Why study Politics and Eastern European Studies at UCL?

Alexander, a student in the School of Slavonic and East European Studies,explains why he chose to study Politics and East European studies and tells us a little bit about what is involved in the course. 

When I first began considering where to apply for university I knew I wanted to do something to do with politics. I visited a number of universities and found many to be offering fairly broad degree options – philosophy, politics and economics (PPE), straight politics or politics and philosophy. Originally enticed by a straight politics degree, I became a bit worried it wouldn’t match all my criteria. Yes, I wanted a solid understanding of politics, but I also wanted to be able to take a year abroad, to learn and study another language and, ultimately, to be employable. Whilst many of the universities I either visited or applied to seemed to be great unis, at the end of the day I was not always satisfied I’d get exactly what I wanted from them. It was at this point that I decided to look more into a course I had previously given less attention – Politics and East European Studies at UCL.

Why East European Studies?

At first, I was sceptical about the ‘East European’ part of the course – I’d studied the Cold War during A-Level history and had a fairly superficial understanding of the region, but wasn’t sure I was prepared to devote the next four years (including the year abroad) to learning more about it. On paper it appeared to satisfy my criteria, but I decided to take some further steps to see whether this could be the perfect course for me.

Firstly, I talked to employers and asked what they thought about the course on offer. Their response was overwhelmingly positive – employers love languages, people who have spent a year abroad and the ability to perform in-depth and specific research.

Secondly, I enquired further about the nature of the course – what exactly does ‘East European Studies’ mean? The course seemed to be fairly versatile – from studying the history of the Soviet Union, to Russian Cinema to Politics and Society in Central and Eastern Europe. There is enough of a selection of modules to ensure that you are studying topics that interest you. A language was recommended and, whilst not a tough sell for me, it is always good to be reassured that having proficiency in languages is always an in-demand skill. A professor I spoke to before applying told me it was the fact he had studied Russian that got him his first job.

The benefits of adding regional study to a politics degree

Whilst it hardly needs stating, the region of Eastern Europe has historically been, and is currently, an intensely exciting period of the world. How Russia interacts with its neighbours continues to have global ramifications, and the best way to get to grips with these is to understand the region in depth. As I had found when talking to employers an understanding of any region is valuable, not least because you pick up important transferable research and analysis skills. This is really where the importance of having outstanding professors and academic resources comes in, both within the politics part of my degree and the regional study. In politics you receive an education that makes it apparent how the concepts you are studying can be applied, and through applying them to a region you get a better understanding of what these concepts mean in real life, not just theoretically.

It is worth reiterating that the politics focus of the degree really is great and, generally, covers what you would find in any politics degree. You cover everything from Political Science to Political Philosophy to International Relations, often with academics from the Public Policy department. Essentially, you get all of the benefits of a normal politics degree with added employability, world class teaching and an insight into a really interesting, developing region.

If you’re interested in studying Politics, Sociology and East European Studies at UCL or a similar course, you can find out more on the School of Slavonic and East European Studies website. 

A word from the writer

I’m Alex, a second year student studying Politics and Eastern European Studies at UCL. I am a transition mentor, write for the DiscoverUCL blog and am involved in a number of societies, most prominently the UCL Magazine ‘Pi’. Next year I will be moving to St Petersburg as part of my degree. Aside from studying I also enjoy listening to music and travelling – I have previously lived in China teaching English.