modern Ukraine I
- The Making of Modern Ukraine II
- Chekhov: The Quest for Freedom
- The Person, Love and Utopia in Russian Thought
- Soviet Literature in Revolution: Experiments with Fictional Forms, 1917-1953
- Russian and Soviet Cinema: Innovation and Experiment
- Contemporary Russian Cinema
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Russian Studies at University College London earn?
The median salary is £31,000 after 15 months, £31,000 after 3 years, £42,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £32,500 and £57,000. The £42,500 median after five years is £6,000 more than the UK median for Slavic studies.
What do graduates of BA Russian Studies at University College London do next?
75% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2022-23).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Russian Studies at University College London?
85% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2024-25.
What grades do I need for BA Russian Studies at University College London?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 150 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Russian Studies at University College London?
80% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 12 offers from 15 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Russian Studies at University College London include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Russian Studies at University College London?
75% of students continued into their second year, and 25% left higher education.