BA Theatre and Modern Languages (WR40)
2027 entry | view 2026 entry
Course summary
This exciting joint honours degree enables you to combine study of theatre with a language (French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish) and its related culture(s).
All languages can be studied from beginners' level or post-A level (or the equivalent), apart from Portuguese, which is offered from beginners' level only. You choose your language after you accept an offer.
Both the School of Modern Languages and the Department of Theatre encourage strong synergy between research and teaching, resulting in a vibrant learning environment as staff incorporate new research into their classes.
Through critical and historical frameworks, practical workshops, performance opportunities, and production-based tasks, the theatre side of your degree will help you build your understanding and practical skills. Opportunities to engage with professional theatre-makers and the department's museum-accredited archive, the Theatre Collection, will allow you to develop your critical and practical skills further while diversifying your awareness of potential future careers.
On the modern languages side of your degree, you will follow a structured language course in your chosen language, as well as explore the richness of the cultures in which it is spoken.
Through your study at Bristol and the experience you will gain on your 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.
Theatre and modern languages at Bristol are both vibrant academic communities that will give you the opportunity to participate in research and extracurricular activities such as performances, talks, workshops, student societies, language cafés, student newspapers and talent shows. As a modern languages student, you will also have access to the school's wonderful Multimedia Centre, complete with a video editing suite, language lab facilities, extensive foreign-language film collection and mini-cinema.
Course structure
The degree lasts four years, with years 1, 2 and 4 spent in Bristol. Year 3 is spent working or studying abroad in a country where your chosen language is spoken, refining your language skills and cultural knowledge and gaining valuable work experience. To find out more about studying abroad, visit the Centre for Study Abroad.
In each of Years 1, 2 and 4, you take a combination of units from the School of Modern Languages and the Department of Theatre.
In Year 1 of the theatre side of your degree, you will learn how to analyse performance while developing practical skills in a range of performance practices. In subsequent years, you will choose from a range of options that will deepen your analytical, critical, practical and historical expertise around your interests and aspirations. In Year 4, you have the option to undertake an independent practical or written research project and/or a placement in the creative industries.
On the modern languages side, you will take a structured language course each year in your chosen language of study (reading, writing, listening, grammar and speaking). Alongside this, you will take core and optional units relating to the culture(s) in which your language is spoken. Options include topics such as literature, history, film, politics, linguistics and visual art. In Year 2, you may also have the option to begin a new, non-degree language, such as Arabic, Catalan, Japanese, Korean or Mandarin.
Teaching styles differ from unit to unit, but include lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, and one-to-one project supervision. You will encounter a range of assessment styles over the course of your degree, such as presentations, essays, live performances, commentaries, exams, collaborative projects, debates, podcasts, video essays, and dissertations.
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 more about BTEC entry requirements
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 Theatre and Modern Languages can be found in the Admissions Statement:
Admissions statement - The admissions statement above relates to 2026 entry. The statement for 2027 entry will be available in summer 2026.