Undergraduate
Why Germanic and Slavic studies?
Learning other languages and discovering different cultures is important in today's global society. It can give you a better grasp on current and past political and cultural issues, and increase your ability to communicate with people from different cultures or countries.
I now have the ability to communicate in Russian, not only in class, but also with my family. My studies give me an insight into my family's culture and bring me back to my family's roots.
—Viktoriya Ipatieva, Slavic studies undergraduate student
Our cultural studies courses introduce you to the cultures, histories, current events, literature and film of Germanic and Slavic countries. Immerse yourself in Germanic and Slavic studies and explore everything from dark fairy tales and vampires to the Cold War and its representation in film.
What you can do
Through field schools, study abroad opportunities, and project-based classes, learning at UVic happens in and out of the classroom, letting you experience new and fascinating cultures in all their dimensions. Read about our students’ experiences on the Tales from Abroad student blog.
- Study abroad in Germany, Russia or former Soviet Union States
- Become proficient in German or Russian or speak and comprehend Ukrainian at the beginner level
- Participate in the I-witness Field School
- Perform in a German language play
- Engage in service learning activities in the Victoria German School or Victoria Russian School
- Apply for and receive awards and scholarships
- Participate in an international co-op
What languages we teach
We offer language courses in German, Russian and Ukrainian.
- German is spoken natively by about 100 million people, making it the most widely spoken native language in the European Union. It is the second most commonly used scientific language and the third largest contributor to research and development.
- Russian is the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages. It is the largest native language in Europe, with 144 million native speakers in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. The language is one of the six official languages of the United Nations.
- Ukrainian is one of Canada's heritage languages with over a million Canadians of Ukrainian background. Ukraine is Europe's second largest country and is an increasingly important player in international affairs and global trade.
What we offer
- The only major Russian program and the only program that teaches Ukrainian in British Columbia
- Specialty areas in Holocaust and Memory Studies, the Cold War, and film as a medium of inquiry
- Experiential learning and international opportunities
- Dedicated professors who apply innovative teaching approaches in their courses
