Russian and Comparative Literature BA (Hons) drafted
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-19 | 2023-08-01 |
| 2024-01-09 | 2023-12-01 |
Program Overview
Your time is split equally between the two subjects, with an equal focus on each. No prior knowledge of Russian is required.
Studying Russian means engaging deeply with learning a new language, which you will study in conjunction with an exploration of Russia’s culture, society and history. You will develop a sophisticated understanding of the way Russians think and feel, and of the cultural references that shape their identities.
At the same time, you’ll gain a solid grounding in the discipline of literary studies, choosing from a range of topics from modern fairy tales to First World War literature, and a host of themes from madness to migration.
You’ll spend your third year abroad, an exceptional opportunity to develop your language skills through immersion and boost your intercultural competence.
Program Outline
Structure
The Russian language modules you take will depend on your entry level. We offer separate classes for beginner, post-GCSE, post-A-level and native speakers.
Year 1
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Year 2
Compulsory
Choose from a range of modules including
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Year 3
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Year 4
Compulsory
Choose from a range of modules including
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Year abroad
You can choose to go to a university in Moscow, St Petersburg, Yaroslavl, Tver, Petrozavodsk, Kazan or our Erasmus partner Daugavpils University in a Russian-speaking part of Latvia. Our exchange programmes are with major state universities as well as with smaller-scale private schools.
Find out more about study abroad opportunities at Queen Mary.
Teaching
Teaching and learning
You’ll receive 10 to 15 hours of weekly contact time per module, in the form of lectures, seminars and language classes.
You'll spend up to five hours per week in language classes – in small groups of no more than 20 for classroom or language lab teaching, and no more than 10 for oral and aural work.
For every hour spent in class, you’ll complete a further two to three hours of independent study.
Assessment
Assessment typically includes a combination of coursework and exams, or coursework only, oral and aural exams, final-year dissertation, independent projects and creative journals.
Resources and facilities
The School offers excellent on-campus resources to aid your studies, including:
Learn another language
If you’re interested in learning another language, you can sign up for a course at Queen Mary’s Language Centre, where you can choose from Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Japanese, Bengali, Catalan, Italian or Spanish.
Careers
Language graduates go into many different walks of life. Some obvious destinations are the Civil Service, management consultancy, the tourist industry or finance.
Business and financial contacts between Britain and Russia have steadily expanded in the last twenty years, and many companies are keen to recruit speakers of both languages. Potential employers are likely to look favorably upon your willingness and ability to become fluent in a less commonly taught language.
Recent graduates have been hired by:
Career support
Final year students can attend two bespoke events: 'What a difference the year abroad makes', which highlights how the year abroad helps you stand out in the graduate job market, and 'Career avenues for literature students', which explains the wide range of career options and how studying comparative literature prepares students for these. Alumni share their own experience at both events.
Our careers team can also offer: