History and Russian (4 Years) [BA]

• The History side of the programme stands out in terms of the range and flexibility of courses offered. With well over 30 academic members of staff actively engaged in cutting-edge research. History courses are easily among the most diverse in the country.
• At Manchester history is more than learning about the past. Problems of interpretation, difficulties of missing/incomplete data and completely unexplored aspects of history will require you to develop problem solving skills of the highest order. Teamwork, individual research skills and effective communication are the essential tools of the historian.
• This degree fosters a spirit of curiosity, enthusiasm and excitement in the pursuit of answers to the problems that you will discover.
• The foundation of our degree programmes is a unique two-course series, comprising 'Beyond the ''Iron Curtain'': Critical Perspectives on Russia, Past and Present' (Level 1) and 'Petersburg: History, Myth, Text' (Level 2). These courses, which do not have equivalents at any UK university, are interdisciplinary and multimedia-focused. Both courses are team-taught, in order to provide exposure to different sub-disciplines in Russian and East European Studies (such as sociology, history, literature and culture studies); and they draw upon a wide variety of resources, to explore ways in which various media can be used to further our understanding of Russia's rich historical, sociopolitical and cultural heritage.
• Language courses are team-taught by native speakers of Russian and English-speakers with a superior command of Russian; these courses are supplemented by a carefully structured independent language-learning programme.
• There are separate language courses for beginners and post-A level students in the first two years of study.

• Your time will be split equally between History and your modern language with 60 credits in each area.
• In history you will have broad range of options covering a variety of topics, thematically, temporally and geographically.
• During the first year of study, you develop crucial Russian language skills through dedicated grammar classes, language laboratory work, oral practice with a native-speaker lector and a programme of independent learning. Separate language pathways are offered for beginners, post A-level students, and native speakers of Russian.
• You also take a compulsory content course that is the first in our unique two-part series of core courses, which provide a thorough grounding in concepts and debates crucial to an understanding of Russian society and culture. Topics and themes introduced in these core courses are explored in depth in our optional content courses in subsequent years. As a result, these core courses also help you to make informed choices for theremainder of your studies based on your own particular interests.

• As you move into your second year you can choose to maintain an equal weighting between the two subjects or devote more time to either History or your modern language.
• In History your work will build on knowledge and skills gained in your first year developing each subject area to provide a greater breadth and depth of experience. There is greater flexibility of choice than in your first year.
• During the second year, you continue with your intensive study of Russian language and with the second in our compulsory core course series. You may also choose up to 2 additional modules from a range of optional courses in a range of areas (such as Russian culture and thought, literature and Polish language).
• Designed not just to underpin your studies at Manchester but also to prepare you for the compulsory year abroad, our Level Two core course focuses on St. Petersburg and its central role in Russian history, society and culture. In this course, you will study (through texts, images, film and music) numerous monuments and locales-from the Bronze Horseman to the world-famous Hermitage Museum-that you can then explore firsthand during your year abroad.

• Your third year of study is spent abroad under approved conditions.
• For further information on the year abroad please see the residence abroad webpage.

• On your return to Manchester in your final year you will again have the choice on how to weight your study time in each subject.
• The variety of History course units on offer is unrivalled.
• Your compulsory studies will comprise of an advanced Russian language course
• Optional courses in subjects including Business Russian, Soviet and post-Soviet cinema, Russian popular culture, and Russian and Soviet politics round out your studies.
• Students may also choose to complete a dissertation, which is supervised by an appropriate member of staff within Russian and East European Studies. In researching and writing the dissertation, you explore in depth a subject of particular interest to you. The topic of your dissertation may be related to one of the final-year optional courses, but this is not obligatory.

Languages qualify you for a wide range of employment.  Your high-level language skills will open up numerous paths with an international dimension (e.g. business, industry and finance).  You will also have excellent all-round communication skills making you a strong contender for openings in the media, PR and similar areas.

In our experience, many graduates go straight into business services, marketing, advertising, management, banking or communications.  Others opt for postgraduate study or further vocational training to become accountants, lawyers, teachers (in England or abroad) or enter the Civil Service. 

Did you know?

• MI5 actively recruit graduates with language skills
• Past students have gone into areas as diverse as Radio Reporting, Advertising, Accountancy, Events Management, Commercial Management and International Sales.
• Graduates from The University of Manchester are amongst the highest paid in the country
• More employers recruit at The University of Manchester than at any other UK university
• The University of Manchester's Careers Service is consistently voted the best in the country by both students and employers
• The School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures is one of the largest and most diverse in the UK and has received the prestigious European Award for Languages from CiLT, the National Centre for Languages.

• The University hold open days twice a year (usually June and October) where you have the opportunity to tour the campus and find out more about the facilities and courses we offer.

• If your application is successful you will be invited to a visit day specifically for your area of study.  On this day you will find out more about the School and its resources, meet members of staff and current students and discuss study aims and qualifications with admissions staff.

• We do not normally interview applicants.  We make offers after carefully considering your UCAS application.