Beginners' Russian Studies BA

Course overview

This course offers the study of Russian language and culture, and provides you with high-level linguistic, analytical and presentation skills. You will follow an intensive language course and in the final year of your course you will reach the same level of linguistic competence as fellow students who studied Russian at A level or its equivalent.You will also have the opportunity to spend two weeks in St Petersburg on a Russian language course in the first-year summer vacation

Year one 

Special introductory modules in Russian language will take you to approximately A level standard over the course of the year and give you a good grasp of the spoken language. You will also take introductory modules on the culture, history, cinema and literature of Russia and Eastern Europe. Students have the option of attending a language course in Russia in the summer vacation.

Year two

The second year consolidates your language study in preparation for the year abroad and offers further broad coverage of Russian and Eastern European culture. You can also start to learn another Slavonic language (Serbian/Croatian, Slovene or Polish).

Year three

The year abroad is spent in Russia where you study at a university or language school and may gain some work experience in the private or voluntary sector. If you are learning a second Slavonic language, there is also an opportunity to spend a short time in that area.

Year four

In the last year, you will apply your languages in high-level modules, including employment-related ones. You will also apply the skills and knowledge acquired earlier in the course to specialised modules on topics in which you have become particularly interested. We have a wide range of options, taught by experts in the field. There are also optional fast-track modules for learning Serbian/Croatian and Slovene.

Entry requirements

A levels: ABC-BBB, A in a language at GCSE. 

English language requirements 

IELTS 7.0 (no less than 6.0 in any element)

TOEFL iBT 100 (minimum 19 with 20 in Speaking).

Alternative qualifications 

Please see the alternative qualifications page.

Flexible admissions policy

We may make some applicants an offer lower than advertised, depending on their personal and educational circumstances.

Modules

The modules we offer are inspired by the research interests of our staff and as a result, may change from year to year. The following list is therefore subject to change but should give you a flavour of the modules we offer.

Typical year-one modules

• Beginners Russian A
• Beginners Russian B 

Typical year-two modules

• Intermediate Russian 

Typical year-three modules

Year spent abroad.

Please see the Department of Russian and Slavonic Studies Year Abroad page. 

Typical year-four modules

• Advanced Russian
• Interpreting
• Russian for Business Situations 

Typical optional modules

• Introduction to Russian Literature: Nineteenth Century
• The History and Culture of Early Rus, c. 900-1300
• Russian and Soviet Visual Art
• Russian Popular Music in the 20th and 21st Centuries 
• The World of Orthodox Sainthood
• Myths and Memories: Histories of Russia's Second World War 
• The History of the Byzantine Empire, c. 300-1453
• Serbian and Croatian Literature: Selected Texts
• Tolstoy's Fiction
• Introduction to Soviet Culture 

Careers

By the end of this course you will have a broad knowledge of the culture and history of Russia. You will have a high level of proficiency in the Russian language and be able to use Russian effectively in increasingly complex circumstances. The time spent abroad will demonstrate your flexibility and ability to adapt to new environments and challenges. Your transferable skills will include independent research skills, effective communication and critical analytical skills.

Average starting salary

The average starting salary for 2010/11 full-time graduates of the Department of Russian and Slavonic Studies was £16,928.*

*Average starting salary from known destinations of first-degree leavers who studied full-time, 2010/11.

Careers Support and Advice

Studying for a degree at The University of Nottingham will provide you with the type of skills and experiences that will prove invaluable in any career, whichever direction you decide to take. Throughout your time with us, our Careers and Employability Service can work with you to improve your employability skills even further; assisting with job or course applications, searching for appropriate work experience placements and hosting events to bring you closer to a wide range of prospective employers.

Have a look at our Careers page for an overview of all the employability support and opportunities that we provide to current students.  

KIS