This degree is run by the School of Modern Languages with either half or a third of your modules taught by the Business School. You can combine your languages in one of three ways:
- one language at beginners' level
- one or two languages at post-A level (or equivalent)
- two languages – one at post-A level (or equivalent) and one at beginners' level
Stage 1 of your degree lets you study your language(s) at post-A Level or beginners' level, depending on your current language ability. You can choose from Chinese or Japanese, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese.
You will also study modules in the culture, history, cinema or linguistics of the countries where your chosen languages are spoken.
You will study an Introduction to Management and Organisation and have the option to study additional business modules.
If you study two languages in your first year, you may reduce this to just one language for the remainder of your degree before moving on to Stage 2.
Modules
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Management and Organisation | 20 |
| Academic Study and Research Skills | 0 |
You will continue to develop your language skills at an advanced/intermediate level. You will again choose optional modules that explore the cultures and histories of the countries where your chosen languages are spoken.
You’ll also choose from optional business modules that include: Strategic Marketing, Consumer Behaviour, Human Resource Management, and Interpreting Company Accounts.
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
- Korean if you study Chinese or Japanese as a single language
Modules
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.
Your language studies build on the levels you developed in Stage 2 or during your Year Abroad and you also develop more professional skills and for European languages will choose to study language for professional and academic purposes or translation and interpreting.
You also select further optional modules to explore the cultures and histories of the countries where your chosen language(s) are spoken, as well as choosing from optional business modules that include marketing, customer behaviour and finance.