Russian at St Andrews - language, literature, and culture

The Department of Russian has seven permanent members of staff, three of whom are native speakers of Russian. The Department has created a flourishing, friendly, and inclusive community with an intake of around 60 undergraduates yearly. It has a proven track record of excellence in teaching and internationally recognised research in a range of fields.

In the Department of Russian at St Andrews you can:

Gain new perspectives by reading media and internet sources in Russian.
Encounter famous works of literature in addition to novels, films, web content, poetry and plays that are popular in Russia today.
Join a community of intellectually curious students and lecturers wanting to understand Russian-language culture, history and society.

The majority of undergraduate first year students start with no prior knowledge of Russian. Others follow a separate course for the first two years, specifically adapted to their needs. Study programmes combine communicative methods with grammatical accuracy and a focus on speaking. Students can take specialist research-led modules on literature, culture, history and media from the 18th to 21st century.

The Department is committed to correcting the subject's imbalances in the representation of race, sexuality and gender, and to the study of Russophone cultures and their legacies across the world.

Why study Russian?

More than 300 million people in the world speak Russian. It is the second most used language on the internet and spoken in Russia, former Soviet republics, Europe and the United States. As a student of Russian language and culture, you will access knowledge and opportunities others cannot. Graduates in Russian go on to work in the civil service, NGOs, journalism and business, or to further study and teaching.

Study Russian with other languages or subjects

Study Russian as a single-subject degree or combine Russian with another subject that best reflects your academic interests and professional goals.

Study Russian with one or two other languages or Comparative Literature as part of a double- or triple-languages honours degree.
Alternatively, combine Russian with another subject such as Economics, History, International Relations, or Management as part of a joint honours degree.

Integrated year abroad degree and study abroad placements

Combine your Russian studies with time abroad to develop your linguistic skills, intercultural competence, and self-confidence.

Study Russian with an integrated year abroad - Russian language students can complete study placements in Estonia or Kazakhstan making your degree a five-year programme.
Alternatively, the study abroad and St Andrews abroad schemes provide study abroad placements in Estonia, Canada, and the USA.

Postgraduate options

Take your studies further with a postgraduate degree.

Masters degrees

Masters degrees with the School of Modern Languages provide advanced study in global cultures - giving you the intercultural and professional competencies needed to understand, and thrive in, a globalised world.

Research degrees

As a PhD, MPhil, or MSt (Res) student in the School of Modern Languages you will be part of a vibrant interdisciplinary research community.

You will work with academic supervisors who will provide you with subject expertise and guidance to help you plan and manage your research while the University's researcher development programmes give you the skills you need as an independent researcher.

Research degrees in languages and comparative literature

Start your journey

Register your details to receive more information about programmes at the School of Modern Languages and the University of St Andrews.