Chinese and Russian

In this fascinating and varied five-year degree, you’ll learn two major world languages and deepen your understanding of the modern world by exploring the histories and cultures of the nations that speak them. You’ll spend one year in China and another in a Russian-speaking country, improving your language skills and gaining first-hand experience of these cultures and societies to enrich your understanding of these amazing countries.

We teach Chinese and Russian from beginners’ level, but if you already have some knowledge of either language we can also accommodate you. This programme also includes modules specifically designed for heritage speakers of Russian.

The dominant cultural, political and economic influence in East Asia for over two millennia, China today constitutes almost a fifth of the global economy, and is a major centre for technological, business and even cultural innovation—think of TikTok. Chinese at Leeds is one of the longest-running programmes in the UK and has always sought to reflect China’s diversity and changes and to equip you with the skills and knowledge to gain a deep understanding of modern China. One of the strengths of East Asian Studies at Leeds is that we have expertise which spans the many diverse aspects of this fascinating region.

With approximately 170 million native speakers and tens of millions who speak it as a second language, Russian is a lingua franca not only in the Russian Federation but also in many parts of Eastern Europe, Central Asia and diasporic communities worldwide. Our course will equip you with the linguistic and intercultural skills to navigate this rich and complex cultures with confidence.  

The School of Languages, Cultures and Societies at Leeds is an exciting place for your undergraduate experience. Our diverse international community of students and staff, student-led societies and outstanding pastoral support creates a friendly and dynamic atmosphere for all our students.