Russian Studies

This programme is taught partly in Czech and partly in Russian. Therefore, it requires students to have a native-speaker or C1 knowledge of Czech or Slovak.

The criteria for admission for studies are the results of the the Learning Potential Test (TSP). Applicants may also be admitted based on other criteria, see Admission without the Entrance Examination. The Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University disregards the results of SCIO National Comparative Examinations.

To study in the Russian Studies programme, a minimum initial knowledge of Russian at the A2 level (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is expected (secondary school Russian textbook Raduga 1-2 or Klass 1-2, or textbook Nekolová, V.: Russian Not Only for Self-Learners – to the extent of at least the first 12 lessons).

You can file your e-applications for studies from 1 November to 28 February.
The date and time of the examination will be stated in the electronic invitation for the examination, which will be uploaded to your e-application. The faculty will not be sending paper invitations.
Applicants applying for the major study plan and minor study plan in a combined study must comply with the conditions for admission into both plans.

Learning Potential Test (TSP)

This test is only in Czech. For up-to-date information, click here

Field of Study Examination

For admission for studies of this degree programme, you do not need to take the Field of Study Examination.

Admission without the entrance examination

You may be exempt from the entrance examination based on at least one of the following criteria:

1. participation in a country-wide round of a secondary school Russian conversation competition or the competition Ars Poetica - Pushkin’s Memorial;
2. submission of a language certificate confirming B1 level of Russian as a foreign language B1 or higher (you cannot be exmepted from the entrance examination based on a secondary school leaving certificate);
3. secondary school results from four profile subjects determined by the faculty: Czech (Slovak) language, English, Russian and one more subject of the applicant’s choice from the following: Chinese, history, French, music, information technology, Italian, Latin, maths, German, Spanish, basics of social sciences.

Secondary school results may be applied for an exemption from the entrance examination by those applicants whose average grade was 1.5 or higher in each of the four profile subjects. The total average result in all subjects is not taken into consideration. Secondary school seminars are also disregarded. The average grade of each profile subject is calculated based on the results of the last four years of study in the following way: the mid-year grade is calculated from the final year, whereas the final grades are calculated from the previous three years. It is also necessary that applicants have studied each of the profile subjects for at least two years during the last four years.
Enter your grades in your e-application. Then print the grades out and let your secondary school certify them with a stamp and a signature. Upload the scan of the certified grades into your e-application. You can also upload officially certified school reports or any other documents certifying your school results.
Please upload the officially certified documents directly to your e-application in the section Application for the Exemption from the Entrance Examination no later than 28 February.

Limit for TSP percentile for successfully passing the entrance examination: 30

The study programme “Russian Studies” is focused on gaining general language (passive and active) and extra-language competences and knowledge of Russian language, as well as, Russian cultural and social area. The study will equip the listener with knowledge and skills necessary for the future career and/or for studying in follow-up master’s programme. The systematic language (practical and theoretical) preparation lead students to ability of cultivated written and oral language use of Russian. The graduate has very good practical knowledge of the language (B2 level at the end), he is able to theoretically reflex it and has the basic skills necessary for translating and interpreting common texts. Students will get acquainted with Russian culture, literature and history to an extent they need for being able to knowledgeably interpret Russian cultural production and acting, as well as, value equipment of Russian ethnic members based on social and historical context.

Interested students can then deepen gained knowledge and skills studying one of specializations. Within the specialization “Russian Cultural Studies” listeners will learn terminology and basic methodological approaches of linguistics and literary theory. The student will then get an overview of Russian literature, culture and art with the skill of discussing and writing about these topics based on individual reading and studying. In the fields of linguistics and literary theory there is traditionally put an emphasize on the comparative Russian-Czech approach. Listeners of the programme “Russian for Social Practice” are trained so that they can independently fulfil the number of ordinary tasks in companies, lead business negotiations by telephone, in writing and personally in the foreign language and so that they can deal with negotiations with foreigners and with easier operations of interpreting and translating based on the fine knowledge of Russian traditions, cultural milieu, habits and mentality. Apart from philological disciplines the listeners will gain basic knowledge in the sphere of economics, law, and deepen skills of using computer technologies.

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• practically use Russian language (oral and written) at B2 level;
• simply interpret to mother tongue in common communicative situations;
• translate ordinary texts from Russian into Czech (passive translation) and at the same time to effectively and knowledgeably use available language aids, tools and information sources;
• understand written and oral texts from different genre, stylistic and thematic spheres and to argue while interpreting it;
• characterize the key periods of Russian cultural, literary and historical development and to place it to wider European context;
• knowledgeably interpret Russian cultural production and acting, as well as, value equipment of Russian ethnic members based on social and historical context;
• explain in general terms how the language or the literary text works (specialization “Russian Cultural Studies”);
• lead business negotiations and correspondence, to prepare promotional materials in Russian, to translate basic business, administrative and juridical documents (specialization “Russian for Social Practice”).

The programme gives the graduates complex philological Russian studies education. The graduates of bachelor’s studies can find an employment in such professions and activities where the knowledge of Russian language and Russian cultural environment is necessary, that means in cultural institutions, in the sphere of tourism, in public administration, in media, professional practice in editorial departments, in the sphere of lower and middle company management, in economical departments of business and manufacturing companies, in more demanding administrative functions, in translating of scientific and artistic texts, in interpreting of common communication and in expert activities.

The minimal length of master’s thesis is 70 000 signs including footnotes, title page, table of contents, index, bibliography and abstract in foreign language. Thesis can be written both in Czech and Russian. The topic of the thesis can be broadly defined problematics of linguistics, literary theory, cultural and historical or area. The lecturers of the specialization approve topics of theses with the help of the corresponding application in the IS. The student himself can suggest the thesis topic to the supervisor. In bachelor’s thesis students under the tutelage of supervisors solve scientific problem and should demonstrate the ability to critically work with scientific texts, to process concepts and theories found in these texts and to find their individual relevant solutions of set-up problem, it should be made at the scientific level corresponding to the content and subject structure of the study field. Further information about the state exam and working on bachelor’s thesis is modified on the web page of the Department of Slavonic Studies http://slavistika.phil.muni.cz/studium.

The graduate of the bachelor’s study programme “Russian Studies” can continue (after meeting entry requirements) his studies in any follow-up master’s study programme. In the Faculty of Arts of MU the programme has a direct connection to master’s Russian studies programmes “Russian Studies” and “Upper Secondary School Teacher Training in Russian Language and Literature”.