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Study one, two or three languages: up to two post A-Level or equivalent (Level B) and up to one from beginner’s level (Level A). If you choose to study only one language you will choose from French, German or Spanish at Level B. 

Choose from: 

  • Chinese or Japanese (can only be taken with another language) 
  • French 
  • German 
  • Portuguese (only available at beginner's level) 
  • Spanish 

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

Module choices depend upon the languages you choose and the level you study at. Further information to help you with module selection is provided when you start each year of your course. 

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 I 20
Level B (HE Intermediate) Chinese II 20
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) I 20
Level B (HE Intermediate) Japanese II 20
Introduction to Latin America 20
Level A (HE Entry Level) Portuguese I 20
Level A (HE Entry Level) Portuguese II 20
Introduction to Linguistics 20
Introduction to International Film 20
Introduction to Cultural Studies 20
Language and Cross Cultural Communication 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

You'll also study Academic Study and Research Skills (0 credits)

In Stage 2, you’ll continue to develop your skills in your chosen languages. If you studied: 

  • Level A at Stage 1, you’ll take Level B (Intermediate) modules this year 
  • Level B at Stage 1, you’ll study Level C (Advanced) modules this year 

You could also study the following optional languages from beginner’s: 

  • Catalan or Italian if you study Spanish or French at Level C (Advanced) 
  • Dutch if you study German 
  • Korean if you study Chinese or Japanese 

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

Module choices depend upon the languages you choose and the level you study at. Further information to help you with module selection is provided when you start each year of your course. 

Modules

Optional Modules Credits
Contemporary Chinese Society: Issues and Challenges 20
Level B (HE Intermediate) Chinese I 20
Level B (HE Intermediate) Chinese II 20
Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese I 20
Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese II 20
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 and society from the Weimar to the Berlin Republic 20
Radicalism, Revolt and Revolution in German Thought 20
Dutch I 20
Level C (HE Advanced) German 20
Contemporary Japanese Popular Culture 20
Level B (HE Intermediate) Japanese) I 20
Level B (HE Intermediate) Japanese II 20
Level C (HE Advanced) Japanese I 20
Level C (HE Advanced) Japanese II 20
Introduction to Latin America 20
Cultura y poder en América latina: debates desde la antropología 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 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 I 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
Catalan I 20
Language Diversity in the Hispanic World 20
Food, Football and Fiction: Constructing Catalan Cultural Identity 20
Level C (HE Advanced) Spanish 20

Optional 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 will receive plenty of support and advice on your options before you make your decision in Stage 2.

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 or even three countries for those taking three languages. You can also study at a partner university in one semester and undertake a work placement in another.

Find out more about our current partner universities here.

Optional 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 will receive plenty of support and advice on your options before you make your decision in Stage 2.

In your final year you’ll continue to develop your language skills and you’ll also develop professional skills. 

Final year is Stage 4 for those choosing a Year Abroad or a Careers Placement and Stage 3 for those not choosing these options. 

You’ll continue to develop your skills in your chosen languages. If you studied:

  • Level B in Stage 2, you will take level C (Advanced) modules this year. 
  • Level C in Stage 2, you will take level D (Further Advanced) modules this year 

As in Stages 1 and 2, you choose optional modules to further develop your knowledge of the cultures and histories of the countries where your chosen languages are spoken.  

Module choices depend upon the languages you choose and the level you study at. Further information to help you with module selection is provided when you start each year of your course. 

Modules

Optional Modules Credits
Contemporary Chinese Society: Issues and Challenges 20
Chinese Independent Documentaries: Alternative Archive and Video Activism 20
Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese I 20
Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese II 20
Level D (HE Further Advanced) Chinese I 20
Level D (HE Further Advanced) Chinese II 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
Occupation and Resistance: Literary and Cinematic Responses to the Second World War in France 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 and society from the Weimar to the Berlin Republic 20
Radicalism, Revolt and Revolution in German Thought 20
Level C (HE Advanced) German 20
Dutch II 20
Place, belonging and identity in the German-speaking Alps 20
Level D (HE Further Advanced): German for Professional and Academic Purposes 20
Contemporary Japanese Popular Culture 20
Contemporary Japanese Animation 20
Literary and cultural expressions in contemporary Japan 20
Level C (HE Advanced) Japanese I 20
Level C (HE Advanced) Japanese II 20
Level D (HE Further Advanced) Japanese I 20
Level D (HE Further Advanced) Japanese II 20
Cultura y poder en América latina: debates desde la antropología 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
Identidades Pós-Coloniais Luso-Afro-Brasileiras 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
Memory and Storytelling Across Borders 20
Dissertation/T&I Project 20
Language Diversity in the Hispanic World 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
Level D (HE Further Advanced): Spanish for Professional and Academic Purposes 20
Level D (HE Further Advanced): Spanish Translation and Interpreting 20