Russian & Slavonic Studies
Russian, spoken by more than 250 million people worldwide from the northern tundra to the Black Sea beaches, is an international language of culture and commerce.

Studying Russian is :
- The key to understanding the current conflict.
- A route into other Slavonic languages, like Czech and Ukrainian.
- A way of supporting the revival of a democratic society in Russia.
- An aid in understanding the multilingual, multicultural patchwork that is the former USSR.
Undergraduate degree combinations
To see how our degrees can be structured and combined, please visit the following:
BA Modern Languages & Cultures (BAMLC) - this course allows you to choose between one and three languages to study.
Dual degrees with a non-language - these options allow you to take a language (or two, in some cases) alongside a non-language subject.
Level of study
At Sheffield, you can start studying Russian from scratch at three different levels. If you're not sure which language course is right for you, do get in touch with us, and we'll be happy to advise you.
Modules
The Intensive Beginners' course assumes no knowledge of the language, but with 5 hours of small-group classes per week, all taught by native speakers, you'll make rapid progress towards Common European Framework Level A2.
The Intermediate course allows you to build on GCSE Russian (or equivalent) to achieve at least Common European Framework Level B1 by the end of the year. 3 hours of small-group classes each week, all taught by native speakers, will give you a solid grounding for further study.
If you have A-level Russian (or equivalent), the Advanced course provides the ideal starting point. 3 hours of specialized native-speaker instruction per week will take you to Common European Framework Level B2.
Whichever language course you take in your first year, you'll also have a weekly 1½-hour seminar to introduce you to key aspects of Russian culture. In this way, you'll be ready for the challenges of Year 2 and beyond.
Russian Beginners (you will take 40 credits from this group).
Title | Credits | Core/Optional |
---|---|---|
Russian Beginner Intensive This unit aims to consolidate a general foundation in the language and culture in order to cope with a range of predictable, everyday communicative situations encountered when interacting at a basic level, orally and in writing, with sympathetic native speakers during, for instance, a brief visit abroad. Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to: perform at Level A1+ of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages understand and make themselves understood orally by a sympathetic native speaker in simple, routine, predictable situations, requesting or providing factual information, and coping with unfamiliar language or unexpected responses by asking for repetition or clarification read aloud and extract key information from short, simple texts and written documents (messages, notices, instructions, brochures, etc.) talk about holidays (e.g. places they visited, food they ate) in the past and the weather write simple notes, messages and short personal letters or emails (e.g. write a postcard to a friend, fill in a simple form) demonstrate a basic insight into the most common aspects of the culture and everyday life in the target country so as to react appropriately in simple situations demonstrate a practical understanding of essential grammar terminology and a basic ability to study the language by themselves, using essential tools such as the World Wide Web or a dictionary and developing techniques for the acquisition and retention of new language demonstrate awareness in a number of transferable skills such as IT skills, presenting information, handling simple unexpected communicative situations, taking intercultural differences and language barriers into account, learning independently, etc. | 20 | Core |
Russian and Czech Cultures in the Age of Empire and beyond This module gives an overview of Russian and Czech cultures with a focus on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It will critically examine the concepts of statehood, empire, nationalism, totalitarianism and democracy by studying the two nations' different experiences through visual sources, literature and language usage. It thus introduces students to topics dealt with in greater depth in optional modules at Levels 2 and 3, and helps them to learn how to analyse cultural artefacts and sources of different kinds. | 20 | Core |
Russian Post A-Level (you will take 40 credits from this group).
Title | Credits | Core/Optional |
---|---|---|
Russian Advanced This unit aims to consolidate an initial preparation for a prolonged professional, academic or recreational stay in a country where the language is spoken and introduces the full range of linguistic and cultural skills required to engage in authentic and spontaneous interaction with native speakers (CEF level B2) | 20 | Core |
Russian and Czech Cultures in the Age of Empire and beyond This module gives an overview of Russian and Czech cultures with a focus on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It will critically examine the concepts of statehood, empire, nationalism, totalitarianism and democracy by studying the two nations' different experiences through visual sources, literature and language usage. It thus introduces students to topics dealt with in greater depth in optional modules at Levels 2 and 3, and helps them to learn how to analyse cultural artefacts and sources of different kinds. | 20 | Core |
Russian Language Modules (you will take 20 credits from this group).
Title | Credits | Core/Optional |
---|---|---|
Russian Intermediate Delivered through small-group interactive seminars and tutorials and assuming a good GCSE level in the language or equivalent, this unit aims to provide the linguistic and cultural skills required to operate effectively and accurately in all essential communicative situations encountered when interacting orally or in writing with native speakers during, for instance, a short stay abroad (CEF level A2+). | 10 | Core |
Russian Higher Advanced 1 Delivered through small-group interactive seminars and tutorials and assuming a one-year post-A-level study of the language or equivalent, this module aims to provide a full linguistic and cultural preparation for learners wishing to undertake an extended professional, academic or recreational stay in a country where the language is spoken and to expand the range of linguistic and cultural skills required to operate effectively in most situations encountered when engaging with native speakers (CEF level B2+/C1-). | 10 | Core |
Russian Intermediate 2 Delivered through small-group interactive seminars and tutorials and assuming successful completion of the corresponding Autumn semester unit for this level (i.e. Intermediate 1) or equivalent, this unit aims to consolidate the linguistic and cultural skills to start interacting and socializing in a fairly authentic and spontaneous way with native speakers in a range of advanced but usually predictable situations which would be encountered during, for instance, a short stay or placement abroad (CEF level B1-). | 10 | Core |
Russian Higher Advanced 2 Delivered through small-group interactive seminars and tutorials and assuming successful completion of the Higher Advanced 1 unit or equivalent, this module aims to consolidate the full linguistic and cultural preparation of learners wishing to undertake an extended professional, academic or recreational stay in a country where the language is spoken and to consolidate the full range of linguistic and cultural skills required to operate effectively in most situations encountered when engaging with native speakers (CEF level C1). | 10 | Core |
Russian Optional Module (you will take 20 credits from this group).
Title | Credits | Core/Optional |
---|---|---|
(Post-)Soviet Eurasia since 1900: Revolutions and Reactions This module examines how the stark political and social changes in (post-)Soviet Eurasia since 1900 are reflected linguistically and culturally. We will see how the prospect and then the reality of political and social forms that considered themselves to break qualitatively with the past were spoken and thought about. You will learn to relate evidence and artefacts of various kinds, ranging from posters, film, and literary texts to eyewitness accounts, historical documents and evidence of language use. You will explore how identities are formed through the accord and tensions between grand narratives and individuals' experiences - and how these identities are variously expressed. You will thus gain the background to become fluent in the present-day cultures of Eurasia. You will evaluate how certain political, social, linguistic and wider cultural discourses evolve and gain influence; the example of (post-)Soviet Eurasia will be related to the wider world, e.g. NATO, BRICS, G7, G20. You will deliver your findings in ways appropriate to both formal and informal settings. | 20 | Core |
Russian and Slavonic Studies Year Abroad (0 credits).
All students studying on a Modern Languages degree in the School of Languages, Arts and Societies will spend their third year either studying and/or working abroad. The year abroad enables you to immerse yourself in the language, culture and society of the language or languages you study. As our languages are spoken both in Europe and worldwide, you have the opportunity to choose destinations not only in Europe but beyond. You will be required to spend a specific amount of time abroad. The assessment for this module is on a Pass/Fail basis and it will vary depending on how you spend your year abroad (at University, on a work placement, on a British Council placement). Full details of the assessment you are required to do, and the residency requirements, will be provided in the Student Hub.
If a student is studying two or more languages, before proceeding to their final year, they must have spent at least 15 weeks in each of the two relevant countries where the languages are spoken.
Should a student wish to spend a full session in one country, even though they study two or three languages, or wish to reduce the number of weeks of residency, they must obtain approval from the Head of School. If a student undertakes placement(s) in just one language, this must equal to at least 30 weeks residency.
Residence abroad will involve attendance as a full-time student at a university or other approved institution, or gaining appropriate professional experience in a paid or voluntary placement with the agreement of the Year Abroad Coordinator.
All arrangements are subject to the approval of the Head of School.
In your final year, core language modules will build on your existing expertise in written and spoken Russian to develop sophisticated and idiomatic language use across a range of topics.
Russian Language Modules (you will take 20 credits from this group).
Title | Credits | Core/Optional |
---|---|---|
Russian Intermediate 1 Delivered through small-group interactive seminars and tutorials and assuming a good GCSE level in the language or equivalent, this unit aims to provide the linguistic and cultural skills required to operate effectively and accurately in all essential communicative situations encountered when interacting orally or in writing with native speakers during, for instance, a short stay abroad (CEF level A2+). | 10 | Core |
Russian Proficient 1 Assuming a solid, two year post-A-level study of the language and, ideally, a prolonged stay in a country where the language is spoken, successful completion of the unit below (MLT01051 Russian Higher Advanced 2), or equivalent learning experience at level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), this unit aims to provide the linguistic and cultural skills required to operate as a near-native speaker in the target country, whether for professional, academic or recreational purposes, and to develop strategies and techniques to become a fully autonomous, life-long learner of the language and culture. Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to: perform at Level C1+/C2- of the CEFR understand without too much difficulty any kind of spoken language, whether live or broadcast, when delivered at standard speed understand long and complex factual or literary texts, including specialised articles and technical instructions, appreciating distinctions of style and genre take part without much effort in a specialised conversation, discussion or presentation relating to their own field of study or interest, expressing themselves fluently and idiomatically according to the context, developing an effective logical structure if necessary and conveying finer shades of meaning precisely produce a variety of professional texts (letters, reports, articles, etc.), presenting complex ideas and finer shades of meaning within an effective logical structure and with a good command of the appropriate style demonstrate an extended critical understanding of cultural, social and professional trends and associated behaviours in areas where the language is spoken so as to engage efficiently with native speakers in complex or conflictual communicative situations, whether academic, professional, or other study the language and culture fully independently for a variety of purposes, maintaining and enhancing their level of proficiency beyond the institutional framework through a personal routine of exposure to, and practise of, the language demonstrate proficiency in a number of transferable skills such as IT skills, researching, presenting and analysing information, defending an argument and negotiating, intercultural and language awareness, autonomous learning, social media communication, etc. | 10 | Core |
Russian Intermediate 2 Delivered through small-group interactive seminars and tutorials and assuming successful completion of the corresponding Autumn semester unit for this level (i.e. Intermediate 1) or equivalent, this unit aims to consolidate the linguistic and cultural skills to start interacting and socializing in a fairly authentic and spontaneous way with native speakers in a range of advanced but usually predictable situations which would be encountered during, for instance, a short stay or placement abroad (CEF level B1-). | 10 | Core |
Russian Proficient 2 Assuming successful completion of the Proficient 1 unit or equivalent learning experience at level C1+ of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), this unit aims to perfect the linguistic and cultural skills required to operate as a near-native speaker in the target country, whether for professional, academic or recreational purposes, and to consolidate the strategies and techniques to become a fully autonomous, life-long learner of the language and culture. Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to: perform at Level C2 of the CEFR understand without any difficulty any kind of spoken language, whether live or broadcast, even when delivered at fast native speed, provided they have some time to get familiar with the accent read with ease virtually all forms of the written language, including abstract, structurally or linguistically complex texts such as manuals, specialised articles and literary works take part effortlessly in any conversation, discussion or presentation, expressing themselves fluently and idiomatically according to the context, developing an effective logical structure if necessary and conveying finer shades of meaning precisely produce a variety of professional texts (letters, reports, articles, etc.), presenting complex ideas and finer shades of meaning within an effective logical structure and with an excellent command of the appropriate style demonstrate an extended critical understanding of cultural, social and professional trends and associated behaviours in areas where the language is spoken so as to engage efficiently with native speakers in complex or conflictual communicative situations, whether academic, professional, or other study the language and culture fully independently for a variety of purposes, maintaining and enhancing their level of proficiency beyond the institutional framework through a personal routine of exposure to, and practise of, the language demonstrate proficiency in a number of transferable skills such as IT skills, researching, presenting and analysing information, defending an argument and negotiating, intercultural and language awareness, autonomous learning, social media communication, etc. | 10 | Core |
Russian Optional Module (you will take 20 credits from this group).
Title | Credits | Core/Optional |
---|---|---|
(Post-)Soviet Eurasia since 1900: Revolutions and Reactions This module examines how the stark political and social changes in (post-)Soviet Eurasia since 1900 are reflected linguistically and culturally. We will see how the prospect and then the reality of political and social forms that considered themselves to break qualitatively with the past were spoken and thought about. You will learn to relate evidence and artefacts of various kinds, ranging from posters, film, and literary texts to eyewitness accounts, historical documents and evidence of language use. You will explore how identities are formed through the accord and tensions between grand narratives and individuals' experiences - and how these identities are variously expressed. You will thus gain the background to become fluent in the present-day cultures of Eurasia. You will evaluate how certain political, social, linguistic and wider cultural discourses evolve and gain influence; the example of (post-)Soviet Eurasia will be related to the wider world, e.g. NATO, BRICS, G7, G20. You will deliver your findings in ways appropriate to both formal and informal settings. | 20 | Optional |
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it is up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research, funding changes, professional accreditation requirements, student or employer feedback, outcomes of reviews, and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.
Information last updated:

Results and Clearing 2025
The University of Sheffield has some places for additional high achieving students available through Clearing this year.