Bachelor of Arts in East European Languages and Cultures

Although it has been more than three decades since the Soviet Union has ceased to exist, Eastern Europe remains an exciting and relevant region. Not only do the Eastern European countries cover over half of the European continent, they also have a rich and varied cultural, political, socio-economic and academic heritage. Their history, as interesting and turbulent as it is, has influenced world history and culture, and will continue to do so in times to come. Even today, Eastern Europa takes up an important position on the geopolitical plane. While some Eastern European countries have become EU member states (Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia), others are still largely unfamiliar to us (Russia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina).

Our programme focuses on Russia as well as on South-Eastern Europe, i.e. the Slavic cultures in the Balkan region. In addition to language acquisition we also focus on the study of culture (in all its aspects) and modern society. We pay special attention to the historical development of the Eastern European countries, their languages, and their cultures.
Ghent University is the only university in Flanders with a Eastern European Languages and Cultures programme that allows for a combination of two or more Slavic languages.

Bachelor

• The first term of the first year begins with intensive theoretical and practical study of Russian. Starting from the second term, you will begin studying a modern Southern Slavic language of your choice: Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Bulgarian, or Slovenian. You will also be introduced to Eastern Europe as a region through its regional history and current affairs. The curriculum includes general Humanities course units, which you will take alongside students from other programmes, covering the basic concepts and insights of anthropology, literature, and more.
• From the second year onward, your language proficiency is honed further. You are introduced to Russia and Southeastern Europe as a cultural region through its history, current affairs, literature, and cultural history. The second-year curriculum also introduces the study of the common written language of the Orthodox Slavic world, Old Slavonic. Additionally, it offers you a choice of broadening or specialising elective sets.
• The third-year curriculum includes a study-abroad term that provides immersion in the language and culture relevant to your field. The Bachelor's curriculum culminates in a research paper known as the Bachelor's dissertation. It also encompasses a curricular strand focused on current affairs and another on methodology. In the former, you will learn to adopt a stance on current topics in the region, while the latter offers a step-by-step introduction to conducting research.

Master

The Master's curriculum combines specialisation in Slavic languages with an in-depth study of Eastern European cultures and societies. This integrated approach to languages and cultures provides direct access to the historical developments that have shaped the uniqueness of Russia, Ukraine, and Southeastern Europe. It enables you to understand the region and critically analyse its issues. The curriculum also emphasises broadening and deepening knowledge in literature, linguistics, and history. In the application-oriented project course unit, you will utilise your academic knowledge to creatively and entrepreneurially address a socially relevant challenge. The programme culminates in a master's dissertation. Our programme's curricular flexibility allows you to tailor your studies to your interests, focusing on social engagement, advanced academic research, study-abroad experiences, and/or professional placements.

• Your Bachelor’s diploma also grants access to additional Master's programmes beyond those mentioned here, including the Master of Science in Teaching. Please refer to the 'Postgraduate Studies' tab.

Great (political, social) changes in Eastern Europe have resulted in increased job opportunities for Eastern Europe experts or Slavists. Slavists are being recruited to receive and accompany trade missions, to establish solid trade contacts, or to work at international branches of Belgian companies and banks. Other job opportunities include journalism, radio and television, the cultural sector, or socio-political organisations concerned with the fate of migrants and refugees. In the education sector, jobs in adult education, at university colleges and universities are among the possibilities. There are opportunities in academic research (universities), the library sector and museums as well.