Sociology and Russian

Sociology and Russian is a combination that brings together two disciplines concerned, in very different ways, with how human societies are constructed and how they work. Sociology develops your ability to analyse social structures, inequalities, cultural norms and the processes of change that shape collective life; Russian develops your ability to engage with one of the world's major languages and with the extraordinarily rich literary, political and cultural tradition it carries. At the University of Manchester, this four-year full-time degree includes a sandwich year, a year abroad and a work placement, making it a richly practical as well as academically demanding programme.

The year abroad, typically spent in Russia or a Russian-speaking country, is a transformative experience that deepens both your linguistic competence and your sociological understanding of a very different social order.

In the sociology strand, you will engage with classical and contemporary social theory, the sociology of inequality, race, class and gender, the sociology of culture, organisations and institutions, and research methods covering both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The Russian strand builds your language skills from whatever level you enter to a high level of professional fluency, while also introducing you to Russian literature, history, film and contemporary society. The combination of sociological analysis and deep cultural-linguistic knowledge of Russia gives you an unusual and genuinely valuable perspective on one of the most significant countries in world politics.

A typical tariff of around 152 points is expected.

Graduates work in international organisations, the civil service, journalism, NGOs, business with Russian connections, academia, social research and public policy. The combination of sociological rigour and linguistic competence opens particular doors in contexts where understanding Russian society and culture matters, from diplomatic and policy contexts to research and media. Postgraduate study in sociology, Russian studies, international relations or social research is a natural next step for many.