Russian Studies and History of Art

Around 150 million people in the world speak Russian. It is the official language of four countries, is widely understood throughout Eastern Europe, and in the last thirty years has seen transnational mobility on an unprecedented scale.

Russian is your gateway to a great many cultural and artistic movements. Studying Russian and History of Art helps you understand the contemporary world, as well as shedding light on the past. During your time with us, you will gain the skills to speak and write in Russian on a range of issues relating to Russia and the Russophone world, including its visual and material culture.

Russian Studies

On this joint honours programme, you will have the opportunity to develop advanced speaking, writing, reading, listening and translating skills in Russian.

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

Over the course of your four years, you will explore Russian literature and culture, past and present. You will also develop an awareness of Russia's international political and historical contexts.

History of Art

Beyond the Russophone world, History of Art will introduce you to art from different periods and cultures around the globe.

You will learn how, and for whom, works of art were made. You will also explore their meaning and discover the ways in which they can be interpreted.

Why Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a world-leading festival city filled with galleries, cinemas, theatres, libraries and collections.

Highlights include the four National Galleries of Scotland, and significant Russian holdings in the National Library of Scotland.

Our four-year programme is flexible. In Years 1 and 2, in addition to your core subjects, you will choose option courses from a wide range of disciplines. You will then specialise as you progress through your honours years.

When you graduate, you will have the combination of broad cultural education and specialist knowledge valued by employers worldwide.