Research in the Department of Russian covers the period from 1700 to the present day, with particular emphasis on the 20th century. This is reflected in a wide range of undergraduate courses on Russian history, literature, language and culture, including specialist modules on Russian Fiction, Russian and Soviet Cinema, St Petersburg, Women's Writing of the Soviet Period, Poetry, Russian Culture 1912-1932, Soviet History, and the Russian Intelligentisa.

Our language courses are taught at all levels by highly experienced language instructors as well as academic staff. In the first year, students have the choice of an intensive ab initio course (for those with no prior experience in the language) or an intermediate course for students with an A-level in Russian. Finalists can take an additional specialist language course in Russian Translation & Interpreting.

Staff in Russian have particular research expertise in 19th- and 20th-Century cultural history, the history of professions (Dr Byford), 20th-Century Poetry, Anna Akhmatova (Dr Harrington), Literary and Critical Theory, Bakhtin, Formalism, and Russian and Soviet Cinema (Dr Renfrew).

The Department of Russian at Durham University participated in RAE08 and received detailed feedback in January 2009. 90% of all of the research submitted by Durham University staff was assessed as being at least of International Quality (2* and above) in terms of originality, significance and rigour. Of the research publications assessed in Russian, 54% were rated as Internationally Excellent or World Leading (3* and 4*).

The Department was recently placed 3rd nationally in The Times Good University Guide table for Russian and East European Languages, and 5th in the Complete University Guide . 

Enquiries about degree programmes in Russian, or about the department's research, should be addressed to the Head of Department at a.k.harrington@durham.ac.uk

For more information about how to apply, go to www.dur.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply/