French and Russian Studies

This wide-ranging joint honours programme enables you to study two different European languages in their global cultural contexts.

Both languages are among the 10 most widely spoken in the world and have had a profound international cultural influence.

Through intensive language study, including time abroad, you will have the opportunity to acquire advanced spoken and written skills in both French and Russian.

In addition to your language classes, you will explore aspects of French-speaking (Francophone) and Russian-speaking (Russophone) cultures from the Middle Ages to the 21st century.

Courses cover literature and cinema, political history, social movements and philosophical ideas.

Why Edinburgh

As a world-leading festival and capital city, Edinburgh is a fantastic place to study languages in their cultural context.

We are unique in Scotland in offering students a full academic year abroad within the four-year honours programme, regardless of whether you study or build a work placement into your time abroad.

Both French and Russian have been taught at the University for more than a century, and our Russian degree programmes were the first of their kind in Scotland when introduced in 1949.

Today, graduating with a degree in French and Russian Studies from Edinburgh gives you the blend of specialist skills and intercultural awareness valued in a range of careers around the globe.

How long it takes to complete this degree programme

This programme is studied over 4 years, including a year abroad. This enables us to build choice and flexibility into your studies, giving you time to explore options, find what you like and build your skills.

Your first two years will be your pre-honours years. They will give you a good grounding in the French and Russian languages and in the study of Francophone and Russophone history and culture. In addition to your core courses, you will broaden your education and skill set by choosing option courses from a range of disciplines. This may enable you to change the focus of your programme.

Your final two years will be your honours years. You will spend Year 3 abroad, gaining lived experience of different cultures. Year 4 will be tailored to your interests in specific topics or approaches to French and Russian Studies. You will also further develop your language and translation skills and write either a long essay or dissertation.

Programme benefits

• Learn in an historic, capital city where both French and Russian have been taught for over a century

• Study over four years, including one abroad

• Become fluent in two major languages

• Try out different subjects in your first two years

• Delve into fantastic libraries and collections

• Try your hand at creative writing and publishing