In order to engage effectively with foreign countries and cultures it is first necessary to overcome language barriers. For this reason, Slavic Studies (linguistics, literature and cultural studies) provides indispensable basic knowledge for all those interested in Eastern Europe.
Language skills are at the core of the Slavic Studies program. Students first acquire them in the classroom, and then consolidate their skills through stays abroad. In addition to Russian, a number of other Slavic and Eastern European languages are taught in Fribourg and Bern, including Polish, and Bosnian/Croatian/Montenegrin/Serbian. In terms of breadth, there is no other program in Switzerland which can compete.
Professional training is another core focus of Slavic Studies, which is comprised of lectures and seminars in Language and Literary Studies, and Cultural Philosophy.
