Russian Studies and English Literature MA (Hons)

Level: Undergraduate

Subject: Russian Studies

Year of entry: 2026

Key facts

UCAS Code

RQ73

Award

MA (Hons)

Duration of study

4 years

Delivery

Full-time

Study location

Central Area

Start date

September 2026

School

School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures

College

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Study abroad

Mandatory

Placement

No

Open days and events

About the degree programme

For centuries, alongside English-speaking cultures, Russophone (Russian-speaking) countries have had a profound international influence on literature.

This joint honours programme aims to develop your critical, analytic, linguistic and creative skills by engaging with a broad range of texts in both English and Russian, and a variety of approaches to reading.

Through intensive language study, you will also have the opportunity to develop advanced speaking, listening and translating skills in Russian.

Our Year 1 courses are streamed according to how much Russian you already know, so it does not matter if you are a complete beginner.

Russian

Around 150 million people in the world speak Russian. It is the official language of four countries, and is commonly understood throughout Eastern Europe and Central Asia. There are also large communities of Russian-speakers in China, the United States, Israel and Western Europe.

In addition to language learning on this four-year programme, you will explore Russian and Russophone literature and culture in international political and historical contexts.

You can choose to focus on 19th or 20th-century Russian literature, take a comparative approach, or balance your literary studies with courses on other aspects of culture and language in its social context.

English Literature 

Based in the first UNESCO World City of Literature, you will study in the oldest department of English Literature in the UK, one of the longest-established in the world.

You will gain the essential skills needed for the critical close reading of poetry, drama and prose and explore the cultural contexts of writing in English from the late Middle Ages to the present.

At honours level, you will select courses on the basis of your own interests in specific topics, periods or literary genres.

Combining literature with a language shows an openness to ideas and perspectives other than your own, an essential attribute in many careers and a global marketplace.

How long it takes to complete this degree programme

This programme is studied over 4 years, including a Year Abroad. This enables us to build choice and flexibility into your studies, giving you time to explore options, find what you like and build your skills.

Your first two years will be your pre-honours years. They will give you a good grounding in your subjects. In addition to your core courses, you will broaden your education and skill set by choosing option courses from a range of disciplines. This gives you the chance to build your intercultural awareness in other areas of the arts, humanities, social sciences and beyond.

Your final two years will be your honours years. You will spend Year 3 studying abroad, gaining lived experience of Russophone culture. Year 4 will be tailored to your interests in Russian Studies and to specific topics, periods, genres or approaches to English Literature. You will also further develop your Russian language and translation skills and write a dissertation.

How a joint degree programme works

You will study both Russian and English Literature to degree level.

Both subjects are based in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC). Your teaching will take place in and around the main LLC building in the University's Central Area.

When you are studying abroad in Year 3, you will complete assignments for both subjects while using your Russian language skills daily.

Programme rankings

  • 3rd in the UK for Modern Languages
  • 3rd in the UK for English Language and Literature
  • 3rd in the UK in the Arts & Humanities

Rankings from QS World Rankings by Subject 2025

Programme benefits

  • Take the oldest programme of its kind in Scotland.
  • Study over four years, including one abroad.
  • Become fluent in a language.
  • Learn at the heart of a UNESCO World City of Literature.
  • Delve into fantastic libraries and collections.
  • Try your hand at creative writing and publishing.

Find your entry requirements

Use the dropdowns to find out your entry requirements.

  1. Select the country where you are studying or where you studied your qualification.
  2. Select the qualification you are studying or studied.
United Kingdom,

Tuition fees for MA (Hons) Russian Studies and English Literature

View the tuition fees for one academic year of MA (Hons) Russian Studies and English Literature.

Tuition fees for this programme

Additional costs

As long as international travel is possible, you will spend Year 3 abroad. The costs you have to pay will depend on where you decide to go, and how you spend your time.

Some study placements at language schools may charge a fee, but we will normally refund you for tuition costs as long as your activity has been approved.

You will be responsible for associated travel costs such as flights and visas.

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that a single student can potentially spend a maximum of £920 to £2,257 on living costs each month, depending on your accommodation.

This estimate covers the costs of:

  • accommodation
  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel within Edinburgh
  • health and wellbeing costs

See a breakdown of living costs

Scholarships and funding

Funding information

You can find detailed information on financial support available, based on where you are living, in our funding section.

Funding

What you will study

Russian

If you have no previous knowledge of Russian you will take Russian Studies 1A, an intensive beginners language course. Through classes in grammar, speaking, listening, writing and reading, you will build the foundations of Russian language skills.

If you have studied the language before, you will take Russian Studies 1B which provides advanced Russian language study. The course will consolidate and build on your existing knowledge, with the focus on generating Russian through writing and speaking.

Both our language courses include a unit on Russian culture, with materials studied in translation. You will be introduced to the main historical events that have shaped Russia, and to the cultural and literary works of Russian speakers.

English Literature 

You will take two literary studies courses. These will introduce you to the skills needed for the critical close reading of the core literary genres:

  • poetry
  • drama
  • prose 

You will read works of literature written in English from around the world, and encounter a range of ideas about the nature and purpose of literary study. 

Option courses

You will complete your Year 1 studies with option courses chosen from a wide range offered by the University.

You can, for example, opt to study another language in its cultural context. This includes reading literature written in that language, starting with short texts. We offer one of the widest ranges of languages of any UK university; the majority are suitable for complete beginners.

Other options include, but are not limited to, courses in: 

  • linguistics and English language
  • business, economics and informatics
  • politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations
  • art and architectural history
  • history, classics and archaeology
  • Celtic and Scottish ethnology
  • philosophy, divinity and law
Find Year 1 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

Russian 

You will continue to study Russian language, expanding your range of vocabulary and using increasingly complex grammar.

You will also choose at least one of the following three courses: 

  • Transnational Russian Culture
  • The Golden Age of Russian Literature
  • Utopia and Dystopia in 20th-century Russian Literature
English Literature 

You will be introduced to the study of English literature in its cultural and historical contexts via a survey of literature from the late Medieval period to the mid-twentieth century.

These courses will explore the relationship between literary texts and the construction of national, international and imperial cultures. 

Option courses

As in Year 1, you will also choose option courses from a wide range offered by the University.

These option courses include a great selection in European languages and cultures that explore literature, film and theatre in themed and comparative contexts.

Typical options include: 

  • Cultural Responses to War
  • Migration, Exile, Diaspora
  • Crime and Detection in Literature
  • Gender and Culture
  • The Coming-of-Age Narrative
  • Introduction to European Cinema
  • Dynamics of Language and Power
  • Languages Beyond University
Find Year 2 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

You will spend Year 3 in a country where Russian is spoken, improving your language and independent study skills, and engaging with Russophone, Eastern European or Central Asian cultures.

Living abroad will also give you the wider perspective, experience and skills to embrace the opportunities and challenges of life after university.

Although we are not currently sending our Year 3 students to Russia and Ukraine, we are still able to fully support them to spend the year studying abroad. This year, for example, we have students at Tallinn University in Estonia, and at universities in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia.

Coursework while abroad

We will aim to ensure your experience abroad is as beneficial as possible to your final year, as well as to your wider language learning and cultural awareness.

In addition to the work you do for your host institution, you will also complete work for both English Literature and Russian Studies.

English Literature

For English Literature, you will write a long essay. Supported by staff in Edinburgh, you will identify a topic and develop an independent piece of research.

Russian

You will take an e-learning language course which will count as part of your Year 3 mark and prepare you for your final year Russian courses. You will also start to prepare for your dissertation.

Keeping in touch

While you are abroad as part of your programme, you are still a student at the University of Edinburgh.

The Year Abroad Office and your Student Adviser, both based in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC), will check in with you at key points during your time away. Additionally, each language has a dedicated Year Abroad Coordinator for any academic queries, ensuring you are all set and ready for your final year in Edinburgh.

Just like any other time during your studies, you have access to all University services while you are abroad. These include our:

  • Student Wellbeing Service
  • Student Counselling
  • Student Disability and Learning Support
  • University emergency helpline (available 24 hours a day)
Wellbeing and safety

Your wellbeing and safety abroad is our first priority. If international travel is not possible or placements are disrupted, for example following travel advice from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), we will offer you alternative ways to engage with your studies. These will be tailored towards supporting you to meet your learning outcomes and to prepare for your final year.

Find Year 3 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

You will hone your honours-level language skills in Russian focusing on the core competencies of:

  • reading and writing (including translation)
  • speaking and listening

You will choose from a range of specialist courses in both Russian Studies and English Literature. These will enable you to explore different periods, topics and approaches according to your area of interest.

You will take an honours-level course on the key issues, concepts, and developments in literary theory and criticism.

You will complete your dissertation in Russian Studies.

Find Year 4 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

Study abroad

You will spend Year 3 (a minimum of 30 weeks) in a country where Russian is spoken, immersing yourself in Russophone, Eastern European or Central Asian cultures.

Although we are not currently sending our Year 3 students to Russia and Ukraine, we are still able to fully support them to spend the year studying abroad. This year, for example, we have students abroad in Estonia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia.

This is a chance for you to evolve and grow beyond Edinburgh. Our graduates have told us how much the Year Abroad has benefited their broader life experience and skills.

We know that you are likely to have lots of questions about your Year Abroad. We have gone into lots of detail about where you can go and what you can do under ‘Year 3’ above. You can also find out more through the University's Study and Work Away Service.

What are my options for going abroad?

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

University is a place to plan your own goals under expert guidance, study independently and in groups, and reflect upon your learning throughout your degree.

Our approach to learning and teaching is active, inclusive and question-driven, so it may be different to your experiences at school. It will help you gain the skills for life after university, and we will guide you through the steps from one phase to the next.

Depending on the size of your year group, and which option courses you take, your classes will typically fall into three categories:

  • lectures
  • tutorials
  • seminars

As well as these classes, to get the most out of your courses, you will need to read widely.

We make extensive use of our audio and visual resources, and you will also be encouraged to use online materials.

Lectures

Lectures are taken by all students on a course, typically at the same time. They are delivered as interactive presentations which may involve audio-visual material.

Lectures are given by an experienced academic. They are designed to guide you through the background, questions and debates related to the topic you are studying.

Tutorials

Tutorial groups are smaller. They are also led by an academic, but here the emphasis is more on what you think about the topic yourself. So, tutorials are your chance to discuss and expand upon what you have learned in a lecture.

Language tutorials give you the opportunity to develop your linguistic skills in a range of real-world tasks under the supervision of an experienced language teacher.

These classes typically cover skills such as reading, writing, listening and speaking - all of which involve learning and applying grammar.

Seminars

Seminars blend features of lectures and tutorials. Again, they are designed to encourage and enable your active participation in learning.

On some courses, you will have seminars instead of lectures, especially in Year 4.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a combination of coursework and exams.

Coursework is generally completed throughout the year, while exams take place at the end of a teaching block.

Coursework will take a range of forms to give you the opportunity to practice different skills. For example, you may be asked to:

  • write an essay, review, blog post, opinion piece or learning journal
  • respond to a piece of writing, film, or other media, including through close reading
  • give a short talk or presentation
  • record a podcast or video
  • design a poster or presentation

Exams will include oral exams to test your spoken language skills.

Depending on where you go and what you do in Year 3, the year may include being assessed, in part, by a host institution.

In your final year, you will also complete a dissertation.

Support for your studies

As well as the teaching staff and other staff members you will meet day-to-day, there are lots of ways to get help with your learning, including through the University’s Institute for Academic Development (IAD). Peer support schemes bring together students across year groups to help each other with specific study skills, topics or themes.

Where you will study

Study location

When you are on campus, you can expect to spend most of your time in the University of Edinburgh's Central Area - in class, in the library, or in one of the University’s many social and support spaces.

The Central Area is located on the edge of Edinburgh's historic Old Town, surrounded by lots of green space.

Academic facilities

Libraries and collections

The Main University Library holds academic books, journals and databases, films, newspapers and other media. Its holdings include around 14,400 titles in the Russian language.

The Library is also the home of the University's Centre for Research Collections which brings together:

  • more than 400,000 rare books
  • six kilometres of archives and manuscripts
  • thousands of works of art, historical musical instruments and other objects

The Centre's literary treasures include:

  • the W.H. Auden collection
  • the libraries of Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Hugh MacDiarmid and Norman MacCaig
  • an exceptional collection of early Shakespeare quartos and other early modern printed plays
  • the Corson Collection of works by and about Sir Walter Scott

Many of the University's Special Collections are digitised and available online from our excellent Resource Centre, computing labs and dedicated study spaces in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC).

Centres for research, teaching and outreach

We are home to the SWINC (Scottish Writing in the Nineteenth Century) project and network, which promotes awareness of the richness and diversity of Scottish writing and culture in the 19th century.

We are the Scottish base of The Collected Letters of Thomas and Jane Welsh Carlyle, Duke-Edinburgh edition, one of the major editorial projects in Victorian studies of the last half-century.

We are collaborators in the Edinburgh Environmental Humanities Network and have developing strengths in the Digital Humanities. For example, we have led both phases of LitLong, a digital transformation project to interactively map the ways in which Edinburgh has been used as a literary setting over the course of five centuries.

Career paths

Skills and experience

Combining a language with literature to degree level demonstrates that you are a good communicator, and someone open to other cultures and new ideas - what employers value as intercultural competence.

On this joint honours programme, you will develop linguistic, literary and critical skills. You will also gain a nuanced understanding of other cultures and societies.

Graduating with a four-year Master of Arts degree from the University of Edinburgh shows intellectual maturity, resilience, and flexibility.

The skills you will be able to demonstrate to employers when you graduate include the ability to:

  • understand, analyse and articulate complex issues and concepts
  • manage your time to meet deadlines on different types of project
  • work independently and as part of a group

Opportunities across sectors

Programmes combining language and literature are an excellent primer for a range of careers, especially those that place a premium on thinking that is both disciplined and imaginative.

Within the private, public, not-for-profit, and for-benefit sectors, previous graduates have gone on to work in:

  • business, finance, commerce and tech
  • communications, marketing, advertising and public relations
  • education, outreach, advocacy and training
  • journalism, broadcasting and media
  • leisure, tourism and travel
  • politics, policy work, diplomacy, civil service and law
  • publishing, culture, heritage and the arts
  • research, development, consultancy and venture acceleration
  • translating and interpreting

Local and global opportunities

With increasing migration in response to changing global dynamics, there is demand for our graduates in Scotland, the UK and abroad.

Wherever you are based in the world, the ability to communicate in another language, and to understand the cultures to which it opens doors, will make you stand out.

If you are keen to work abroad, it’s good to know that around 150 million people in the world speak Russian, which is widely used in global cultural and political contexts.

It is the official language of four countries and is commonly understood throughout Eastern Europe and Central Asia. There are also large communities of Russian speakers in China, the United States, France, Germany, Spain, Norway, Israel and the UK.

Careers Service

Throughout your time with us, we will encourage you to identify and hone your employability skills.

Through the University's excellent Careers Service, you can:

  • get careers advice tailored towards English Literature and Russian
  • book one-to-one appointments and practice interviews
  • access a range of online resources
  • attend events and themed fairs such as the Creative and Cultural Careers Festival
  • get help finding work while you study and for around two years after you graduate

The Careers Service is also a partner in Life After LLC, a panel event where you can draw inspiration from recent graduates of programmes in literatures, languages and cultures.

Visit the Careers Service website

Further study

The enhanced research skills you will develop on a four-year programme, particularly in your honours years, are a valuable asset if you wish to continue studying at postgraduate level.

At the University of Edinburgh, we typically offer:

  • Masters by Research programmes in:
    • Russian Studies
    • English Literature
  • taught masters programmes in:
    • Literature and Modernity: 1900 to the Present
    • Literature and Society: Enlightenment, Romantic and Victorian
    • Playwriting
    • Creative Writing
    • Comparative Literature

Any of our masters degrees, whether research-based or taught, is a good foundation for a PhD, but is equally of value as a stand-alone qualification.

Beyond literature, cultural study and associated fields, your degree will prepare you for further study in almost any humanities and social science discipline.

Graduate profiles

How to apply

You must submit a full application through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) before the relevant deadline.

Guidance on applying through UCAS

What you need to apply

As part of your application, you will need:

  • your academic qualifications
  • a personal statement
  • evidence of your English language skills (with relevant qualifications)
  • a reference

How we select

If you have met, or are predicted to meet, all our entry requirements by the relevant deadline, then your application will go into our selection process.

As part of this selection process, we will review all the information you submit in your UCAS application when we decide who to select for this degree programme.

How we select applicants

When to apply

  • 2026 entry UCAS deadline: 14 January 2026 (6:00pm GMT)

This is the deadline for all UK, EU and international applicants to non-medicine and veterinary medicine programmes.

To find out if any degree programmes have spaces after 14 January 2026, search the University of Edinburgh on the UCAS website.

Search degrees that are open on the UCAS website

Key application dates and deadlines

After you apply

After you have applied for your degree programme, we suggest you have a look at the following information to help you prepare for university:

Applying as an international student

As an international student, you apply for this degree programme through UCAS.  

Find out more about applying through UCAS  

Visas and immigration 

If you do not have the right to live in the UK, you will need to apply for and secure a Student visa before the start date of your degree programme.  

Our Student Immigration Service can help you with the Student visa application process. 

Applying for a visa  

Agents  

An education agent is someone who can help you with the application process as an international student. 

We work with education agents around the world and have a list of local offices you can contact.  

Find contact details for an education agent

What our students say

I think what makes Edinburgh special is that there is so much to do whatever your interests are! Whether you enjoy hiking, relaxing in a café, socialising with friends, or literally anything else, you will never run out of options here.

Minju Kim LLC graduate (2024)

In her final year studying languages at Edinburgh, Minju served as the Undergraduate Representative for the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures. Together with Programme Representatives for Russian Studies and English Literature, Undergraduate Representatives are your voice in the university - sharing your feedback to continually improve the student experience for everyone. Their roles are supported by the Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA).

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single undergraduate students from outside Edinburgh. To be eligible, you need to meet all criteria and apply for accommodation by 16 August in the year of your entry to the University.

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

Societies and clubs

From acting to dancing, making friends in language cafes to campaigning on global issues, student-led groups offer lots of ways to explore your subjects, interests and talents socially.

The Russian Speaking Society, for example, is one of around 300 societies and clubs supported by Edinburgh University Students' Association. The Association also promotes opportunities with local charities through its volunteering centre.

Across the University, there are a lot of opportunities to get involved in:

  • reading and writers' groups
  • poetry slams
  • creative writing and publishing
  • student theatre

We publish creative writing in nine European languages - including Russian - in our online magazine, Babble. You can get involved in the editorial committee, and launch nights typically include readings and performances.

Our Writer in Residence in English Literature organises our annual writing prizes for students.

Throughout the year, their drop-in sessions give you the chance to:

  • share your work
  • get feedback
  • meet other student writers
  • get inspiration and prompts for new work

The Writer in Residence also hosts talks and workshops, many of which feature guest writers.

With the support of our students, one of our Teaching Fellows in Russian Studies has been leading activities to help displaced children from Ukraine with education and music tuition, and adults with language skills.

Read our interview with Ekaterina Popova about welcoming Ukrainian families to Edinburgh

Societies

Sports clubs

The city of Edinburgh

As a UNESCO World City of Literature, Edinburgh is a remarkable place to study, write, publish, discuss and perform prose, poetry and drama. Its world cinema scene is also particularly strong.

The city's resources for studying languages and cultures are exceptional. Many of them are located close to the University's Central Area, making them easy to access between classes.

In addition to a fantastic range of publishing houses, bookshops, theatres, and cinemas, you will study near the:

  • National Library of Scotland - which has significant Russian holdings
  • National Museum of Scotland
  • Edinburgh Central Library
  • Scottish Poetry Library
  • Scottish Storytelling Centre
  • Writers’ Museum

We have great links with the Edinburgh International Book Festival, which annually welcomes around 1,000 authors to our literary city.

Find out more about living in Edinburgh

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include:

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustment

Health and wellbeing support services

Contact us

Contact us through our enquiry team if you have any questions about this programme.

Open days, events and visits

Find out when our next open days will be taking place

Open days, events and visits

Chat to our students on Unibuddy

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