BA Modern Languages (R900)
2025 entry | view 2026 entry
Course summary
Work, travel, relationships, politics, diplomacy... In an increasingly globalised world, multilingualism and intercultural understanding have never been more important. Our flexible Modern Languages degree - on which you can study one, two or three languages and their related cultures - presents an exciting opportunity for you to explore the past, interpret our present and shape your future.
Through your language, cultural studies and year abroad, you will build invaluable interpersonal and intercultural skills that will support your personal and professional development and open up a world of international career opportunities, whichever sector you go on to work in.
We are both a large, vibrant School of Modern Languages and a close-knit community. Our dedicated staff are experts in their fields and have very diverse teaching and research interests, which they incorporate into their classes. This means that we can offer a wide range of optional units. You can tailor your programme to your interests and will have plenty of opportunities to discover new areas of fascination along the way. Whether politics, history, literature, film or the intricacies of the languages themselves have drawn you to university-level language study, our course will have plenty to inspire you.
Our school hosts a breadth of extracurricular activities such as talks, societies, language cafés, student newspapers and talent shows. With our excellent staff and wonderful Multimedia Centre - complete with a video editing suite, language lab facilities, extensive foreign-language film collection and mini-cinema - we offer an outstanding environment in which to study modern languages and develop a valuable skill set that is ideally tailored to the globalised workplace.
Course structure
In Year one, you take core language unit(s) (grammar, reading, writing, speaking, listening) and gain an introduction to the culture and history of countries where your language(s) are spoken. In years two & four, you take core language classes and optional units which may include history, film and visual culture, literature, linguistics, translation and politics.
Year three is spent abroad and you have the option to split the year according to your languages. To find out more, visit the Centre for Study Abroad.
Languages are chosen after you accept an offer however, you can ask to change your choices at the start of year one.
Course options:
One language
French, German, Italian, Russian or Spanish. You may start from beginner's or post-A level (or equivalent). Your degree title will be, e.g. BA Italian.
Two languages
French, German, Italian, Portuguese (for beginners only), Russian and Spanish. One of your languages must be at post-A level (or equivalent). Your degree title will list both languages, e.g. BA German & Russian.
If you choose Spanish and Portuguese, you can add Catalan in your second year for a degree called BA Hispanic Studies.
One and two language students may also have the option to begin Arabic, Catalan, Czech, Japanese, Korean or Mandarin as a non-degree language in their second year.
Three languages
French, German, Italian, Portuguese (for beginners only), Russian and Spanish. Two of your languages must be at post-A level (or equivalent). Your degree title will be BA Three Modern Languages.
Full details about the course structure and units for all options within this course can be viewed on our course structure page.
Entry requirements
We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Below is a guide to the typical offers for this course.
Find out if you are eligible for a contextual offer
Find out more about BTEC entry requirements
Find out if you are eligible for a contextual offer
More about Access to HE entry requirements
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Selection process
- Regulations and codes of conduct we abide by to create a positive environment for learning and achievement are found in the University admissions policies and procedures.
- If applying with extenuating circumstances please see our policy.
- Full information about our selection processes for Modern Languages can be found in the Admissions Statement:
Admissions statement