English and Beginners' Russian BA

Course overview

On this course you will devote half your time to English and half to the study of Russian language, culture and history. In Russian, you will follow an intensive language course and in the final year of your degree you will reach the same level of linguistic competence as fellow students who studied Russian at A level or its equivalent.

Year one 

In English studies you will take several core modules which will familiarise you with the study of English literature at degree level. In Russian, you will take special language modules which will take you to approximately A level standard alongside modules in Russian culture, history, cinema and literature. Most students attend a language course in St Petersburg in the summer vacation.

Year two

In English, you will take further core modules in English language and modern literature. You will also have the opportunity to take modules which focus on one specific literary period in English literature. In Russian, you will take language modules leading up to the year abroad and further options in literary and cultural studies.

Year three

Year three 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.

Year four

You will have the same wide range of final-year options in English as single honours students. In Russian, you apply your language skills 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. There are optional fast-track modules for learning Serbian/Croatian and Slovene.

More information 

See also the School of English.

Entry requirements

A levels: ABB, including A in English and 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)

Pearson Test of English (Academic) 67 (minimum score 67)

Alternative qualifications 

For details 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

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.

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

• Language and Context
• Studying Modern Literature
• Building Sovietness: Russian Culture under Lenin and Stalin
• Dostoevskii's Classic Fiction
• Medieval Englishes: Variation and Continuity
• Multimedia Russian
• Ice and Fire: Myths and Heroes of the North
• Cognitive Poetics
• The Twentieth Century: Forms in Transition
• Nabokov's Fiction
   

Careers

By the end of this course you will have reached a high level of proficiency in Russian and be able to use the language in increasingly complex contexts, including employment-related situations. Your international experience will prove to employers that you are adaptable, independent and able to cope in challenging situations. Your transferable skills will include the ability to communicate effectively, think independently and construct a logical argument.

Average starting salary

The average starting salary for 2010/11 full-time graduates of the Department of Russian and Slavonic Studies was £16,928 and for the full-time graduates of the School of English it was £17,645.*

*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