The dual-subject Bachelor's degree programme in Slavic Studies consists of the components of literary studies, linguistics and language practice and also includes language didactics and regional studies elements.

In literary studies, you will acquire the tools for analysing literary texts, learn about genres and epochs and examine the processes of literary writing. You will learn to think about the formation of meaning in literature, the relationships between literary texts and the functioning of literature.
Linguistics provides you with the tools to systematically describe the Slavic languages, their internal structures in terms of phonology, grammar and vocabulary, as well as their historical, social and regional varieties.
In addition to the specialised core areas, you will receive language training in your chosen Slavic languages from native-speaking lecturers with academic expertise. In the basic curriculum, you will also acquire fundamental knowledge of regional studies and language didactics. In addition, the courses in all areas include regional studies components. Students aiming to become secondary school teachers (M.Ed.) are also taught integrated subject and language didactic skills.

You can commence your degree programme with or without prior knowledge of the language. For Russian, however, you are required to attend a preliminary Russian course – known as a ‘propädeutikum’ – which takes place in the first half of the winter semester and prepares you for the minimum entry level of the first academic semester. If you already have some prior knowledge, please take a Polish or Russian placement test , which will help to place you in the language course appropriate to your level.

Please also note that consecutive Master’s programmes with a Slavic studies component may require a language level that cannot be achieved through the credit-bearing language course modules if you start without prior knowledge. These include the Master of Arts and Master of Education programmes offered by the Oldenburg Institute of Slavic Studies, which generally require an entry level of B1. This level is achieved in the Bachelor’s programme in Slavic Studies through the recognised language course modules, provided you have an entry level of A2 at the start of your studies, which corresponds to placement in the Russian 3 / Polish 3 language course. If you intend to pursue such a Master’s programme following your Bachelor’s degree and have no prior knowledge or knowledge below A2, you have the option of acquiring the necessary language skills during your Bachelor’s programme (on the basis of a proposal for credit transfer in the area of specialisation). Please also consult the Bachelor’s and/or Master’s academic advisory service regarding this matter.

The subject Slavic Studies can be studied in the two-subject Bachelor's programme in the following variants, depending on the study objective and home university:

• Home university Oldenburg

• Home university Bremen

The two-subject Bachelor's degree programme can be studied either with a career goal of school or a non-school career goal.

Over the course of the six-semester Bachelor's degree programme, you will earn a total of 180 credit points (CP), which are divided between the two subjects (120 CP), professionalisation modules (30 CP), internships (15 CP) and the Bachelor's thesis (15 CP). In the 60 CP variant in the orientation of a specialised Bachelor's degree, it is possible to study Slavic Studies with the languages Russian or Polish. In the 90 CP option, at least one other Slavic language (Russian, Polish, Ukrainian, Belarusian) must be chosen in addition to Russian or Polish. The 30 CP option can be studied with Russian, Polish, or possibly also with Ukrainian or Belarusian. You can decide which of these options to choose during the course of your degree programme, so you do not need to have made a decision at the time of enrolment.

The specialisations for the career goal Russian M.Ed. Teaching at Grammar Schools (60 or 72 CP) differ from the specialised Slavic Studies course from the 2nd year onwards and prepare you specifically for working at a school.

The Slavonic Studies programme comprises the following modules. Within the advanced and specialisation modules, you can choose your areas of specialisation:

Core modules: 30 CP (equivalent to Slavic Studies as a 30 CP subject)

• 1 module (first) language: 6 CP
• Slavic Linguistics 9 CP
• Slavic Literary Studies 9 CP
• Regional Studies and Language Acquisition 6 CP

Advanced modules: 30 CP (for Slavic Studies as a 60- and 90-CP subject) or 42 CP (for Slavic Studies as a 72-CP subject , HB co-op)

• 2 further (first) language modules, 6 CP each
• 2 specialised modules on the first language, 9 CP each, to be chosen from the following modules:
  • Language from a Systematic Perspective 9 CP
  • Language from a Historical and Cultural Perspective 9 CP
  • Text Analysis from a Systematic Perspective 9 KP
  • Literary Analysis from a Historical Perspective 9 CP

When selecting your specialised modules, you have the opportunity to choose different areas of specialisation, which also depend on whether you are studying with the aim of becoming a teacher or pursuing a career outside the school system. For further details, please refer to the examination regulations or contact the Bachelor’s degree academic advisory service.

For students whose home university is Bremen and who are studying to become a teacher (72-KP subject), the following module is also required:

• Specialisation module 12 KP

Here, you choose an additional linguistics or literary studies module and take a further course running alongside your teaching placement, designed to prepare you for the POE at the University of Bremen. For further information on the joint degree programme, please see here.

Specialisation modules: 30 KP (for Slavic Studies as a 90-KP subject)

Option 1:

• 2 second-language modules, 6 CP each
• 2 specialised modules on the second language, 9 KP each

Option 2:

• 3 second-language modules, 6 KP each
• 2 third-language modules, 6 CP each

You do not need to have any prior knowledge of your second language (or third language, where applicable); however, you may be required to complete the preparatory course (exception: Ukrainian and Belarusian, for which knowledge of Russian or Polish at A1 level is sufficient). Please keep an eye on the announcements under ‘News’ and/or via the Slavic Studies email list. If you have prior knowledge of the second or third language, please take the placement test, which will help to place you in a language course appropriate to your level.