BA MODERN LANGUAGE (3 YEAR OPTION WITH A SEMESTER ABROAD)

Would you like to help people, organisations and countries communicate more effectively? On this course, you’ll use exciting contemporary materials, state-of-the-art technology and study with native speakers and translation and intercultural communication experts to transcend language barriers as you develop your chosen language to a high level of competence. 

You’ll hone your ability to develop and present sophisticated arguments in English and in your second language (French, Japanese or Spanish). As you learn to speak, understand and write with precision, variety, and accuracy, you’ll develop the skills for engaging in debates and supporting your opinions. You will finesse your language and communication skills on your semester abroad, as you develop flexibility and adaptability in another country. By the end of your degree, you’ll be able to demonstrate critical thinking, sophisticated expression, and independence in your chosen language. Alongside your language studies, you’ll also discover new perspectives by exploring topics on culture, communication, translation and other applied language studies. 

Through a combination of language, professional and interpersonal skills that you will develop on this course, you will be ready to effectively navigate your future in today’s globalised world. 

About

On this course, you’ll learn your chosen language to degree level. This will involve reading and listening comprehension, translation from and to English, précis and paraphrase work, the study of different styles and registers, lexical exercises, and oral work. In all of these activities, you’ll use contemporary rather than literary or historical materials. You'll put theory into practice on your semester abroad as you push your language and communication skills to the next level, before choosing from advanced language modules in your final year.  

You can take another language as part of your degree or as a non-credit module with certification. Subject to availability, you can choose from Arabic, British Sign Language, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Russian and Advanced English. 

Alongside developing your language competence, you’ll also take modules that explore the role of language, translation and intercultural communication in different communication networks. You will apply your language and cultural knowledge to a range of real-world situations, engaging in authentic assessments that will help you develop a wide range of skills. These will not only include written and spoken skills, but also project management, teamwork and interpersonal skills, and leadership skills, all preparing you to engage in today's globalised world. 

Placement Year and Study Abroad

The semester abroad is compulsory for our three-year language degrees. 

During your second year, you’ll enhance your studies and boost your employability by spending one semester abroad studying at one of our many partner universities in France or Spain where your degree language is spoken. During this semester, you’ll deepen your experience of the language and culture, while also developing your intercultural awareness, resourcefulness and flexibility. It’s also a great way to demonstrate your resilience, confidence, and ability to thrive in an international setting to future employers. 

For further details, visit the Study Abroad section of our website. 

After the Course

You’ll graduate prepared for a whole host of career sectors, both in the UK and abroad. These include tourism, hospitality and leisure, human resources, marketing, sales, business, international banking, media, the civil service, local government and administration, teaching and education, translation and interpretation, international trade and business, journalism, arts administration, and customer services. 

Alternatively, you could choose to continue your studies with a Master’s degree such as our MA in Global Intercultural Communication, MA in Applied Translation Studies, or perhaps an MBA. Our Careers Service run a wealth of events including an Arts and Humanities events programme. This includes alumni-led presentations and workshops across a range of sectors, including charities, politics and government, writing and communications, and museums and heritage. You’ll also benefit from our Careers Using Languages Fair, where we showcase the range of opportunities available to you. This is a great chance to meet employers and to hear alumni speak about their career paths since graduating. 

Career destinations

Examples of careers you could enter include: 

• Teaching and education 
• Sales and marketing 
• Business and finance 
• Information technology and telecommunications 
• Media 
• Translation and interpreting