Subject guide to Russian
Russian at Manchester
Challenge yourself and learn a language spoken by the most native speakers in Europe and one which requires determination and focus to master.
As one of the most highly regarded Russian and East European departments, our excellent teaching, support, and community will allow you to become adept in speaking, reading and writing in Russian.
During your third year you will study abroad in a Russian-speaking country, an unforgettable experience where you will experience rich cultures, advance you language skills and further your independence and cultural awareness.
Alongside your language learning, you can tailor your degree to personal interests or career goals through course units in literature, film, cultural studies, politics, history, linguistics, economics, development studies and business in Russia, the former Soviet Union, Poland and south-east Europe.
We also have an active University Russian Society where you can enjoy a variety of social events, such as Russian cookery, craft workshops, film nights and more.
I started this year as a complete beginner of Russian, and the intensity of the language course has allowed me to progress at such an incredible rate, with this being my favourite module, largely down to the great teaching staff.
Sophie Ralph / French and Russia BA, 2026.
Video: Discover more about studying here
Courses - 2027 entry
Russian is available as a specialism in the following 4-year degree courses:
- BA History and Modern Languages
- BA Linguistics and Modern Languages
- BA Modern Languages and Business and Management
- BA Modern Languages
- BA Politics and Modern Languages
- BA Sociology and Modern Languages
BA Modern Languages has 3 pathways for Russian and students on this course must choose one:
- Russian
- Russian with Digital Humanities
- Russian and a language chosen from French, German or Spanish
The degree title on the graduation certificate will state the language(s) that have been studied. For example: BA Modern Languages (Russian), BA Modern Languages (Russian)and Business and Management, BA Politics and Modern Languages (Russian).
For information about entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships and bursaries, please visit the online prospectus.
Course structures
Degree courses in Russian provide students with a range of choices. When considering the choices you’d like to make, please note:
- Russian has 3 language learning pathways – beginner, intermediate and advanced.
- Each year, all students study a total of 120 credits. Each course unit is 20 credits unless indicated.
- The course unit titles for each year of study have been listed.
- Joint honours. In Year 1 students take 60 credits from Russian. In Years 2 and 4 students can take 40, 60 or 80 credits. The remaining credits are taken from the other subject or language.
- Single honours. In Year 1, students take 80 credits from Russian. In Years 2 and 4 they can take 80, 100 or 120 credits from Russian. The remaining credits are taken from a range of subjects in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, including digital humanities, or the University College for Interdisciplinary Learning
- Digital Humanities. Students on BA (Hons) Modern Languages that take 40 credits of digital humanities course units each year will graduate with BA (Hons) Modern Languages (Russian) with Digital Humanities.
- Essential course information for students studying a 4-year degree.
Course content
In Year 1, students study course units that cover Russian politics and history as well as developing their knowledge and skills of the Russian language. We’ve provided some further details about language learning below to provide an overview of the differences between the language learning pathways.
On the beginner language learning pathway students learn the Cyrillic alphabet and build a vocabulary they can use in everyday conversation and when reading simple, authentic texts. Conversation practice fosters confidence with pronunciation and develops listening skills. Students also start to learn grammar and develop their writing skills.
Students on the intermediate pathway develop their knowledge of Russian grammar, syntax and vocabulary, translate texts, and become more skilled in their use of spoken Russian. Students on the advanced language learning pathway develop skills in linguistic competency and socio-cultural literacy, and utilise higher level translation skills.
Students on the intermediate or advanced language learning pathways, who are taking Russian or Russian with Digital Humanities will also start to learn Polish. These classes are provided through LEAP (Language Experience for All Programme).
All students
20 credits taken from:
◆ The Making of Modern Russia: Empire and Nation, 1552-1917
40 credits taken from one of the language learning pathways:
◆ Beginner pathway: Russian Language 1
◇ Beginner pathway: Russian Language 2
◆ Intermediate pathway: Russian Language 3
◇ Intermediate pathway: 100 Years of Revolution: from Lenin’s Soviet Union to Putin’s Russia
◆ Advanced pathway: Russian Language 4
◇ Advanced pathway: 100 Years of Revolution: from Lenin’s Soviet Union to Putin’s Russia
Russian, or Russian with Digital Humanities
20 credits taken from one of the pathways:
◇ Beginner pathway: 100 Years of Revolution: from Lenin’s Soviet Union to Putin’s Russia
◆ Intermediate pathway: LEAP Polish 1
◆ Advanced pathway: LEAP Polish 1
Russian
40 credits chosen from:
◆ Free choice units in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures or the University College for Interdisciplinary Learning. Some course units are delivered in semester 1, some are delivered in semester 2.
◆ Course units from Digital Humanities. Some course units are delivered in semester 1, some are delivered in semester 2.
Russian with Digital Humanities
40 credits taken from:
◆ Course units from Digital Humanities. Some course units are delivered in semester 1, some are delivered in semester 2.
KEY:
◆ Semester 1
◇ Semester 2
◈ Full Year
Students continue learning Russian on the beginner, intermediate or advanced pathway, and prepare for the Residence Abroad year. There is a wider range of course unit options, and some course units start to draw more heavily on Russian language materials. For students that want to learn Polish alongside Russian, LEAP Polish 2 is available to students who took LEAP Polish 1 in Year 1. LEAP Polish 1 is a Year 2 option for students who are on the beginner language learning pathway.
All students
20 credits taken from:
◈ Russophone Literature and Society, 1800-2000s
20 credits taken from one of the language learning pathways:
◈ Beginner pathway: Russian Language 3
◈ Intermediate pathway: Russian Language 4
◈ Advanced pathway: Russian Language 5
Russian (joint honours) students choose 0, 20 or 40 credits. Russian (single honours) students choose 40, 60 or 80 credits. Russian with Digital Humanities students choose 40 credits from:
◆ Between East and West: Culture, Empire and National in Russia
◇ 100 Years of Revolution: from Lenin’s Soviet Union to Putin’s Russia
◇ The Revolutions of 1989 and their Aftermath: Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia
◈ LEAP Polish 1 (20 credits of language learning)
◈ LEAP Polish 2 (20 credits of language learning)
Russian
0, 20 or 40 credits chosen from:
◆ Free choice units in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures or the University College for Interdisciplinary Learning. Some course units are delivered in semester 1, some are delivered in semester 2.
◆ Course units from . Some course units are delivered in semester 1, some are delivered in semester 2.
Russian with Digital Humanities
40 credits taken from:
◆ Course units from . Some course units are delivered in semester 1, some are delivered in semester 2.
KEY:
◆ Semester 1
◇ Semester 2
◈ Full Year
This is the Residence Abroad year and students complete a study abroad placement in a Russian-speaking country. In 25/26, students could study in Georgia, Kazakhstan or Estonia. Opportunities vary from year to year, and some opportunities are selective.
Students studying Russian and another language, usually divide their time between two countries.
Please see Residence Abroad for information about funding and finance, the support provided to students to find suitable study or work placements, and for videos and blog posts from current students.
Returning from Residence Abroad, all students have a good level of language fluency. Students from the beginner and intermediate pathway now study together on the intermediate pathway. Students on the advanced pathway continue on the advanced pathway.
Russian Translation: Theory and Practice is taken by students on the advanced language learning pathway. It is also available as an optional course unit for students on the intermediate pathway.
The Dissertation in Modern Languages and Cultures course unit is an optional course unit choice. It is a guided research project and students develop their own research question and receive support and advice from a supervisor. Contact hours are low (less than 10 hours) and independent study hours are high (391 hours). The dissertation will be written in English but students must demonstrate they analysed or used primary or secondary sources in Russian.
Students that have chosen Polish in previous years can continue this language learning in Year 4. LEAP Polish 2 is available to students who have taken LEAP Polish 1. LEAP Polish 3 is available to students that have taken LEAP Polish 2.
All students
20 credits taken from one of the language learning pathways:
◈ Intermediate pathway: Russian Language 5
◆ Advanced pathway: Russian Translation: Theory and Practice
Russian (joint honours) students choose 20, 40 or 60 credits. Russian (single honours) students take 60, 80 or 100 credits. Russian with Digital Humanities students take 60 from:
◈ Dissertation in Modern Languages and Cultures (40 credits)
◆ Culture, Media and Politics in the Soviet Union and post-Soviet Russia
◇ War, Memory and Politics of Commemoration in Eastern Europe
◇ Russian Translation: Theory and Practice
◆ LEAP Polish 2 (20 credits of language learning)
◆ LEAP Polish 3 (20 credits of language learning)
Russian
0, 20 or 40 credits chosen from:
◆ Free choice units in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures or the University College for Interdisciplinary Learning. Some course units are delivered in semester 1, some are delivered in semester 2.
◆ Course units from Digital Humanities. Some course units are delivered in semester 1, some are delivered in semester 2.
Russian with Digital Humanities
40 credits taken from:
Course units from Digital Humanities. Some course units are delivered in semester 1, some are delivered in semester 2
KEY:
◆ Semester 1
◇ Semester 2
◈ Full Year