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

This course will give you the skills to transcend language barriers and help people, organisations and countries communicate more effectively. Using exciting contemporary materials, state-of-the-art technology and studying with native speakers and translation and intercultural communication experts, you’ll 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 or Spanish); learn to speak, understand and write with precision, variety, and accuracy. You’ll develop the skills for engaging in debates and supporting your opinions. By the end of your degree you’ll be able to demonstrate critical thinking, sophisticated expression, and independence in your chosen language. These are key skills for many employers, as are the tremendous flexibility and adaptability that you’ll acquire on your semester abroad. 

You’ll also discover new perspectives by exploring intercultural communication, translation and other applied language study which will help you to be effective in the communication networks of today’s globalised world. 

The semester abroad is a compulsory element of our three-year language degrees. 

You’ll enhance your studies and boost your employability with this period of residence abroad. It will be an opportunity to develop intercultural awareness, resourcefulness and flexibility along with your language skills. 

You will study at one of our many partner universities in France or Spain. If you’re studying French you’ll also have the opportunity to apply to attend the prestigious Faculté de Traduction et d’Interprétation in Geneva or the Institut de Management et de Communication Interculturels (ISIT) in Paris. 

About

As well as developing your language competence, you’ll take modules that explore the role of language, translation and intercultural communication in today’s global communication networks. 

The language-learning element of your degree will involve translation from and to English, reading and listening comprehension, précis and paraphrase work, the study of different styles and registers, lexical exercises, and oral work. 

Since presentation skills are vital in the contemporary work environment, you’ll focus on vocal and physical projection, developing poise and managing nerves. You’ll also practise speaking from notes, improvisation, and structuring arguments coherently. 

In all of these activities, you’ll use contemporary rather than literary or historical materials. 

You’ll also have the opportunity to take another language as part of your degree or as a non-credit module with certification at no extra cost. You can choose from Arabic, British Sign Language, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Italian, Spanish, Russian and Advanced English. 

Placement Year and Study Abroad

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

This time living abroad will enhance your studies and boost your employability. It’s an opportunity to develop intercultural awareness, resourcefulness and flexibility, and of course your language skills. 

You will study at one of our many partner universities in France or Spain. If you’re studying French you’ll also have the opportunity to apply to attend the prestigious Faculté de Traduction et d’Interprétation in Geneva or the Institut de Management et de Communication Interculturels (ISIT) in Paris. 

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