East Central European, Southeast European and Baltic Studies

You can have study guidance for thesis writing and planning of your studies. You can specialize in the ESEB area in the the Master’s programme in Area and Cultural Studies, as well as in the Master’s programme in European and Nordic Studies (ENS).

ESEB studies provide students with a comprehensive knowledge base in order to deepen their understanding of the recent history and current societies of the East Central European, Southeast European and Baltic regions. ESEB is suitable for all students who wish to become experts on the East Central European, Southeast European and Baltic region.

Every degree student and exchange student of the University of Helsinki has the right to take the ESEB study programme. Students of the Aleksanteri Institute Expertise in Russian and Eastern European Studies (ExpREES) can take ESEB courses that are included in the ExpREES teaching programme.

Please note that the teaching programme might be subject to changes and additions, so it is advisable to check course-specific information before the start of the course. You can find course descriptions and registration links at the course pages.

Autumn 2025

Comparative Authoritarianism in Central Eastern Europe and Eurasia, I period

Culture Wars in Europe: Navigating Political and Ethical Divides, I period

Romanian Literature and Culture, I-II period

Spring 2026

An Introduction to Society, Politics, and Culture of Southeast Europe, III period

Jazz in Soviet Union: culture, music and changing political tolerance, III period

Spatiality, Security and the Rule of Law: Western Balkan Responses, III period

Romanian History and Society, III-IV period

Sound Studies Workshop, III-IV period

Ethnicity and Nationalism in Former Yugoslavia, IV period

Extremism in Eastern Europe, IV period

Politics, power and music in the Balkans, IV periodi

Slavic People and Languages, IV period, open to students of all degree programmes, but basic knowledge in at least one Slavonic language is required.

Old teaching programmes

For older teaching programmes starting from the academic year 2006-2007, please turn to ESEB Education Coordinator (see contact persons).

Curriculum 2023-2026

Startig from 1.8.2023 the ESEB study modules (REE-530, 15 cr and REE-540, 15 cr) will be organised within the  Master´s Programme in Russian, Eurasian and Eastern European Studies (MAREEES). You can see the equivalencies of the 2020-2023 and the 2023-2026 curricula in the table below.

Note: REE-530 study module will not be available starting from 1.8.2024, no teaching will be organized on REE-530 course units. However, REE-530 study units have REE-540 equivalences (see tables below), and REE-530 module can be taken until the transition period ends on 31.7.2026.

REE-540 East Central European, Southeast European and Baltic Studies, Specialization Studies (15 cr) consists of the following study units:

• REE-541 Contemporary questions in ESEB studies (5 cr)
• REE-542 ESEB region as a part of Europe (5 cr)
• REE-543 Specialization studies in ESEB studies (5 cr)

Curriculum 2020-2023

The Aleksanteri Institute coordinated the following ECEBB study modules in cooperation with the Bachelor’s programme in Cultural studies (KUKA) and the Master’s programme in Area and cultural studies (ALKU) in 2020-2023:

• KUKA-IK520 East Central European, Balkan and Baltic Studies, study module I (15 cr), OR KUKA-IK500 East Central European, Balkan and Baltic Studies, study module II (30 cr)
• ALKU-IK530 East Central European, Balkan and Baltic specialization studies (15 cr)

Please find below study modules with required study units:

KUKA-IK520 East Central European, Balkan and Baltic Studies I (15 cr)

Compulsory: 

• KUKA-IK503 Bases for ECEBB Region's Social and Cultural Studies (5 cr)

Select 10 cr:

• KUKA-IK505 East Central European Culture and History (5 cr)
• KUKA-IK506 East Central European Society and Politics (5 cr)
• KUKA-IK507 South East European Culture and History (5 cr)
• KUKA-IK508 South East European Society and Politics (5 cr)
• KUKA-IK509 Baltic Culture and History (5 cr)
• KUKA-IK510 Baltic Society and Politics (5 cr)

OR

KUKA-IK500 East Central European, Balkan and Baltic Studies II (30 cr)

Compulsory:

• KUKA-IK503 IKEBB-alueen yhteiskuntien ja kulttuurien tutkimuksen lähtökohtia (5 cr)

Select 25 cr:

• KUKA-IK505 East Central European Culture and History (5 cr)
• KUKA-IK506 East Central European Society and Politics (5 cr)
• KUKA-IK507 South East European Culture and History (5 cr)
• KUKA-IK508 South East European Society and Politics (5 cr)
• KUKA-IK509 Baltic Culture and History (5 cr)
• KUKA-IK510 Baltic Society and Politics (5 cr)

IN ADDITION:

ALKU-IK530 East Central European, Balkan and Baltic Studies, specialization studies (15 cr)

• ALKU-IK531 Contemporary questions in ECEBB studies (5 cr)
• ALKU-IK532 ECEBB region as a part of Europe (5 cr)
• ALKU-IK533 Specialization studies in ECEBB studies (5 cr)

Instructions concerning ESEB Studies can be found in Instructions for students by choosing Master´s Programme in Russian, Eurasian and Eastern European Studies. 

You can apply for exchange in ESEB countries via Erasmus or Norplus programmes, or via University of Helsinki bilateral agreements.

• Erasmus and Nordplus destinations in Europe
• Exchange opportunities in Russia, Ukraine, Serbia and Georgia

Many universities organise short courses and summer courses for foreign students. You can look for information on intensive courses at universities' websites.

University of Helsinki International Exchange Services: Short courses and summer courses abroad

The Ikebb-ecebb-info mailing list is an information channel for the ESEB study programme and the region in question. Information and comments on new publications, seminars, education possibilities, funding options etc, relating to ESEB are welcome on the list.

• In order to subscribe to the mailing list please send an e-mail to majordomo@helsinki.fi
• Write the following text in the message:
  subscribe ikebb-ecebb-info your.own@email.address
• Leave the subject field of the e-mail empty.

You will receive an automatic reply confirming that your request has been received and forwarded to the administrator of the ikebb-ecebb-info list. When you have been added to the list you will receive confirmation of this and instructions for unsubscribing the list. It is advisable to save this message for future reference.

NB: Please do not use addresses such as Yahoo or Hotmail. Messages from such addresses will be regarded as junk mail.

The messages aimed for the ikebb-ecebb-info mailing list should be sent to
ikebb-ecebb-info@helsinki.fi. Please use the same address from which you subscribed to the mailing list.

• In order to unsubscribe from the mailing list please send an e-mail to majordomo@helsinki.fi
• Write the following text in the message:
  unsubscribe ikebb-ecebb-info your.own@email.address
• Leave the subject field of the e-mail empty.

In questions concerning the content of the list, please turn to ESEB Education Coordinator (see contact persons).

• University Lecturer Jouni Järvinen
• Education Coordinator Minna Oroza

Departments and research institutes

Please find below a list of university departments and research centres which conduct teaching and/or research concerning the ESEB region.

EAST CENTRAL EUROPE

• University of Lódz (Poland)
• University of Warsaw, Centre for European Regional and Local Studies (Poland)
• Adam Mickiewicz University (Poznan), Institute of Eastern Studies (Poland)
• Charles University in Prague, Institute of International Studies (Czech Republic)
• CERGE-EI Centre for Economic Research and Graduate Education Economics Institute (Czech Republic)
• Central European University, International Relations & European Studies (Hungary)

SOUTHEAST EUROPE

• Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Faculty of Slavic Studies (Bulgaria)
• University of Macedonia, Department of Balkan, Slavic & Oriental Studies (Macedonia)
• University of Bucharest, Institute of Political Research (Romania)
• Institute of International Politics and Economics (Serbia)
• Faculty of Political Sciences (University of Belgrade)
• Institute of Social Sciences: social sciences, demography, sociology, political sciences, public opinion. Kraljice Natalije 45, tel. 646-351, tel/fax: 361-8186 (Serbia)
• Center for Political Studies and Public Opinion Research (Serbia)

BALTIC STATES

• University of Latvia, Center for European and Transition Studies (Latvia)
• Vilnius University, Institute for Socio-cultural Research (Lithuania)
• Klaipeda University, Baltistikos centras (Lithuania) (in Lithuanian)
• University of Tartu, Centre for Baltic Studies (Estonia)

OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

• Centre for South-East European Studies (Great Britain)
• University of Birmingham, Centre for Russian and East European Studies (Great Britain)
• Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh, Centre for Economic Reform and Transformation
  
  (Great Britain)
• University of Bristol, Department of Russian Studies (Great Britain)
• University of Nottingham, Department of Russian and Slavonic Studies (Great Britain)
• University of Glasgow, School for Slavonic, Central and East European Studies
  
  (Great Britain)
• University College London, School of Slavonic and East European Studies (Great Britain)
• University of Oxford, St Antony's College, Russian and Eurasian Studies Centre
  
  (Great Britain)
• University of Sheffield, Russian and Slavonic Studies (Great Britain)
• University of Cambridge, Department of Slavonic Studies (Great Britain)
• University of Graz (Austria)
• University of Graz, Center for the Study of Balkan Societies and Cultures (Austria)
• University of Macedonia
• University of Macedonia, Department of Balkan, Slavic & Oriental Studies
• L'Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Science Sociales, Centre d'études des mondes russe,
  
  caucasien et centre-européen (France)
• Sorbonne Paris, Unité de Formation et de Recherche d'Etudes Slaves (France)
• Stockholm School of Economics, Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) (Sweden)
• Södertörns högskola, Baltic and East European Graduate School (Sweden)
• Collegium Carolinum (Research Centre for Czech lands, Saksa)
• Freie Universität Berlin, Osteuropa-Institut (Saksa)
• Europa-Universität Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), Institute for Transformation Studies (Saksa)
• Universität Bremen, Seminar für Ost- und Mitteleuropäische Studien (Saksa)
• Universität Bremen, Forschungsstelle Osteuropa (Saksa)
• Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Zentrum für Osteuropastudien
• Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Institut für Osteuropäisches Recht
• Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Abteilung für Geschichte Osteuropas und Südosteuropas (Saksa)
• Universität Kassel, Ost-West-Wissenschaftszentrum
• Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Zentralinstitut für Mittel- und Osteuropastudien
• Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Lehrstuhl für Osteuropäische Geschichte
• Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Lotman Institut/Seminar für Slavistik (Saksa)
• Universität Hohenheim, The Eastern Europe Centre
• Universität Leipzig, Lehrstuhl für Ost- und Südosteuropäische Geschichte
• Osteuropainstitut Regensburg-Passau
• University of Copenhagen, Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies (Denmark)
• Copenhagen Business School, Center for the Study of Europe (Denmark)

NORTH AMERICA

• University of Alaska Anchorage, Russian Program
• American University (Washington D.C.), Russian Studies
• Mount Holyoke College, Russian and Eurasian Studies
• Amherst College, Amherst Center for Russian Culture
• University of Massachusetts Amherst, Slavic & East European Studies
• Boston University, Institute for the Study of Conflict, Ideology and Policy
• University of Chigago, Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures
• Columbia University, East Central European Center
• Columbia University, Harriman Institute
• University of Florida, Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures/ Polish, Russian
• Johns Hopkins University, Paul. H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Russian and Eurasian Studies
• Harvard University, Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies
• Harvard University, Ukrainian Research Institute
• Michigan State University, Center for European and Russian Studies
• Princeton University, Russian Studies and Slavic Resources
• Seton Hall University, Russian and East European Studies Program
• University of Iowa, Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies
• University of Kansas, Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies
• University of Oregon, Russian and Eastern European Studies Center
• Woodrow Wilson Center, East European Studies
• Woodrow Wilson Center, Kennan Institute
• Duke University, Center for Slavic, Eurasian and East European Studies
• Ohio State University, Center for Slavic & East European Studies
• Indiana University, Department of Central Eurasian Studies
• Indiana University, Russian and East European Institute
• Stanford University, Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies
• George Washington University, Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies
• University of Washington, Jackson School of International Studies, Ellison Center for Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies
• Central Connecticut State University, Slavic and East European Studies
• Yale University, Slavic Languages & Literatures
• University of California (Berkeley), Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures
• University of Pennsylvania, Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures
• University of Pittsburgh, Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures
• Baylor University, Slavic and East European Studies
• University of Texas, Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies
• University of Illinois, Russian, East European and Eurasian Center
• St. Francis Xavier University (Kanada), Centre for Post-Communist Studies
• McGill University (Kanada), Department of Russian Studies

ASIA & AUSTRALIA

• Hokkaido University (Japani), Slavic Research Center
• National Chengchi University (Taiwan), Department of Russian
• Tamkang University (Taiwan), Graduate Institute of Slavic Studies
• Seoul National University, Department of Russian Language and Literature
• Macquarie University (Australia), Department of European Languages
• University of Auckland, German and Slavonic Studies

Friendship societies

BALTIC STATES

• Rozentals Society: Finland-Latvia Friendship Association (Latvia)

EAST CENTRAL EUROPE

• The Finnish-Romanian Friendship Association (Romania)

SOUTHEAST EUROPE

• Finnish-Bulgaria Society (Bulgaria)
• Finnish-Croatian Society (Croatia)

NB: The friendship societies' websites are mostly in Finnish. Please see for more friendship societies in Finnish.

Other interesting links

• C.E.E.O.L. - Central and Eastern European Online Library (If are at a University of Helsinki computer, you do not have to register or subscribe, you can start directly to look for articles)
• Extensive link list of Mr. Eero Balk
• Les Balkans sur Internet
• International Association for Southeast European Anthropology
• Österreichisches Ost- und Südosteuropa-Institut (Austrian Institute of East and Southeast European Studies)
• The Institute for War & Peace Reporting
• Alternative Information Network (in English and various Southeast European languages)
• Le Courrier des Balkans
• The Balkan Human Rights Web Pages
• Center of Documentation and Information on Minorities in Europe — Southeast Europe
• Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy
• The Oslo Corpus of Bosnian Texts
• The Oslo Corpus of Spoken Bulgarian
• RFE/RL Newsline
• Balkanistica
• Balkanologie
• Journal of Balkan and Near Eastern Studies
• Bibliography of Bulgarian and Slavic Macedonian Studies in Finland
• Updating the Sociology of Language in the Balkans (research project)
• Valahian Journal of Historical Studies
• Baltic Worlds (a quarterly scholarly journal and news magazine)