Course starts: September 2027

Russian Studies BA

Gain a crucial understanding of the political, historical and cultural aspects of Russian society, paving the way towards career opportunities in a range of sectors. The School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES) is one of the largest departments in the UK for the study of Russian. By embarking on this degree, you’ll gain a high proficiency in the Russian language and spend a beneficial year studying abroad. Graduates are sought-after by employers, moving on to careers in security and intelligence, the media and government. 

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Key information

Study mode
Full-time
Duration
4 academic years full time
Fees (2026/27)
UK: £9,790 per year
International: £32,000 per year
Application deadlines
13 January 2027. Applications close at 6pm UK time.
Applications may stay open after this UCAS Equal Consideration deadline, please check UCAS for details.
Course starts
September 2027
View 2026 entry
UCAS code
R700
Department
School of Slavonic and East European Studies
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Entry requirements

Grades
ABB
Subjects
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.
GCSEs
English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 4

Contextual offer

Grades
BBC
Subjects
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.
GCSEs
English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 4

At least two A level subjects should be taken from UCL's list of preferred A level subjects.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 3

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 and International Education.

UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. Access UCL is our contextual offer scheme for applicants from groups that are underrepresented at UCL. We assess your eligibility for Access UCL based on the information contained within your UCAS application. We review and update our Access UCL eligibility criteria and datasets every year, so please check the requirements for the year you plan to apply.

The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who do not 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.

About this course

Your degree will train you to the highest level of proficiency in speaking, writing and understanding in Russian, whether you begin with no prior knowledge or already have some command of the language (Please note that this degree isn’t suitable for native speakers). As you progress, compulsory language modules are tailored to your existing knowledge. You will take compulsory modules on literature and culture, as well as explore the historical and political landscape of Russia and its neighbouring countries.

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 partner university in the region.

We seek to recruit motivated students with a genuine interest in languages and culture. Applicants should be keen to explore materials beyond the school curriculum and engage with the histories and traditions of Central and Eastern Europe. No prior knowledge of Russian is required, but enthusiasm for learning new languages and working across cultures is essential.

Course structure

You will spend the first two years at UCL gaining expertise in the productive and receptive skills of your selected language as well as gaining a more developed understanding of the literature, cinema, politics, linguistics, 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 the term studying at a partner university. 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.

Modules

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).

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.

Compulsory modules

Optional modules

You will follow an integrated language programme including classes in written and spoken Russian. 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.

Modules are assessed by a mixture of written and oral examinations, essays and other forms of coursework. Some group work may be assessed.

Typical contact hours vary between 8-12 hours per week, depending on the year of study and module choice, and include lectures, seminars, practice-based activities and e-learning activities. Students will also display a level of independent study 25-30 hours per week , for example, by engaging with key topics and required readings in preparation for the discussions promoted in the course.

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you are unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Fees and funding

Study mode UK fee (2026/27) Overseas fee (2026/27)
Full time £9,790 £32,000

UK undergraduate fees for 2026/27 are subject to parliamentary approval 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. Fees for 2027/28 entry will be published in August 2026.

International undergraduate students benefit from a cohort guarantee unless indicated below, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

International fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2026/27 entrants.

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 degree-specific costs for this course apart from those associated with study abroad. Studying abroad may cost between £200 and £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.

For in-person teaching, UCL's main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1–2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2026. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide. 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).

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.

Why study this course at UCL?

Based at our Bloomsbury campus in the heart of London, UCL SSEES is part of the UCL Faculty of Arts and Humanities. With over 80 expert academics and 11 languages on offer, we provide an ideal environment for language study. We offer a wide 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 gives you the opportunity to attend a university overseas. During this time, you will finesse your language skills in your target language 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, such as The Language Show, a huge range of museums, galleries, specialist libraries and bookshops, theatres, cinemas, cuisines and cultural societies, e.g. Pushkin House, and visits from embassies of the region.

Discover Uni

To see official information about this course and others visit Discover Uni.

What this course will give you

There are many career opportunities for graduates of our BA Russian Studies. The acquisition of transferable skills is embedded within our teaching. Our graduates have advanced skills in Russian language, independent-critical thinking and creativity, as well as socio-cultural literacy, all of which help them to find employment in organisations within the UK and abroad. Our graduates can be found in careers that cross international boundaries and require strong communication skills.

Popular career paths for our language graduates include Security and Intelligence (12.5%), Retail and Wholesale activities (12.5%), Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism (7.5%), Media (7.5%), Teaching and other educational activities (7.5%) and Publishing, Journalism or Translation (5%).

Employers for our graduates include the British Army, Amazon, the BBC, the Cabinet Office, Barclays, KPMG and the Natural History Museum.

Some graduates pursue careers that make special use of their language skills, including writing and translating or teaching, while others continue with postgraduate, academic research or other study (12.2%).*

*Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates in the 2017-2023 cohorts. 

  • Banking and investment
  • Policy and government
  • Human resources and recruitment
  • IT, technology and telecommunications
  • Security and intelligence
  • Charities, NGOs and international development
  • PR, advertising and marketing
  • Academic research and HE
  • Media
  • Arts admin; libraries, museums and heritage
  • Performance and creative arts
  • Hospitality, leisure and tourism
  • Teaching and other educational activities
  • Consultancy
  • Retail and wholesale activities
  • Accountancy and financial services
  • Law
  • Health and social care
  • Social and market research
  • Publishing, journalism and translation

Open days

Find out more about our in-person Open Days, online events and courses and subjects that interest you.

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Register your interest

Register your interest in undergraduate study and become part of the UCL community.

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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.

If you are successful in obtaining an offer, 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 for your chosen degree programme.

Selection

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

Apply for this course

You are applying for the Russian Studies BA course. For application guidance please visit Application guidelines.

Course starts: September 2027

UCAS applications open for 2027 entry on 12 May 2026.

Got questions? Get in touch

We are here to help. Get in touch with us for more information about our courses.

School of Slavonic and East European Studies

School of Slavonic and East European Studies

Click to email. ugadmissions@ssees.ucl.ac.uk

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