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Russian and Portuguese BA

London, Bloomsbury

Our Russian and Portuguese degree offers huge scope for developing in-depth, comparative and intercultural approaches to the humanities. You will be able to choose from a wide range of modules including literature, linguistic traditions, history, sociology, philosophy, art, film or other aspects of the cultures associated with the language(s) you'll be learning.

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
Duration
4 academic years
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£9,535
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£29,800
Programme starts
September 2025
Application deadline
29 Jan 2025
UCAS course code
R5RU

Entry requirements

A levels IB Diploma Other qualifications
Grades
ABB
Subjects
A level or equivalent in a foreign language required (not necessarily one of the named languages). Applicants seeking to study two languages at beginner level should seek advice from the departments concerned.
GCSEs
English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 4.

Contextual offer information

Grades
BBB more about contextual offers
Subjects
A level or equivalent in a foreign language required (not necessarily one of the named languages). Applicants seeking to study two languages at beginner level should seek advice from the departments concerned.
GCSEs
English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 4.
Points
34
Subjects
A total of 16 in three higher level subjects to include a foreign language, with no higher level score below 5.

Contextual offer

Points
32 more about contextual offers
Subjects
A total of 15 in three higher level subjects to include a foreign language with no higher level score below 5

UK applicants qualifications

For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:

Equivalent qualification

Pass in Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 30 credits at Distinction, 12 credits at Merit and 3 credits at Pass, all from Level 3 units. Please note, where subject specific requirements are stipulated at A level we may review your Access to HE syllabus to ensure you meet the subject specific requirements prior to a final decision being communicated.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

D3,M1,M1 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects, a foreign language is required.

ABB at Advanced Highers (or AB at Advanced Higher and BBB at Higher). A foreign language at Advanced Higher is required.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A levels at grades ABB, a foreign language is required.

International applications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

Access and widening participation

UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. If you are eligible for Access UCL you do not need to do anything in addition to the standard UCAS application. Your application will be automatically flagged when we receive it.
Check your Access UCL Scheme eligibility

Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates

The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.

Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.

For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.

English language requirements

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.

A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.

Course overview


In years one, two and your final year you will take language modules in your chosen languages, as well as cultural modules related to them. You may also take modules offered by the School of European Languages, Culture and Society (SELCS) and SSEES focusing on literature, film, linguistics and history from an interdisciplinary perspective.

You will spend your third year abroad.You will achieve the same linguistic competence regardless of whether you start a language from scratch or have previous knowledge of it.

What this course will give you

We provide an ideal environment for language study. We offer a wider range of languages and state-of-the-art facilities, including a well-equipped language learning suite, and many of our academic staff are world-leaders in their fields.

The Year Abroad give you the chance to attend a university or work overseas. During this time you will finesse your language skills in your target language(s) and gain valuable experience which will enhance future learning as well as career prospects.

UCL has a very international population, meaning you will meet people from all over the world, which provides numerous opportunities to practise and speak your chosen languages with native speakers and learn about the associated cultures and societies from them. 

Our location in London provides access to frequent and varied cultural events, a huge range of museums, galleries, specialist libraries and bookshops, theatres, cinemas, cuisines and cultural societies.

Teaching and learning

In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

Upon successful completion of 480 credits, you will be awarded a BA (Hons) in Russian and Portuguese.

Modules

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

You will spend the first two years at UCL gaining expertise in the productive and receptive skills of your selected languages as well as gaining a more developed understanding of the literature, cinema, politics, linguisitcs, history, culture and society of the countries where the target languages are spoken. For all language combinations, there is a compulsory year abroad in year 3. You may spend the terms studying at a partner university or in some cases, on an approved work placement. The final year is based at UCL where you will continue to study a range of advanced-level modules on language, applied language (e.g. translation), literature, history, film and linguistics. A final-year dissertation module is available should you wish to undertake a self-initiated project which builds on the independent research skills developed over the course of your programme of study.

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

Optional modules

Legacies of the Holocaust in Europe


Witches in History, Fiction and Scholarship







Sequential Art as a Form of Engagement

Black Europe




Portugal and it's Empire in the 20th Century: Trajectories and Memories


Staging Europe: Modern European Drama and Theatre





Pushkin

Saboteurs, Stakhanovites and Spies: Writing the Stalinist 1930s


Compulsory module(s)

In each year of study at UCL, you will take compulsory Russian language modules, normally up to the value of 30 credits.  You will take 30 credits of compulsory Portuguese language in each year of study, accompanied by credits in literature/culture. 

Optional modules

Optional modules include culture, literature, film, history and linguistics and may be language specific or interdisciplinary in focus.  These are selected across SELCS and SSEES.

Further details on modules is available at:
 SELCS: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/european-languages-culture/programmes-courses/modules-and-timetable/undergraduate-modules

Guidance and resources on SSEES modules and programme structure can be found in the SSEES handbook. 

Compulsory module(s)

In each year of study at UCL, you will take compulsory Russian language modules, normally up to the value of 30 credits.  You will take 30 credits of compulsory Portuguese language in each year of study, accompanied by credits in literature/culture. 

Optional modules

Optional modules include culture, literature, film, history and linguistics and may be language specific or interdisciplinary in focus.  These are selected across SELCS and SSEES.

Further details on modules is available at:
 SELCS: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/european-languages-culture/programmes-courses/modules-and-timetable/undergraduate-modules

Guidance and resources on SSEES modules and programme structure can be found in the SSEES handbook. 

Year abroad

Your third year is spent abroad. This will not only bring the language and culture you are studying to life, but also strengthen your resourcefulness and self-reliance. You will normally spend this year studying at a university in your chosen country (or countries if you are studying two languages), but alternatives, such as work placements, may be possible.

For further details on the SELCS Year Abroad please consult: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/european-languages-culture/programmes-courses/undergraduate/year-abroad

Information on the SSEES Year Abroad can be found at https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ssees/study-us/undergraduate-programmes/ssees-year-abroad

Compulsory modules






Compulsory module(s)

In each year of study at UCL, you will take compulsory Russian language modules, normally up to the value of 30 credits.  You will take 30 credits of compulsory Portuguese language in each year of study, accompanied by credits in literature/culture. 

Optional modules

Optional modules include culture, literature, film, history and linguistics and may be language specific or interdisciplinary in focus.  These are selected across SELCS and SSEES.

Further details on modules is available at:
 SELCS: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/european-languages-culture/programmes-courses/modules-and-timetable/undergraduate-modules

Guidance and resources on SSEES modules and programme structure can be found in the SSEES handbook. 

Your learning

Your language classes focus on developing the active skills of speaking, listening, writing and reading through a variety of methods and media. You will be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars, as well as undertaking web-based study and group work.

Each student will engage in 1200 learning hours every year, made up of teaching time (lectures, seminars and workshops), independent study, assessment and feedback.

Assessment

Modules are assessed by a mixture of written and oral examinations, essays and other forms of coursework.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Virtual Open Event: Economics and Business with East European Studies BA (AM)

—

We are excited to invite you to the SSEES Economics and Business with East European Studies Virtual Open Events taking place on 6 May at 9:00 and on 12 May at 15:00. Join us online in an interactive Q&A session for prospective students interested in studying Economics and Business. The session will feature our Admissions Tutor and current students, providing an exciting opportunity for attendees to learn about the programme. The session will be held on Zoom and registration in advance is essential!

Online - Open day

Virtual Open Event: Economics and Business with East European Studies BA (PM)

—

We are excited to invite you to the SSEES Economics and Business with East European Studies Virtual Open Events taking place on 6 May at 9:00 and on 12 May at 15:00. Join us online in an interactive Q&A session for prospective students interested in studying Economics and Business. The session will feature our Admissions Tutor and current students, providing an exciting opportunity for attendees to learn about the programme. The session will be held on Zoom and registration in advance is essential!

Online - Open day

Virtual Open Event: History, Politics and Economics BA (AM)

—

We are excited to invite you to the SSEES History, Politics and Economics Virtual Open Events taking place on Thursday 15 May 2025 at 9:00 and 15:00. Join us in an interactive Q&A session for prospective students interested in studying History, Politics and Economics. The session will feature our Admissions Tutor and current students, providing an exciting opportunity for attendees to learn about the programme. The session will be held on Zoom and registration in advance is essential!

The foundation of your career

Popular career paths for modern language graduates include the financial sector, the civil service, journalism, accountancy, publishing, education, advertising, the media and law. Some graduates pursue careers that make special use of their language skills, including translating, interpreting and teaching, while others continue with graduate training and research.

Employability

There are many career opportunities for UCL's modern language graduates. We seek to embed within our teaching the acquisition of transferable skills as well as linguistic and cultural knowledge.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £9,535
Tuition fees (2025/26) £29,800

Fees are for Undergraduate 2025/26 entry and are for the first year only. Fees for subsequent years may be subject to increase: Student Terms and Conditions. UK fees are in line with the Government announcement on fee cap increases and are subject to the passing of secondary legislation. Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2025/26 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.

Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.

Additional costs

This programme has no additional costs.

In addition, please note that if you study abroad during your programme at UCL, this is likely to incur additional costs. Studying abroad may cost between £200–£1,000 per month depending on where you choose to study. The cost of studying abroad can be difficult to predict as it will depend on your priorities and choices. There is more information available on the UCL Study Abroad website.

A guide including rough estimates for these and other living expenses is included on the UCL Fees and funding pages. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).

Funding your studies

Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Scholarships

The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.

Next steps

Your application

We are looking for applicants who express a genuine interest in studying languages and culture and who can evidence independent engagement with the subject. We are interested in hearing your own views and opinions. For instance, if you have undertaken additional reading, tell us what you thought about the topic discussed. Relevant skills include: communication, critical evaluation, creative thinking.

How to apply

Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.

Selection

For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.

If your application demonstrates that your academic ability and motivation make you well-suited to our degree and you receive an offer, then we shall invite you to a Post Offer Open Day, where you will experience the sort of teaching we offer and life in SELCS and SSEES.

Our admissions process aims to assess your linguistic abilities and attainments as well as cultural awareness and intellectual potential. We may interview candidates by telephone in order to establish a level of language ability.

Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.

Download prospectus

Got questions? Get in touch

SSEES - School of Slavonic and East European Studies
SSEES - School of Slavonic and East European Studies

ugadmissions@ssees.ucl.ac.uk

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