MA Russian Studies
About this course
MA (Hons) in Russian Studies, a Russian studies degree focusing on language acquisition and cultural history. Core topics include Research Methods. First-year students select Russian Studies 1A or Russian Studies 1B alongside courses from outside subject areas such as linguistics and language sciences or politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations. The second year branches according to prior language proficiency through Russian Language 2A or Russian Language 2B, accompanied by options like Transnational Russian Culture, The Golden Age of Russian Literature, and Utopia and Dystopia in 20th-century Russian Literature. During the third year, students complete an online Russian language course, write two essays on a chosen topic, and prepare for the final-year dissertation. The final fourth year concentrates on advanced fluency via reading and writing (including translation) and speaking and listening, alongside specialized modules including The Russian 19th-century novel, Russian art, 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
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Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 54%: 13 offers from 24 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
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%
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
- Russian Studies 1A
- Russian Studies 1B
- linguistics and language sciences
- business, economics and informatics
- politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations
- art and architectural history
- history, classics and archaeology
- philosophy, divinity and law
- Celtic and Scottish ethnology
- 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
- 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
- complete an online Russian language course
- write two essays on a topic chosen from a list supplied by us
- prepare for writing your dissertation in Year 4
- 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 at University of Edinburgh earn?
The median salary is £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 the same as the UK median for Slavic studies.
Are students happy with the teaching on MA Russian Studies 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 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.
What is the offer rate for MA Russian Studies at University of Edinburgh?
54% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 13 offers from 24 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does MA Russian Studies 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 at University of Edinburgh?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.