BA in Modern Languages and Cultures (with Year Abroad)

We offer post-A-level courses in French, German, Italian, Russian and Hispanic Studies. These courses are open to students who have an A-level (at least Grade A) or equivalent qualification in that language. We also offer beginners’ courses in Arabic, German, Italian, Spanish and Russian. Beginners can take cultural modules alongside post-A Level students, and completely merge with the advanced stream in the final year.

Here are some examples of how to combine languages:

• You might choose to study one language (chosen from French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish). You will need an A-level at the appropriate grade pass in your chosen subject. However, if you wish to study Arabic as a single language, you will need an A-level at the appropriate grade pass in at least one other foreign language. You take four modules in the language area of your choice, along with a further two modules in a subsidiary subject of your choice outside the School in both your first and second years. You then take your year abroad and return to your final year to take either six modules in your chosen language or five modules in your chosen language and one module from a subject studied in your second year. Subsidiary subjects may be chosen from those available in departments outside of the School, subject to module availability, individual entry requirements, and timetable compatibility
• You might choose to study two languages (chosen from Arabic, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish). These languages can normally be divided 3 modules +3 modules between two languages, or 4+2 as you prefer (subject to some variation in module availability between the languages)
• You might initially choose to study three languages (chosen from Arabic, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish), which you study in equal proportions (2+2+2). After your first year, you will be required to drop one of these and study no more than two languages in years 2 and 3. 
• There are three ways of combining the study of a language and its culture with another subject throughout your degree (with a year abroad). Combined Honours in Social Sciences and Liberal Arts allow flexible combinations of one or two languages with other subjects, while the Modern European Languages and History program allows you to study one language (Advanced or Beginners, excluding Arabic) and History in roughly equal proportions

Year 1

Students will take a core language module for each of the languages they are studying. This is a single module for all languages studied post-A Level and a double module for beginners’ languages. These core modules focus on the four skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. In addition, you will choose from a wide range of modules dealing with various aspects of the literature, film, art, history, and politics of the different cultures you are studying. These cultural modules aim to develop students’ independent research and analytical skills as well as introducing them to the cultures in question.

All first-year modules are intended to function as introductions to and more general overviews of areas of study in which you will specialize later in the degree.

Year 2

Students will continue to take a core language module for each of the languages they are studying. These core modules focus on and continue to develop the four skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. In addition, you will choose from a wide range of modules on the literature, film, art, history, and politics of the cultures you are studying. All second-year modules build on skills and knowledge acquired in the first year and allow students to specialize more in areas that interest them (from medieval literature to contemporary film).

Year 3

The third-year is spent abroad and students divide their time between countries whose languages they are going to study at Level 3 in the final year. They can spend this time as an English assistant in a school, as a student in a university and/or in the employment of some kind. During the year abroad you will complete a Target Language Research Project for each of the languages you are going to study at Level 3 in the final year, supervised by a designated Year Abroad project supervisor.

Year 4

Students will continue to take a compulsory language module for each of the languages they are studying. These compulsory modules focus on and continue to develop to a high level the four skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. In the final year, students will also research and write a dissertation on an aspect of culture or cultural production, supervised by a member of staff with expertise in the selected topic area.

In addition, you will choose from a wide range of specialist modules on literature, film, art, history, and politics relating to the cultures you are studying. These modules are designed around staff research expertise. All fourth-year modules build on skills and knowledge acquired earlier in the degree and allow students to specialize still further in areas that interest them (such as the work of a particular writer or the culture of a particular period).

Study Abroad

School of Modern Languages and Cultures

We attach great importance to your time abroad, during the third year of your degree, which you may spend as an English assistant in a school, as a student in a foreign university, or in employment with an overseas organization. This is a time of enormous linguistic and personal development from which you should gain a high level of fluency in your language(s) and enjoy a unique opportunity to make new friends, appreciate new cultures and learn to work and study in new ways. Employers at home and abroad are impressed by the lasting benefits, especially in increased linguistic confidence, intercultural agility, and general self-motivation. During the year abroad you will complete an academic assignment related to each of the countries in which you stay. You will need to pass these in order to fulfill the requirements of the BA in Modern Languages with Year Abroad