Modern Language and Business & Management
Russian is a language of world significance: it is the first language of over 150 million people, the official language of one of the world's largest countries, and a language with one of the richest literary and cultural traditions in existence. Combining it with business and management studies gives you a degree that is genuinely unusual and highly valued in a world where trade, diplomacy, and cultural exchange with Russian-speaking regions remain important, whatever the current political context. This four-year full-time programme at the University of Manchester includes a sandwich year and a work placement, embedding professional experience within your studies.
You will develop your Russian language skills from your starting point to an advanced level, studying grammar, spoken and written communication, and the literature and culture of Russia and the Russian-speaking world. Alongside this, you will cover the core areas of business and management: strategy, organisational behaviour, finance, marketing, operations, and the analytical frameworks needed to understand how organisations work in different economic and cultural environments. The sandwich year, which typically involves a period in a Russian-speaking country or in a business context where Russian is relevant, gives you immersive language experience and professional exposure simultaneously.
Graduates from this programme are distinctive: there are very few people who combine genuine Russian language proficiency with a serious business education, and that scarcity gives graduates real advantages in the labour market. Careers include international business and trade, diplomatic and consular services, translation and interpretation, international law, journalism, consultancy, and NGO work focused on Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Further study options include master's degrees in Russian studies, international business, translation, or international relations, and professional qualifications in business or languages.