Our distinctive approach to undergraduate language degrees gives you the opportunity to acquire both high-level language skills and a thorough understanding of languages, cultures and societies within a global context.

This degree structure is for 2025 entry.

First year

Language Studies (advanced or beginners): Enhances linguistic proficiency in a variety of styles and uses through written, grammar and oral work. An integral ‘language in context’ course explores how key moments in history have shaped contemporary society, through the study of film, plays, novels and other types of text.

Optional module or joint major core module / Optional module or minor module:

• Single honours students can choose two additional modules to complement their first year language studies.
• Joint major students will study the core module from their second subject and can choose one additional module.
• Optional modules available in the Department are: Chinese, French, German, Italian and Spanish. We strongly encourage you to take a second language in your first year.
• Minor modules can be chosen from a range of subjects across the University, from English Literature to Philosophy, Geography to Marketing, subject to any timetabling restrictions and entry prerequisites.

Second year

• Language studies: Continue your language studies in the advanced or beginners class.
• Language-specific culture modules: Deepen your understanding of the cultures of the individual languages you have chosen to study.
• Comparative culture modules: These modules provide a comparative understanding of languages and cultures across Europe and further afield.
• Optional module or minor: We encourage single honours language students to continue a second language as an optional module.
• Preparation for International Placement Year: Non-credit bearing module that helps you prepare for your international placement year, including administrative, academic, finance and welfare support.

Third year

International Placement Year: intercultural and academic reflection

The International Placement Year is worth 30 credits, rather than the usual 120 credits for a normal year of your degree. The focus is on embracing and expanding language proficiency and cultural understanding in preparation for your final year. You can study at a partner university, conduct a work placement, teach with the British Council, or a combination of these. Assessment is by means of partner university marks, a project gathering up observations on a contemporary aspect of the country you have lived in and/or a report on the placement you undertook.

Fourth year

• Language studies: Consolidate your language proficiency in oral and written language classes. Former beginner and advanced level students are taught together in Year 4.
• Comparative culture modules: Select modules that compare aspects of language, culture and society across different countries.
• Specialist culture modules: Work in-depth with specialist researchers in the cultures of China, Austria, Germany, France and the French speaking world, Spain, and South America.
• Dissertation: This 10,000 word dissertation enables you to specialise in a subject of your choice and develop skills in research and extended analysis.

Joint degree structure

If you are studying a joint degree, you will study core and optional modules in both your subjects in an approximately 50/50 split. Please see the course outlines for detailed module options for the degree in which you are interested.

We keep our degree programmes under constant review, and regularly introduce and update modules. In any academic year, the modules offered may therefore differ from those presented here. Similarly, the structure of our degrees may change in response to curricular developments and following consultation with students. This structure is for 2025 entry only.