Russian and Ukrainian BA
London, Bloomsbury
Knowledge of Russian gives you direct access to a fascinating cultural and historical tradition and brings you closer to one of the world's most dynamic geopolitical regions. Ukraine is one of Europe's oldest and most complex countries with a territory that has constantly been occupied and rewritten. This degree cultivates a high proficiency in Russian and Ukrainian language and develops skills in analysis, presentation, problem-solving and intercultural understanding.
Study mode
Duration
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
Programme starts
September 2025Application deadline
29 Jan 2025UCAS course code
Entry requirements
- Grades
- ABB
- Subjects
- No specific subjects. At least two A level subjects should be taken from UCL's list of preferred A level subjects.
- 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
- No specific subjects. At least two A level subjects should be taken from UCL's list of preferred A level subjects.
- GCSEs
- English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 4.
- Points
- 34
- Subjects
- A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5.
Contextual offer
- Points
- 32 more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- A total of 15 points in three higher level subjects, 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.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
D3,M1,M1 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects.
ABB at Advanced Highers (or AB at Advanced Higher and BBB at Higher).
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.
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.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
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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
Your degree will train you to the highest level of proficiency in speaking, writing and understanding in your chosen languages. As you progress through the degree, compulsory language modules are tailored to your existing knowledge. You will also take compulsory modules on literature and culture.
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.
Immersing yourself in the language and culture will significantly improve your language fluency and the depth of your understanding.
What this course will give you
The programme is highly compatible with students with little or no previous knowledge of Russian (Mode One), and also for students with Russian A level or equivalent (Mode Two).
You will spend your third year 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 a relevant country.
Our location in a cosmopolitan city provides access to frequent and varied cultural events, a huge range of museums, galleries, specialist libraries and bookshops, theatres, cinemas, cuisines and cultural societies.
The UCL School of Slavonic & Eastern European Studies (SSEES) is the largest national centre in the UK for the study of Central, Eastern and South-East Europe and Russia. The SSEES Library contains over 400,000 books, journals and film resources.
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 360 credits, you will be awarded a BA (Hons) in Russian and Ukrainian.
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.
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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 during which you will spend term 1 in a country where one of your languages is spoken and term 2 in a country where the other language is spoken. You may spend the term studying at a partner university or occasionally 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.
Optional modules
Compulsory module(s)
Russian Language
Ukrainian Language
Literature and Memory
War, Trauma and Memory in East European Cinema
Russian Short Fiction from Romanticism to Postmodernism
Optional modules
You will also choose an interdisciplinary module offered by the School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES).Options may include, for example, the study of literature, linguistics, film, politics or history.
Compulsory module(s)
Modules in your chosen languages.
Literature, culture, history and linguistics modules related to your chosen languages.
Year abroad
Your Year Abroad is split between two countries where your target languages are spoken. You will participate in a study placement with one of our partner universities, or may also be able to undertake a work placement.
The experiences and skills developed while abroad further academic and personal development, cultural and social awareness, provide a foundation for further study and enhance career prospects.
For further information on the Year Abroad please visit the SSEES Year Abroad pages.
Compulsory module(s)
Advanced Language and culture courses in your chosen languages.
Optional modules
Choices from SSEES Literature and Culture options, or an interdepartmental course.
Your learning
We have dedicated resources for language teaching, including technological support through computer-aided language learning facilities, video and DVD materials, and the Internet. The methods we will use to teach and assess you are varied, to ensure that they are best suited to the knowledge and skills being imparted or measured.
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
Assessment will include written, oral and aural examinations, presentations, extended essays and a dissertation.
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.
The foundation of your career
Leading figures from government and business regularly stress the need for well-qualified Russianists. Our students are capable of taking on employment in a variety of fields where use of languages is key. A degree with languages can lead to a career in journalism, in the civil service, as well as in cross-border businesses and financial organisations.
With developed skills in critical reasoning, independent thinking and application of theoretical concepts you will be strongly placed to find employment in international organisations, particularly careers which cross international boundaries and use languages. Career prospects are likely to include finance, media, diplomacy, education, translation, research, and consultancy.
Employability
The programme is designed to equip you with language fluency, cultural competence, historical knowledge and social understanding. Your ability to consider issues from an international perspective will be greatly enhanced and you will learn how to conduct research and to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Fees and funding
Fees for this course
Fee description | Full-time |
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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
There are 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.
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 you are successful in obtaining an offer and you live in the UK, you will normally be invited to an applicant open day, comprising introductory talks about SSEES and your degree, as well as a tour of UCL. You will also meet with a member of the teaching staff on your chosen degree programme.
Got questions? Get in touch
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