Undergraduate courses
The School of Modern Languages offers six degree languages and their related cultures. These can be studied on their own* or in a wide and exciting variety of joint honours combinations.
Expertise in modern languages has never been more important as the United Kingdom forges a new relationship with its European partners and seeks to develop its trading and cultural ties throughout the world.
Our degree programmes will equip you to operate with a high level of fluency in one, two or three languages, and help you develop the skills to understand, explain and negotiate the rich cultural landscapes of our partners in Europe and the wider world.
The integral relationship between language and culture – in literature, visual cultures, history, thought, politics and linguistics – is at the heart of our degree programmes and the key to success in promoting dialogue and trade between Britain and the wider world.
Courses
Languages
We offer six languages to degree level: French, German, Italian, Portuguese (beginners only), Russian and Spanish.
With the exception of Portuguese (beginners only) and in combinations with Law (post-A level or equivalent only), these are all available either ab initio (from beginners' level) or starting from A level standard.
Combinations
These languages can be studied:
- on their own (except Portuguese)
- alongside one or two other languages and their related cultures
- in joint combinations with a wide range of other subjects
- as a pathway through a Liberal Arts programme
Degrees
Single honours (one, two or three languages)
- BA Modern Languages (R900)
The languages on offer are French, German, Italian, Russian, Portuguese (beginners only) and Spanish. A maximum of one language can be taken ab initio (from beginners’ level).
Your language choices are made after accepting an offer.
Joint honours (one language with another subject)
- BA Comparative Literatures and Cultures and Modern Languages (QR21)
- BA English and Modern Languages (QR30)
- BA Film and Modern Languages (WR50)
- BA History and Modern Languages (VR10)
- BA History of Art and Modern Languages (VR30)
- BA International Business Management and Modern Languages (NR10)
- LLB Law and Modern Languages (MR20) (post-A level only) (French, German or Spanish only)
- BA Music and Modern Languages (WR30)
- BA Philosophy and Modern Languages (RV50)
- BA Politics and Modern Languages (RL20)
- BA Theatre and Modern Languages (WR40)
Except with Law, you can choose any one of French, German, Italian, Portuguese (beginners only), Russian or Spanish.
Your language choice is made after accepting an offer.
Multidisciplinary Liberal Arts programmes (take one language as a pathway)
- BA Liberal Arts (no year abroad) (2ZB7)
- MLibArts Liberal Arts with Study Abroad (2T23)
In both cases, you can choose to take a “pathway” (a third of each year’s credits) in any one of French, German, Italian, Portuguese (beginners only), Russian or Spanish. Pathways are usually selected at the start of Year 1.
Students interested in taking a language pathway are strongly encouraged to opt for the MLibArts rather than the BA programme because of the importance of a year abroad to linguistic development.
How to study
All languages can be studied from beginners’ level (ab initio) in most degree combinations.
One of the best things about the School of Modern Languages is that the tutors and lecturers all get to know you on a personal basis because the class and lecture sizes are so small. Each tutor knows my name, my strengths, what interests me and will genuinely go out of their way to help me.