Russian Studies and English Literature, MA (Hons)

For centuries, Russian-speaking cultures have profoundly influenced international literature alongside English-speaking traditions. This joint honours programme enhances critical, analytical, linguistic, and creative skills through engagement with diverse texts in English and Russian, using various reading approaches. Intensive language study allows development of advanced speaking, listening, and translating abilities in Russian, with Year 1 courses tailored to prior knowledge, welcoming beginners. Spoken by around 150 million people as the official language of four countries, Russian is widely understood in Eastern Europe and has seen significant global mobility, with large communities in China, Central Asia, the United States, and Western Europe.Over four years, students explore Russian and Russophone literature and culture in political and historical contexts, with options to focus on 19th or 20th-century works, adopt a comparative approach, or integrate studies of culture and language. In English Literature, based in the UK's oldest department in the first UNESCO World City of Literature, participants gain skills for critical analysis of poetry, drama, and prose from the late Middle Ages to today, selecting honours courses based on personal interests. Combining these fields fosters openness to diverse perspectives, valuable in global careers.