Russian and Spanish

Russian and Spanish is a degree combination that pairs two of the world's most geopolitically and culturally significant languages. Russian is the language of one of the largest countries on earth, a major nuclear power and a key actor in global affairs, with a literary and philosophical tradition of exceptional richness encompassing Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov and Akhmatova. Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, the language of a diverse community of over 500 million native speakers from Spain to Latin America, carrying literary and cultural traditions of equal depth and global relevance.

Studied together, they give you a remarkable range of access to the world.

At the University of St Andrews this four-year full-time MA (Hons) develops your competence in both Russian and Spanish to a high level, with language teaching emphasising grammatical accuracy and oral proficiency in Russian alongside comprehensive Spanish training. Beyond language, you will gain deeper understanding and appreciation of Russian-language cultures, histories and societies through modules on literature, film, cultural history and contemporary society, alongside comparable study of the Spanish-speaking world. The degree includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to develop your linguistic and cultural knowledge in context.

Graduates from Russian and Spanish degrees are well positioned for careers in diplomacy, international business, translation and interpretation, journalism, international development, cultural organisations and academic research. The combination of Russian and Spanish fluency is relatively rare among UK graduates and is valued in a wide range of organisations with interests in both Eastern Europe and the Americas. Postgraduate study in Russian studies, Hispanic studies, translation, linguistics or area studies is a natural continuation for those pursuing academic careers.