History and Russian BA (Hons)

University of Bristol

This course combines the broad historical knowledge and well-developed research skills gained in a history degree with the in-depth cultural awareness and advanced linguistic skills that come from learning Russian, a language of strategic importance spoken by people across several countries and large diasporic communities, including in the UK.

You will join two departments with researchers working in a variety of fields and will be encouraged to develop expertise and research skills relevant to both disciplines, while also considering the relationships between them. Both departments encourage strong synergy between research and teaching, resulting in a vibrant learning environment as staff incorporate new research into their classes.

You will follow a structured language course in Russian, as well as explore the rich culture and history of Russian-speaking communities, choosing from a range of units in literature, film, history, thought, politics, religion, and visual culture. Your third year will be spent abroad where you will have the opportunity to explore historical issues in the distinct cultural and social context of a country where Russian is widely spoken. ** You will have the chance to explore the intersections between history and Russian independently through a historically-minded dissertation in your fourth year, for which you will be required to use some sources written in Russian. The combined knowledge of history, language and culture will mean you are uniquely placed to foster and to lead intercultural communication across national boundaries. Teaching is delivered through lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, and one-to-one project supervision. Assessments may include presentations, essays, commentaries, exams, collaborative projects, debates, podcasts, video essays, and dissertations. Our course will ensure you practise a range of skills, making you attractive to future employers in the globalised workplace and in the sector of your choice. Russian can be studied from beginners' level and post-A level (or equivalent). All modern languages students have access to our state-of-the-art Multimedia Centre. You can also access extracurricular activities such as talks by visiting speakers, societies, language cafes, student newspapers, and talent shows.