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You will build on your current language skills, studying up to three languages: up to two post A-Level and up to one from beginner’s level. 

Alongside your language studies, you'll have a range of optional modules. These modules will allow you to explore the history and cultures of the countries where your languages are spoken.

Modules

Optional Modules Credits
Introduction to Chinese Culture and Society 20
Level A (HE Entry Level) Chinese I 20
Level A (HE Entry Level) Chinese II 20
Level B (HE Intermediate) Chinese 40
France and the Francophone World 20
Level A (HE Entry Level) French I 20
Level A (HE Entry Level) French II 20
Level B (HE Intermediate) French 20
Introduction to German history, culture and society 20
Level A (HE Entry Level) German I 20
Level A (HE Entry Level) German II 20
Level B (HE Intermediate) German 20
Introduction to Japanese History and Culture 20
Level A (HE Entry Level) Japanese I 20
Level A (HE Entry Level) Japanese II 20
Level B (HE Intermediate) Japanese 40
Introducción a América Latina 20
Level A (HE Entry Level) Portuguese I 20
Level A (HE Entry Level) Portuguese II 20
Introduction to Literature 20
Introduction to Linguistics 20
Introduction to International Film 20
Introduction to Cultural Studies 20
Introduction to History, Culture and Society of the Iberian Peninsula 20
Level A (HE Entry Level) Spanish I 20
Level A (HE Entry Level) Spanish II 20
Level B (HE Intermediate) Spanish 20

In Stage 2, you take an advanced study of your chosen languages.

You will again choose optional modules that explore the cultures and histories of the countries where your chosen languages are spoken.

You will also have the opportunity to study beginners’ modules in:

  • Catalan or Italian if you study Spanish
  • Catalan or Italian if you study French
  • Dutch if you study German
  • Korean if you study Chinese or Japanese

Modules

Optional Modules Credits
Level B (HE Intermediate) Chinese 40
Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese 40
France and the Francophone World 20
Level B (HE Intermediate) French (Ex-Level A) 20
Classic French Cinema 20
Paris: Aspects of History and Culture 20
Linguistic Variation in France 20
The French Caribbean – Literature, Language and Society 20
Level C (HE Advanced) French 20
Introduction to German history, culture and society 20
Level B (HE Intermediate) German (Ex-Level A) 20
Berlin: culture, literature and film from the Weimar Republic to the Berlin Republic 20
Dutch I 20
Level C (HE Advanced) German 20
Contemporary Japanese Popular Culture 20
Level B (HE Intermediate) Japanese 40
Level C (HE Advanced) Japanese 40
Introducción a América Latina 20
Comparative History of Hispano-America and Brazil: From Independence to the Mexican Revolution (1789/1810-1917) 20
Career Development for second year students 20
Cultures and Societies of the Portuguese-Speaking World 20
Level B (HE Intermediate) Portuguese 20
Introduction to Literature 20
Introduction to Linguistics 20
Introduction to International Film 20
Introduction to Cultural Studies 20
Cities in East Asian Cinema: Culture, History and Identity 20
Italian language and culture 1 20
Reading in Translation 20
Korean I 20
Introduction to History, Culture and Society of the Iberian Peninsula 20
Level B (HE Intermediate) Spanish (Ex-Level A) 20
World Spanish 20
Catalan I 20
Representaciones de Revolución, Dictadura y Democracia en España y América Latina 20
Food, Football and Fiction: Constructing Catalan Cultural Identity 20
Level C (HE Advanced) Spanish 20

Year abroad

Studying abroad is a great way to immerse yourself in local cultures, meet new people and improve your language skills.

Our year abroad is optional, meaning you can choose to study abroad in your third year (making your degree four years) or you can opt out (which will make your degree three years). You do not have to choose right away and you can talk through your options with your Degree Programme Director once you arrive at Newcastle.

The way you spend your year abroad is up to you. You can:

  • work as a British Council teaching assistant in a school (UK nationals only)
  • study at a partner university
  • undertake an approved work placement

The year abroad is highly flexible and students can choose to either spend their year abroad in one country or divide it between two countries. You can also study at a partner university in one semester and undertake a work placement in another.

Careers placement year

Work experience can enhance your career prospects beyond university. All modern language students not taking a year abroad have the opportunity to undertake a Careers Placement Year in the UK. This will be in the third year of your study and will make your degree four years long in total.

With a placement year you can choose to do:

  • one placement lasting 9-12 months
  • two placements which last at least 4.5 months each

Again, you don't need to decide now if you'd like to choose a Placement Year and you'll have the chance to talk to staff about your options.

In Stage 4, your language studies build on the levels you have developed during your year abroad and also develop more professional skills. You will be able to choose between studying advanced translation and interpreting or language for professional purposes. 

You also have further optional modules to explore the cultures and histories of the countries where your chosen languages are spoken.

Modules

Optional Modules Credits
China and its Peripheries: Repression, (In)stability and Conflict in the 21st Century 20
Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese 40
Historical and Cultural Interpretations of China through classics and newspaper reading 20
Level D (HE Further Advanced) Chinese 40
Classic French Cinema 20
Paris: Aspects of History and Culture 20
Linguistic Variation in France 20
The French Caribbean – Literature, Language and Society 20
Level C (HE Advanced) French 20
Occupation and Resistance: Literary and Cinematic Responses to the Second World War in France 20
Images d'Algerie 20
Historical Perspectives on the French Language 20
From Experimental to Explicit: Translating Women's Writing in French 20
Social Justice in French and Francophone Culture 20
Level D (HE Further Advanced): French for Professional and Academic Purposes 20
Level D (HE Further Advanced): French Translation and Interpreting 20
Berlin: culture, literature and film from the Weimar Republic to the Berlin Republic 20
Level C (HE Advanced) German 20
Dutch II 20
A Comparative History of German and English: phonology, morphology, syntax and lexicon. 20
Berlin: culture, literature and film from the Weimar Republic to the Berlin Republic 20
Place, belonging and identity in the German-speaking Alps 20
Level D (HE Further Advanced): German for Professional and Academic Purposes 20
Level D (HE Further Advanced): German Translation and Interpreting 20
Contemporary Japanese Popular Culture 20
Contemporary Japanese Animation 20
Literary and cultural expressions in contemporary Japan 20
Level C (HE Advanced) Japanese 40
Level D (Further Advanced) Japanese 40
Comparative History of Hispano-America and Brazil: From Independence to the Mexican Revolution (1789/1810-1917) 20
Inter-American Relations from the Spanish-American War (1898) to the end of the Cold War (1989/1991) 20
Language Endangerment and Revitalisation in Latin America 20
Latin American Art: Indigenous Contemporary Art and Activism 20
Cultura y Política en Colombia 20
Translation for Singing 20
Career Development for final year students 20
Advanced Career Development module 20
Level C (HE Advanced) Portuguese 20
Cities in East Asian Cinema: Culture, History and Identity 20
Advocating and Teaching Languages in Schools 20
Italian language and culture II 20
Korean II 20
Dissertation/T&I Project 20
World Spanish 20
Representaciones de Revolución, Dictadura y Democracia en España y América Latina 20
Food, Football and Fiction: Constructing Catalan Cultural Identity 20
Level C (HE Advanced) Spanish 20
Catalan II 20
Cultura Popular en España y Cuba 20
Spanish and Romance word analysis 20
Youth Cultures in Spain, Portugal & Latin America 20
Level D (HE Further Advanced): Spanish for Professional and Academic Purposes 20
Level D (HE Further Advanced): Spanish Translation and Interpreting 20