Oxford – History & Russian

History and Modern Languages make for a strong combination, allowing students to combine world history with a working knowledge of another language. Knowing a foreign language allows students to study sources in their original language, expanding their historical horizons. A historian must also be able to analyse the genre and style of a source, and the literature element of Modern Languages helps with this. A range of European languages can be studied, or alternatively, students can take up a new language as a beginner (Czech, Greek, Italian or Portuguese). It’s a small course with an intake of a little more than 20 each year.

There are a wide range of options available for study. On the history side, students can study different time periods and places, and a similarly extensive variety of linguistic and literary modules are available on the Modern Languages side.

All students on this course spend their third year abroad. There is a lot of flexibility for this year; some students decided to work as language assistants abroad, some as interns, and others choose to study at a foreign university.

In their final year, students will continue to study papers in both of their respective subjects, but must also complete a bridge essay, based on original interdisciplinary research.

An A Level or equivalent in a Modern Language (if not taking a beginners’ course) is required, and an A Level in History is recommended but not essential.