BA English and Russian (QR37)

2025 entry

Course summary

This rewarding degree combines English literature with the study of Russian, a language of strategic importance spoken by people across several countries and large diasporic communities, including in the UK. The course offers an enriching experience with exciting intellectual challenges and a range of options that will allow you to pursue your own interests.

Russian can be studied from beginners' level or post-A level (or the equivalent).

Students on this course will join two departments with top researchers in a diversity of fields and will be encouraged to develop expertise and research skills relevant to both subjects, while also considering the relationships between them.

You will explore a rich variety of texts in their social, political and historical contexts and will develop excellent critical and communication skills, both in English and in Russian.

You will follow a structured language course in Russian, as well as explore the rich literature, cinema, history, thought, politics, religion and visual culture of Russian-speaking communities. You will spend your third year abroad in a country where Russian is widely spoken, extending your language skills and cultural knowledge. To find out more about studying abroad, visit the Centre for Study Abroad.

For the English part of your course, you will study a broad range of literature written in English from the medieval period to the present day. This will include the close, analytical study of poetry, fiction, and drama, as well as critical and theoretical approaches to studying literature.

You will complete a dissertation during your final year, a project that will ask you to bring together the skills you have developed while studying both disciplines.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, and one-to-one project supervision. Assessments may include presentations, essays, commentaries, exams, collaborative projects, debates, podcasts, video essays, and dissertations.

Our course will ensure you practise a range of skills, which will make you attractive to future employers in the globalised workplace and in the sector of your choice.

All modern languages students have access to our state-of-the-art Multimedia Centre. You can also access extracurricular activities such as talks by visiting speakers, societies, language cafes, student newspapers, and talent shows.

Course structure

Full details about the course structure and units for this course can be viewed in the programme catalogue.

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Entry requirements

We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Below is a guide to the typical offers for this course.

AAA including English Literature or combined English Literature and Language
ABB including A in English Literature or combined English Literature and Language

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DDD in any Applied General BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma, plus A in either English Literature or combined English Language and Literature

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36 points overall with 18 at Higher Level, including 6 at Higher Level in either English A Literature or combined English A Literature and Language
32 points overall with 16 at Higher Level, including 6 at Higher Level in either English A Literature or combined English A Literature and Language

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85% overall, with 8.5 in English
Advanced Higher: AA including English, and Standard Higher: AAAAB
Access to HE Diploma in Humanities or Social Sciences (or similar titles). The 45 graded Level 3 credits must include at least 30 credits at Distinction (including 12 from English Literature units) and 15 at Merit or above

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Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.
Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/M2 is B, and M3 is C.
The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students, and we accept a wide range of qualifications for undergraduate and postgraduate study.

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