MA Russian Studies and Social Policy
About this course
MA (Hons) in Russian Studies and Social Policy, a joint honours degree in Social Policy and Russian Studies. Core topics include Global & Comparative Perspective. The course includes a compulsory year spent abroad in a country where Russian is spoken during the third year. The first year covers the foundations through business, economics and informatics, politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations, and philosophy, divinity and law. The second year focuses on Transnational Russian Culture, The Golden Age of Russian Literature, Comparative Social Policy: Global Perspectives, and Research Skills for Social Policy. The final year involves advanced study through modules such as The Russian 19th-century novel, Russian language in its social context, Post-Soviet politics, and Culture and Power under Stalin.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: ABB (required: no specific A level subjects required) IB: 34 points with 655 at HL
See the highest paying Social Sciences degrees in the UK →
See the highest paying Languages & English degrees in the UK →
What students say
Based on about 10 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 69%
- Learning opportunities: 54%
- Assessment and feedback: 64%
- Academic support: 75%
- Organisation and management: 41%
- Learning resources: 73%
- Student voice: 58%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 10 students who started, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 6 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 80%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 10%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 20%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 5%
- Media Professionals: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 75%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 65%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 45%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 225 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 5%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 6%
- East Midlands: 2%
- West Midlands: 2%
- East of England: 2%
- London: 38%
- South East: 9%
- South West: 3%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 28%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 85%
- Baccalaureate: 5%
- Other HE qualification: 5%
- No formal qualifications: 5%
Modules
- core concepts in the analysis of key government policy areas, comparing and contrasting various lenses through which we can understand social policy
- consequences of different policy decisions by governments for different parts of society.
- business, economics and informatics
- politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations
- art and architectural history
- history, classics and archaeology
- Celtic and Scottish ethnology
- linguistics and language sciences
- philosophy, divinity and law
- if you took Russian Studies 1A in Year 1, you will take Russian Language 2A.
- if you took Russian Studies 1B in Year 1, you will take Russian Language 2B.
- Transnational Russian Culture
- The Golden Age of Russian Literature
- Utopia and Dystopia in 20th-century Russian Literature
- Comparative Social Policy: Global Perspectives - This course compares different approaches to social policy in European and non-European countries.
- Research Skills for Social Policy - This course equips you with core research training and provides a forum for subject-specific learning and community-building.
- Evidence, Economy and Social Policy - This course will focus on the economic dimension of social policy, and the (mis)use of underlying evidence.
- Cultural Responses to War
- Migration, Exile, Diaspora
- Crime and Detection in Literature
- Gender and Culture
- The Coming-of-Age Narrative
- Introduction to European Cinema
- Dynamics of Language and Power
- Languages Beyond University
- Student Wellbeing Service
- Student Counselling
- Student Disability and Learning Support
- University emergency helpline (available 24 hours a day)
- reading and writing (including translation)
- speaking and listening
- The Russian 19th-century novel
- Russian language in its social context
- Russian art
- Post-Soviet politics
- Culture and Power under Stalin
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of MA Russian Studies and Social Policy at University of Edinburgh earn?
The median salary is £30,000 after 15 months, £28,000 after 3 years, £36,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £28,000 and £48,500. The £36,500 median after five years is £9,000 more than the UK median for Social policy.
What do graduates of MA Russian Studies and Social Policy at University of Edinburgh do next?
100% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on MA Russian Studies and Social Policy at University of Edinburgh?
69% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for MA Russian Studies and Social Policy at University of Edinburgh?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 175 UCAS points.
Does MA Russian Studies and Social Policy at University of Edinburgh include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory year abroad.
How many students continue on MA Russian Studies and Social Policy at University of Edinburgh?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.