PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

Russian Studies students Meaghan Bernard and Rebecca Lewicki in front of the statue of Lenin in Saint Petersburg. (Jodie Church Photo)

Communicate

Russian is the native language of some 150 million people within the Russian Federation, and is the means of international communication throughout much of Central Asia and the post-Soviet states in Eurasia. It is one of the five official languages of the United Nations, a major language of scientific and scholarly publication, and is becoming ever more important for business and trade as Russia moves towards integration with the global economy. Russia exerts considerable political influence around the world. Familiarity with Russian opens the door to parts of Europe and Asia which will be dramatically changed by economic development in the 21st century.

Russian is the language of Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Chekhov, of Nobel Prize winners Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and Joseph Brodsky. And yet these world-famous authors are only the most accessible of Russia’s treasures — reaching the heart of Russian culture is only possible if you know the language well. Studying Russian opens a rich world of Russian literature, art and music that is only partially and superficially available in English. At Dalhousie, we celebrate Russian culture through our Russian choir, the performances and food of our annual Russian Night, poetry readings, guest speakers, and our close-knit classes, where students and teachers work together to make this challenging subject fascinating and fun.

Did you know that more than 28 per cent of the world’s scientific literature is published in Russian? Think of the advantage you will have as a scientist or scholar if you have instant access to that research, instead of having to wait — and, often, to pay — for it to be translated. Knowing Russian opens the door to the science and technology that launched the space age and has made fundamental discoveries in areas as diverse as low-temperature physics, the early history of the Universe, and eye surgery.

Knowledge of Russian is an enormous asset for students interested in careers in international business. The Canada Eurasia Russia Business Association, launched in 2004, already  has more than 200 members. Canada-Russia total bilateral trade was $866 million in 2000, up from $787 million in 1999, and continues to grow. Canadian direct investment in Russia is estimated at $940 million, mainly in the oil and gas, mining, food and high-technology sectors. More than 50 Canadian companies have a permanent presence in Russia. They need bright young Canadians with Russian language skills.   

Saint Petersburg was founded in 1703 by Tsar Peter the Great as a "window to Europe."

Dalhousie has the oldest Russian Study Abroad Program in Canada. Every year, our intermediate and advanced students are able to spend four months at Saint Petersburg State University in intensive classes in language, literature, culture and history. They have the opportunity to travel within the country and make Russian friends. Quite a few remain in Russia at the end of the program, where they find employment either as teachers of English, in business, or in the media. Russian Studies alumni have worked for the Saint Petersburg Times and the Novosti Press Agency, among others.

The Canadian Communications Security Establishment (CSE) employs a number of our graduates as Russian language specialists in exciting and rewarding positions involving analysis, research, translation, transcription of intelligence information vital to Canada’s national security. But even if intelligence work isn’t in your future, you will find Russian an excellent preparation for careers in law, diplomacy and even medicine.