Why Germanic & Slavic studies?
Our programs
Applying to UVic
German, Russian and Ukrainian Languages and Cultures
The Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies endorses the Canadian Association of University Teachers' (CAUT) statement on anti-racism protests:
The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) stands in solidarity with communities around the world protesting racism, injustice, and inequality.
While the ongoing demonstrations have been triggered by the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, the outrage and anger being expressed have their roots in years of pent-up frustration with racism and inequality.
CAUT calls on political leaders, organizations, members, and all individuals to take immediate action against endemic racism and inequality. In particular, reforms are needed urgently to policing practices and the criminal justice system in order to end the discrimination and racism against people of colour and Indigenous peoples that has resulted in unwanted violence and lives lost.
CAUT renews its commitment to fight anti-black racism in the community, on our campuses, and in the academic workplace. Anti-black racism in the academy is evident in the under-representation of black scholars, students and leaders in post-secondary education; in their over-representation in precarious employment; in racial profiling on campus; and in discrimination in hiring and promotion.
Our universities and colleges must do better. We need to be part of the solution by addressing the inequities that exist and by leveraging the knowledge and expertise of academic staff and students to develop concrete ways to end racism and inequality in our society.
Valérie Dufour
Director Communiciations / Directrice des communications
Whether you want to build your language and cultural skills or prepare to live and work abroad, Germanic and Slavic studies can help you understand your place in the world.
The Germanic and Slavic Studies Department was the perfect place for me to learn, explore, and grow over the course of my Master's. While I was in the Slavic Stream, I was fortunate enough to also gain a deeper understanding of German culture, German thinkers, and Holocaust memory, and work with scholars from Hungary, Germany, France, and Israel, in addition to my own research on Jewish-Russian life. This interdisciplinary and international, hands-on collaboration is part of what makes the department so special. My education did not end at the walls of the classroom or the boundaries of Ring Road, and for that I will always be grateful.
— Ethan Calof, MA in Slavic Studies (2019)
Our programs promote critical inquiry, engage multiple voices and inspire creative expression.
We offer language courses in German, Russian and Ukrainian, and we explore film, literature and cultural studies that introduce you to the histories, cultures and current events of Germanic and Slavic countries.
