Russian at Bristol
You can study Russian at Bristol on its own (Single Honours) or Joint Honours with Czech, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, History of Art, Philosophy or Politics. Our current first-year intake is around 35-40, with about one third (around 12-15 students) coming with A-Level or equivalent in Russian, and about two-thirds (24-30) coming with little or no previous knowledge of Russian.
Here is an overview of the Russian programme at Bristol for Single and Joint Honours students:
First Year
Language
In recent years, we have established at Bristol an outstanding team of specialist native- and non-native-speaker language teachers, supported by experienced research-active colleagues. Students of Russian are divided for language into two groups, those with A-Level Russian or equivalent and those who are starting from scratch. Students with GCSE normally join the intensive beginners course, students with AS Russian or with substantial experience of Russian can choose based on staff advice.
The intensive beginners’ course consists of six classes a week, including presentation and practice of grammar and the development of oral, aural, writing and translation skills. One class is devoted to multi-media work. The aim is to combine systematic acquisition of grammar with a more affective approach to learning. You are taught from the beginning by a combination of specialist native and non-native Russian tutors.
The course for post-A-Level students combines the thorough revision and consolidation of grammar with classes focusing on the development of speaking, listening, writing and translation skills, including substantial use of contemporary, authentic on-line resources and satellite TV. You are taught from the beginning by a combination of specialist native and non-native Russian tutors.
A group of First Year students travels almost every Easter break to St Petersburg with the Russian language co-ordinator on an organised package that includes the chance to meet third years on the year abroad. The trip not only brings Russia very much to life, but also deepens friendships on the basis of enjoyable shared experiences.
First Year Cultural Units
Introduction to Russian History and Culture
This co-taught, year-long unit explores the history and culture of Russia from the medieval period to the break-up of the Soviet Union, using a combination of introductory lectures and closer, tutorial group study of documentary materials, literary texts, images and film.
Introduction to the Russian Novel
This co-taught, year-long unit explores the development of the Russian novel from the early nineteenth to the early twentieth centuries, and will include the study of works by Pushkin, Lermontov, Gogol, Turgenev, Dostoevsky and Tolstoy.
Contemporary Russia through the Media
This unit, taught by a Russian native speaker, will explore aspects of contemporary Russia, chosen according to students’ interests, using a variety of printed and on-line media resources.
Czech Language 1
This unit for beginners in Czech language, taught by Czech native speakers, combines the thorough presentation and practice of Czech grammar with the development of speaking, listening, reading, writing and translation skills. For students not beginning another language in Year 1. For those beginning another language in Y1, a comparable unit is also available in Y2.
Single Honours students are also entitled to do up to two units from university’s open unit catalogue. You may choose to continue or begin another language, develop particular skills (e.g. computing) or take up a unit that interests you in another department or faculty.
First Year Russian Programmes
(for different categories of entrants)
Single Honours (with A-Level or equivalent in Russian) |
Single Honours (beginner in Russian) |
|
Russian Language (post-A-Level) Introduction to Russian History and Culture Introduction to the Russian Novel EITHER or BOTH: Contemporary Russia through the Media Czech Language 1 PLUS Up to two open units from the university’s open unit catalogue. |
Russian Language (beginners) Introduction to Russian History and Culture Introduction to the Russian Novel Up to two open units from the university’s open unit catalogue. |
Joint Honours (with A-Level or equivalent in Russian) |
Joint Honours (beginner in Russian) |
|
Russian Language (post-A-Level) Introduction to Russian History and Culture Either Introduction to the Russian Novel Or Czech Language 1 |
Russian Language (beginners) Introduction to Russian History and Culture |
Second Year Programme
Students of Russian continue to study language in two groups, those who came to Bristol with A-Level Russian or equivalent and those who started from scratch in Year 1. The topic-based course continues to develop on speaking, listening, writing and translation skills, with an emphasis on active vocabulary-building and a focus on up-to-date, practical, authentic resources reflecting on contemporary life in Russia, preparing you for your time abroad in the Third Year.
Cultural Units
We offer a wide variety of units in Year 2, including opportunities to explore major Russian nineteenth-century writers, the history of ideas in nineteenth-century Russia, or Russian religious and folk culture. At least six of the following units are currently offered in any given year:
- Pushkin and Russian Romanticism
- Gogol and the Comic Tradition in Russian Literature
- Dostoevsky
- Tolstoy
- Russian Thought 1825-1881
- Russian Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends
- Russian Orthodox Culture
- Introduction to Russian Drama
- Beginners and Intermediate Czech Language
Single Honours students will take five units from this list. Joint Honours Modern Languages students take between one and three, typically two.
Year Abroad
Single Honours students spend about ten months in a Russian-speaking environment. Joint Honours Modern Languages students devote about five months to each of their languages, normally spending the second half in a Russian-speaking environment.
We offer a variety of work and study placements, with accommodation in families or halls of residence. These include placements in St Petersburg, Moscow, Krasnodar, the Urals, Siberia and Kazakhstan. Our students do a great variety of things, from studying Russian in university to studying music at the Petersburg Conservatoire, teaching English at various levels to children or adults, working in financial institutions, companies, human rights organisations, law firms, charities and orphanages. Many arrange their own placements with our help and support. Some have used the opportunity to begin journalism careers, submitting articles to major daily and weekly publications or arranging short, unpaid internships with major international broadcasters. They also find time to travel widely.
During their time abroad, students complete a dissertation, written in Russian, on a media-based topic. In the preparation of this dissertation they are encouraged to conduct interviews, circulate questionnaires and research widely in the Russian media.
Final Year Programme
No distinction is made between students’ experience of Russian by this stage. Classes focus on developing fluency acquired on the year abroad, practising speaking, listening and writing skills and sharpening translation techniques. Students have two weekly oral classes with a native speaker, and work regularly with the satellite TV, on-line and print resources.
We offer a wide variety of units, including opportunities to explore literature from the twentieth century to the present, Russian Enlightenment and late nineteenth-century esoteric thought, cinema, Soviet cultural politics and translation studies. The following units are currently available (at least six are offered in any given year):
- The Russian Novel 1900-85
- Post-Soviet Russian Fiction
- Russian Literature and Thought 1762-96
- Silver Age Thought
- Silver Age Poetry
- Soviet and Russian Cinema
- Soviet Cultural Politics 1917-1991
- Intermediate and Advanced Czech
- Independent Study (Supervised Research Project)
Single Honours students will take five units from this list. Joint Honours Modern Languages students take between one and three, typically two.
Careers
Russian graduates are in constant demand. Recent graduates in Russian from Bristol have begun rewarding careers in areas as diverse as accountancy, the armed forces, banking and finance, national and international civil services, commerce, industry, journalism, the law, the media, the police, publishing, teaching, translating and interpreting, and travel and tourism. A number have taken up opportunities to work abroad. Even if your chosen career path proves not to be directly connected with Russian, a degree in Russian will always stand out as an asset, indicating academic ability, independence of mind and a willingness to take on unusual challenges.