Jagiellonian University in Kraków (UJ) runs East European Studies: Languages and Discourses at the Institute of East Slavic Philology, Faculty of Philology, as a three-year (six-semester) full-time bachelor's programme taught entirely in English. It is meant for students who want comprehensive knowledge of Eastern Europe, the ability to use it professionally in English and a solid command of the region's key languages.
Compulsory courses lay the foundations, while a wide range of electives lets you shape your own path:
The programme includes intensive study of two languages – Russian and Ukrainian; international students may also choose Polish as their main language. You start from the basics and aim for B2+ in your main language and B1+ in your additional one.
You also learn how these languages work in different types of discourse: political, legal, literary and religious, as well as the discourse of collective memory. Classes are taught by staff of the Institute of East Slavic Philology who specialise in the languages, cultures, literatures and current affairs of Eastern European countries.
Graduates speak excellent English, know East Slavic languages and/or Polish, understand the cultural specifics of Eastern Europe – especially Ukraine, Russia and Belarus – and can critically analyse data from different levels of communication. These skills meet the needs of international, governmental, local-government and cultural institutions, non-governmental organisations and companies, and are particularly useful in journalism, the NGO sector, business and administration. You can continue your education with postgraduate studies or a master's degree, and later at the Doctoral School in the Humanities.
Did you know? The Faculty of Philology runs more than 20 student research societies, including the Ukrainian Studies Society and the (W)Koło Rosji society devoted to Russia.
As of the 2026/27 admissions, based on the programme pages at studia.uj.edu.pl.
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