German and Russian

German and Russian represent two of the most important languages in modern European history, and studying them together opens a particularly compelling window onto the political, intellectual, and cultural history of the continent. German is the most widely spoken language in the European Union and the language of some of the most significant contributions to philosophy, literature, science, and music over the past three centuries. Russian is the largest native language in Europe and the language of one of the richest literary traditions in the world, from Pushkin and Tolstoy to Dostoevsky and Chekhov, as well as the key to understanding one of the most consequential political stories of the modern era.

At Queen Mary University of London, this four-year programme develops advanced proficiency in both German and Russian alongside serious engagement with the cultures, histories, and literatures of the German- and Russian-speaking worlds. You will work on both languages at an advanced level throughout the programme, studying grammar, writing, speaking, and listening while also reading literary and non-literary texts in their original languages. The programme explores the ideas, movements, and historical experiences that have shaped German and Russian culture, including the twentieth-century upheavals that cast such a long shadow over Europe.

Queen Mary's location in London, one of the world's most diverse and culturally rich cities, adds considerable breadth to the experience of studying languages and cultures.

Graduates with this combination of languages are exceptionally well placed for careers in diplomacy, the foreign service, international organisations, journalism, translation and interpreting, business, academia, and any field that requires the ability to engage with the German- and Russian-speaking worlds in their own languages. The demand for people with genuine linguistic and cultural competence in Russian has grown significantly in recent years as the importance of understanding Russia and Eastern Europe in depth has become ever more apparent. Postgraduate study in translation, area studies, or comparative literature is also a natural progression.