Polish and East European Studies
Polish and East European Studies is a programme that combines language learning with interdisciplinary study of one of the most historically complex and geopolitically significant regions of the world. East Central Europe, encompassing Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, and their neighbours, has been shaped by the legacies of empires, the catastrophe of the Second World War, communist governance, and the often turbulent transitions to democracy and market economies since 1989. Understanding the region requires linguistic access, historical depth, and the analytical tools of political science, sociology, literature, and cultural studies working together.
University College London's four-year full-time Polish and East European Studies programme is taught by specialists in the Slavonic and East European section of the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, one of the world's leading centres for the study of this region. You will develop proficiency in Polish, one of the major Slavic languages spoken by over forty million people, alongside rigorous engagement with the history, politics, literature, and culture of Poland and its neighbours. The programme may also offer exposure to other languages of the region.
You will study the region's history in considerable depth, examine its political systems and the dynamics of its integration into European and transatlantic institutions, and engage with the extraordinarily rich cultural production that has emerged from these societies, including literature, film, and visual art.
A typical entry tariff of 152 points reflects the academic demands of this specialist programme.
Graduates pursue careers in diplomacy, the foreign service, journalism, international organisations, NGOs working in the region, business development in Central and Eastern European markets, translation, academic research, and cultural organisations. SSEES graduates are well regarded in organisations concerned with European affairs and international security. Postgraduate routes include East European studies, international relations, political science, and history.