Studying Russian and History helps you understand the contemporary world, as well as shedding light on the past. Today, around 150 million people in the world speak Russian, and it is widely used in global cultural and political contexts. Russian is the official language of four countries and is understood throughout Eastern Europe. The last thirty years have seen transnational mobility on an unprecedented scale. For example, there are large communities of Russian-speakers in China, Central Asia, the United States, and Western Europe.

On this joint honours programme, you will have the opportunity to develop advanced speaking, writing, reading, listening and translating skills in Russian. Our Year 1 Russian courses are streamed according to how much of the language you already know, so it does not matter if you are a complete beginner. Over the course of your four years, you will explore Russian literature and culture, past and present. You will also develop an awareness of Russia's international political and historical contexts.

In History, you will study the human past more broadly, interacting with evidence in primary form, and through critical reading of a wide body of historical writing. The Edinburgh experience is distinctive for its range of historical themes, chronological periods and geographical areas. You can choose from courses covering:* the early Middle Ages to the most recent past * Britain and Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas Further, our courses offer a rich variety of approaches to the past, including:* political history * cultural history * social history * economic history * intellectual history * gender history * global and transnational history

As a world-leading festival and capital city, Edinburgh is a fantastic place to study a language in its cultural context.From the winding streets of the medieval Old Town to the Georgian squares and terraces of the New Town, it is also a history lover's paradise.The structure of our four-year degree gives you choice and flexibility. In Years 1 and 2, you can opt to choose courses from a broad list of disciplines in addition to Russian Studies and History.You will then specialise in the topics that interest you most as you move through honours study. When you graduate, you will have the combination of broad cultural education and specialist knowledge valued by employers worldwide.