Central & East European Studies

Central and East European Studies is a degree dedicated to one of the most historically dramatic and geopolitically significant regions on earth. The twentieth and twenty-first centuries have transformed Central and Eastern Europe repeatedly: through war, revolution, the imposition and eventual collapse of communism, the transitions to democracy and market economies, the expansion of the European Union, and now the rise of populism, the Russo-Ukrainian war, and instability stretching from the Caucasus to Central Asia. Understanding this region requires not just historical knowledge but engagement with its politics, cultures, languages, and social transformations.

At the University of Glasgow, this four-year, full-time degree allows you to chart the key issues across a region stretching from the Baltic to the Balkans and from Berlin to Vladivostok. You will study the history, politics, and cultural life of countries whose fortunes have intersected repeatedly with those of Western Europe and the wider world, developing both specialist regional knowledge and the analytical skills to interpret it. The degree includes a year abroad, which is central to the programme: spending sustained time in the region you are studying is invaluable for developing a genuine understanding of its complexities in ways that go beyond what any classroom can provide.

Graduates with specialist knowledge of Central and Eastern Europe are well placed for careers in diplomacy, the civil service, international development, journalism, consultancy, finance, non-governmental organisations, and academic research. The region's growing geopolitical importance means that specialists with both linguistic understanding and analytical depth are increasingly valued. Postgraduate study in international relations, European studies, history, or area studies is a natural progression for those who wish to develop their expertise further.