Study MPhil in Russian and East European Studies at University of Oxford in the UK, Oriental Studies

About this course

About this course
- Overview
- Department
Study options
Entry requirements
- International

What will I learn?

The MPhil in Russian and East European Studies is a two-year course for graduates who are interested in gaining a deeper knowledge and understanding of Russia, Eastern Europe and Eurasia through the study of the region across a range of disciplines including history, economics, politics, international relations and sociology.Course outlineIn the first year of the course you will study the following three core courses, along with Research Methods for Area Studies and Russian Language.History of Russia, the USSR and Eastern Europe in the Twentieth CenturyContemporary Russian and East European Studies Part 1: Politics and international relations. Covering topics in the politics, security and international relations of Russia and Eastern Europe.Contemporary Russian and East European Studies Part 2: Sociology and economics. Covering topics in the economics and sociology of Russia and Eastern Europe.Courses are taught through a combination of lectures and classes. You will be required to submit essays and make class presentations. Through the research methods course, you will receive training in relevant qualitative and quantitative methodologies to enable you to carry out research and writing for your 30,000-word thesis, while the Russian language course will deepen your connection with the region. It is a full time course with ample time for self study.In the second year you will be able to specialise more narrowly through the choice of two option courses chosen from a list of options available for that academic year. Option courses include:Central Asia and the South CaucasusIdeology and Popular CultureIslam in the USSRRussian International Relations and Foreign PolicySouth East Europe Politics and European InterventionThe Political Economy of Russia’s Transformation: From Plan to Market and Back?Russian language tuition will continue and you will work on completing your thesis which must be submitted during Trinity term.

Which department am I in?

Oriental Studies

Study options

Full Time (21 Months)

Tuition fees

£2,592.50 (US$ 3,348) Month

This is a fixed fee

Start date

October 2026

Venue

University of Oxford

University Offices,

Wellington Square,

Oxford,

Oxfordshire,

OX1 2JD, Southern England, United Kingdom

Entry requirements

For international students

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours.

The qualification above should be achieved in one of the following subject areas or disciplines:

politics
economics
international relations
history
sociology
Slavic languages.

Students with degrees in other subjects are eligible to apply.

For applicants with a bachelor's degree from the USA, the minimum overall GPA that is normally required to meet the undergraduate-level requirement is 3.6 out of 4.0. However, selection of candidates also depends on other factors in your application and most successful applicants have achieved higher GPA scores.

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.