Whether or not you need to speak the language of your host country depends on your programme and destination.

If you are studying in the language of your host country, it is expected that you have sufficient knowledge of that language. Some of our partner institutions, particularly those in Northern Europe, offer a number of modules in English, so fluency in the language is not always necessary. It depends on where you choose to study.

The Language Resource Centre at Newcastle University can help you improve your existing language skills or learn a new language.

Many of our partner universities offer beginner-level classes in the native language. We encourage you to sign up for these during your exchange to help develop your linguistic skills and settle into your host country.

Our partner universities in China, Japan, and Latin America teach almost exclusively in their native language. To go to one of these universities, you usually have to be studying one of these languages as part of your degree programme.