Modern Languages, Translation and Interpreting BA Honours

Course overview

This Modern Languages, Translation and Interpreting BA degree focuses on developing your language skills in two languages to near-native fluency. You can choose from French, German, Portuguese and Spanish, as well as Chinese or Japanese. You'll also be equipped with specialist and in-demand skills such as translating and interpreting.

The third year of your degree will be spent abroad, so you can develop your language skills among native speakers and experience a different culture.

Your knowledge and skills in translation and interpreting also ensure you leave Newcastle University as a sought-after graduate with attributes highly prized by employers.

You'll become a confident multilinguist, ready to embark on your career as a global citizen.

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Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions  
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2023-24.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Quality and ranking

Professional accreditation and recognition

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.

Modules and learning

Modules

The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage. 

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

This degree allows you to study two languages and specialise in translation and interpreting.

You'll study two languages in Stage 1. However, you'll have the option to drop one of your languages from Stage 2, if you want to focus on one language with translation and interpreting.

There are two routes through the degree.

If you have A Level (or equivalent) in two of French, German and Spanish, then you follow pathways in Translation and Interpreting in both languages.

If you have A Level (or equivalent) in one of French, German or Spanish, then you follow a Translation and Interpreting pathway in that language. You also study another language from beginners’ level (from Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese or Spanish).

You also have a selection of optional modules to choose from exploring the culture of your chosen countries.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Interpreting Theory and Practice 1	20
Translation Theory and Practice 1	20

Optional Modules	Credits
Level A (HE Entry Level) Chinese I	20
Level A (HE Entry Level) 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
Level A (HE Entry Level) Japanese I	20
Level A (HE Entry Level) Japanese II	20
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

Stage 2 furthers your understanding of both translation and interpreting practice as well as moving into the advanced study of languages. 

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

In addition, you will 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

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Year Abroad Preparation	0
Interpreting Theory and Practice 2	20
Translation Theory and Practice 2	20

Optional Modules	Credits
Level B (HE Intermediate) 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
How to Build an Empire	20
Linguistic Variation in France	20
French Caribbean Literature	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
Beginners' Dutch	20
Writers, media, society in West Germany	20
Level C (HE Advanced) German	20
Level B (HE Intermediate) Japanese	40
Introducción a América Latina	20
Cultura y poder en América latina: debates desde la antropología	20
Comparative History of Hispano-America and Brazil: from Independence to the Mexican Revolution (1789/1810-1917)	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
An Introduction to Italian language and culture	20
Reading in Translation	20
Introduction to History, Culture and Society of the Iberian Peninsula	20
Level B (HE Intermediate) Spanish (Ex-Level A)	20
World Spanish	20
Introduction to Catalan	20
Representaciones de Revolución, Dictadura y Democracia en España y América Latina	20
Language Diversity in Spain	20
Food, Football and Fiction: Constructing Catalan Cultural Identity	20
Level C (HE Advanced) Spanish	20

You will spend Stage 3 working or studying abroad. This year abroad exposes you to the life and cultures of the countries you're studying, further developing your language skills.

Modules

Compulsory Modules

Year Abroad Tutor Posts (100 credits)

Optional Modules

Study Abroad (20 credits)

Year Abroad Work Placement Report (Semester 1) (20 credits)

Year Abroad Work Placement Report (Semester 2) (20 credits)

Year Abroad Project (Semester 1) (20 credits)

Year Abroad Project (Semester 2) (20 credits)

 

 

In Stage 4, you'll study further translation and interpreting modules. This gives you the opportunity to gain professional skills and an awareness of the issues in translation and interpreting.

Your language modules include advanced writing skills as well as the learning of language for professional and academic purposes.

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

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Interpreting Theory and Practice 3	20
Translation Theory and Practice 3	20

Optional Modules	Credits
Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese	40
Classic French Cinema	20
Paris: Aspects of History and Culture	20
How to Build an Empire	20
Linguistic Variation in France	20
French Caribbean Literature	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
Writing Elsewhere: Cultures of Travel in French	20
Level D (HE Further Advanced) French: Advanced Writing Skills	10
Level D (HE Further Advanced) French: Language for Professional & Academic Purposes	10
Berlin: culture, literature and film from the Weimar Republic to the Berlin Republic	20
Writers, media, society in West Germany	20
Level C (HE Advanced) German	20
Intermediate Dutch	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
Level D (HE Further Advanced) German: Advanced Writing Skills	10
Level D (HE Further Advanced) German: Language for Professional & Academic Purposes	10
Level C (HE Advanced) Japanese	40
Cultura y poder en América latina: debates desde la antropología	20
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 and Theory	20
Cultura y Política en Colombia	20
Identidades Pós-Coloniais Luso-Afro-Brasileiras	20
Level C (HE Advanced) Portuguese	20
Reading in Translation	20
Intermediate Italian	20
Dissertation	20
World Spanish	20
Representaciones de Revolución, Dictadura y Democracia en España y América Latina	20
Language Diversity in Spain	20
Food, Football and Fiction: Constructing Catalan Cultural Identity	20
Level C (HE Advanced) Spanish	20
Intermediate Catalan	20
Cultura Popular en España y Cuba	20
Spectres of the Past: Memory in Contemporary Spanish Culture	20
Spanish and Romance word analysis	20
Level D (HE Further Advanced) Spanish: Advanced Writing Skills	10
Level D (HE Further Advanced) Spanish: Language for Professional & Academic Purposes	10

Information about these graphs

We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They are based on the modules chosen by our students in 2022-23.

Teaching time is made up of:

• scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present.
• structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods

The majority of language modules are taught by native speakers. You also work in language laboratories and undertake self-study in our Language Resource Centre.

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

• 

  Assessments

• 

  Assignments – written or fieldwork

• 

  Coursework

• 

  Dissertation or research project

• 

  Dossier

• 

  Essays

• 

  Examinations – practical or online

• 

  Group work

• 

  Portfolio submission

• 

  Practical sessions

• 

  Presentations

• 

  Reflective report/journal

• 

  Reports

• 

  Seminar tasks/exercises

Skills and experience

Research skills

You have the option of writing a dissertation in your final year, which allows you to explore and discuss a topic of interest in great detail, while developing research skills.

Opportunities

Year abroad

This Modern Languages degree includes a compulsory year abroad. 

Students studying a European language can: 

• study at one of our partner universities
• undertake a work or voluntary placement
• undertake a combination of both (ensuring they do not overlap)

Students who are studying Chinese or Japanese will spend the academic year studying at one of our partner universities in these countries.

You usually divide the year between the countries relating to your chosen languages, although it may be possible to spend the entire year in one country. 

Support for year abroad

You will receive lots of help to prepare for your year abroad, including: 

• briefings covering practicalities like insurance, visas and student safety
• support in finding a work placement
• a Tandem Learning Scheme, to practise conversation in your foreign language and make in-country contacts, before you travel
• a training course for language assistants

There are also events in your second year where you can meet students who have already done their year abroad, students from our partner universities in Europe, and Chinese and Japanese exchange students from our host universities in East Asia. 

You'll be in contact with our Year Abroad team during your time abroad, and communicate with your personal tutor. You'll also write blog posts, reflecting on your linguistic, personal and professional development.

Facilities and environment

Facilities

As a Modern Languages student, you'll be based at our city-centre campus, in the School of Modern Languages. We've been teaching modern languages in Newcastle for more than 100 years.

You will have access to language laboratories and the award-winning Language Resource Centre, with self-study resources for over 50 languages. You'll also have access to:

• specialist language learning software
• dictionaries
• films
• live foreign-language TV channels

Support

You'll have the support of an academic member of staff as a personal tutor throughout your degree to help with academic and personal issues.

Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you have when starting university.

Your future

Studying for our degree in Modern Languages, Translation and Interpreting will open the door to a wide variety of career paths, while adding the specific skills of translation and interpreting to your portfolio.

You may decide to embark directly upon a career in translation and interpreting, or you could follow in the tracks of some graduates, and find work in areas as diverse as tourism, marketing, management, the civil service, advertising and the media, teaching and banking.

Alternatively, if you want to study translation and interpreting further, our degree is excellent preparation for a postgraduate professional qualification.

The degree aims to provide a firm foundation for a career as a freelance translator or interpreter for agencies and commercial clients in the private or public sectors, and work in international organisations.

Make a difference

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Careers support

The School of Modern Languages works with the University’s Careers Service to run an annual Employability Week, including an opportunity to network with recent graduates.

We also collaborate on the Modern Languages careers blog, Careers Translated. The blog gives you access to a range of relevant jobs, training and work experience opportunities, as well as interviews with alumni and employers, and general advice.

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Tuition fees and scholarships

Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year)

Qualification: BA Honours
Home students full time 4 years	Tuition fees (per year) 9250
International students full time 4 years	Tuition fees (per year) 21000

Home Fee Students

The maximum fee that we are permitted to charge for home fee-paying students is set by the UK government.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

International Fee Students

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our undergraduate scholarship page for more information.

Year abroad and additional costs

For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year. 

Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.

Find out more about:

• different tuition fees
• additional costs

Scholarships

Find out more about:

• scholarships for UK, EU and international students
• Student Loans and Government financial support for UK and EU students

How to apply

Apply through UCAS

To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:

• the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
• the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
• the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college

If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.

Apply through UCAS

Apply through an agent

International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.

Visit our International pages