The first-year curriculum is the same as the Bachelor's programme in Slavic Languages and Cultures and the programme in Russian Studies. Two-thirds of the time are spent learning Russian (both the grammar and the script are difficult to master), enabling students to read Russian fairly easily by the end of the first year. In addition, students follow introductory courses in linguistics, literature and the history and sociology of Russia. After the first year, alongside language proficiency courses, students also follow courses on politics, law, economy and the history of Russia. One of these fields is subsequently chosen as the student's specialisation, resulting in a Bachelor's thesis. Many students choose to include a study period or internship in Russia in the programme.

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