Central and East European Studies and International Relations

Central and East European Studies combined with International Relations is a degree built around one of the most consequential and underanalysed regions of the contemporary world. The twentieth and twenty-first centuries brought dramatic change to Central and Eastern Europe: war, revolution, the rise and fall of communism, and the ongoing process of political and social transformation that continues in the rise of populism, the Russo-Ukrainian war, and instability across the Caucasus and Central Asia. Understanding this region requires both deep area knowledge and the analytical frameworks that international relations provides.

At the University of Glasgow, you chart the key issues in this crucial area from the Baltic to the Balkans and from Berlin to Vladivostok. You will study the history, politics, cultures, and international dynamics of a region that stretches across much of the Eurasian landmass, examining both the specific national trajectories and the broader international forces, including NATO, the European Union, and great power competition, that shape the region's present and future. The programme runs for four years full time, which in the Scottish tradition provides breadth in the early years before more focused work later.

It includes a year abroad, offering the opportunity to study in the region itself or at a partner institution with relevant expertise. A typical entry tariff of 216 points applies.

You will develop skills in regional analysis, geopolitical reasoning, research, and the ability to engage with complex and contested political situations with nuance and rigour.

Graduates go on to careers in diplomacy, international organisations, the civil service, think tanks, journalism, NGOs, intelligence analysis, international business, and academia. The combination of regional depth and international relations theory is highly valued wherever informed analysis of this part of the world is needed.