Politics and Russian
Politics and Russian is a combination that connects the analytical study of power and political systems with linguistic access to one of the most strategically significant language communities in the world. Politics provides the theoretical frameworks and comparative tools needed to understand how governments function, how international relations are conducted, how power is acquired and exercised, and how political change happens. Russian unlocks a language of immense literary and cultural richness alongside access to the politics, history, and society of Russia and the post-Soviet states, which remain central to global security and international affairs.
At the University of Manchester, this four-year full-time degree allows you to explore world politics and gain an intercultural perspective that is at a premium in a globalised professional landscape. You will develop your political analysis skills alongside serious Russian language training, progressing from foundational language work to the level of proficiency needed to engage with Russian political, cultural, and journalistic material directly. The programme includes a sandwich placement year and work placements, giving you professional experience that connects your academic studies to real working environments.
Manchester's strengths in both politics and Russian and East European studies make it a particularly strong institution for this combination.
Graduates from politics and Russian programmes are highly valued in diplomacy, the foreign service, security and intelligence agencies, international organisations, journalism, think tanks focused on Russia and Eurasia, and international business with a post-Soviet dimension. The combination of political analysis and Russian language competence is rare and genuinely sought after in competitive professional contexts. Many graduates also pursue postgraduate study in politics, Russian studies, security studies, or international relations, deepening their expertise for academic or specialist professional roles.