Language Studies
University of Portsmouth
UCAS Code: R905 | Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
96-104 points, to include a minimum of 2 A levels.
96-106 Tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma.
Cambridge Pre-U score of 42-44.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
3 GCSEs at grade C or above to include English and Mathematics/3 GCSEs at grade 4 or above to include English and Mathematics.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
25 points from the IB Diploma, to include 3 Higher Level subjects.
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
H3,H4,H4,H4,H4-H3,H3,H3,H4,H4
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
96-104 Tariff points to include a minimum of 2 Advanced Highers.
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.
T Level
UCAS Tariff
96-104 points, to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent.
96-104 points from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate including 1 A level, plus the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate.
About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
**This is a Connected Degree**
Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.
**Overview**
On this BA (Hons) Language Studies degree course, you'll develop the skills to communicate professionally in one or two languages. Immerse yourself in intercultural communication and awareness, and graduate with the confidence to pursue a career in the international community.
Begin your studies as a complete novice, or with some knowledge of the language, and successfully complete your studies to a professional level – C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) – without being required to spend a whole year abroad.
You'll have the choice to study either:
- One language in-depth
- Two languages at advanced level
- Two languages at different levels: one language at advanced level and one language at beginner level
When you complete this course, you'll be well prepared to begin work that showcases your intercultural awareness and language skills – such as an international English language teacher, a translator for a multinational corporation in any sector, a tour guide for an international travel agent, or a bilingual language editor or publisher.
**Course highlights**
- Put your language skills into practice in simulations, scenario exercises, television broadcasts and debates, so you’re ready to thrive in the wide world of work
- Develop multilingual IT skills including the use of desktop publishing and podcast recording software
- Immerse yourself in learning a language (or two) to fluency without needing to spend a year abroad - although you'll have the option to study abroad if you want to
- Choose to mix and match optional modules, or tailor your course by selecting modules specifically within one of four specialisms: Teaching and education; Translation and interpreting; Culture and linguistics; Business and industry
- Enhance your degree with additional, widely recognised qualifications in Initial Teacher Training or Teaching English as a foreign language
**Careers and opportunities**
Having the ability to communicate effectively with people from different cultures in different contexts can lead to a rewarding career in areas such as tourism, teaching, journalism and marketing, in the UK and internationally.
The additional skills that knowing a language brings can also make you more employable in an increasingly global workforce. The growing use of tools such as video conferencing means you're more likely to work with colleagues in other countries, regardless of whether your own role is mobile or not.
The language skills, intercultural awareness and proficiency in communication you gain from studying this course are especially sought after by businesses and organisations that operate across national borders and cultures.
You'll graduate with the skills and understanding to take up roles in many fields including:
- teacher
- international journalist or editor
- translator/interpreter
- tourist guide
- bilingual consultant
- publishing assistant
- market analyst
What areas can you work in with a language studies degree?
Learning a second language is useful in all sectors, including:
- international management
- translation and interpreting
- marketing
- journalism and the media
- teaching
- tourism
- finance
You could also continue your studies at postgraduate level with a Master's in a subject such as Translation Studies or Applied Linguistics and TESOL.
Whatever comes next after your studies, our Careers and Employability service will give you support and advice for up to 5 years after you graduate.
Modules
Year 1
Core modules – Post-A level route
- 1 or 2 modern foreign language(s) (from Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Spanish, or English as a Foreign Language)
- French/German/Spanish Language Project
- Investigating Language Practices
- Language, Learning and Teaching
Core modules – Post-A level route (if only 1 modern foreign language is studied)
- Nation, Language and Identity
Core modules – Beginner route
- 1 or 2 modern foreign language(s) (from Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Spanish, or English as a Foreign Language)
- Investigating Language Practices
- Language, Learning and Teaching
Core modules – Beginner route (if only 1 modern foreign language is studied)
- Nation, Language and Identity
Year 2
Core modules – Post-A level route
- French/German/Spanish General Language Grade 4
- Language for Professional Communication 1 (French/German/Spanish)
Core modules – Beginner route
- French/German/Mandarin/Spanish General Language Grade 3 and 4 – part 1
- French/German/Mandarin/Spanish General Language Grade 3 and 4 – part 2
- French/German/Mandarin/Spanish Language Project
QTS pathway
If you do the Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) pathway, these modules are also core in year 2:
- Learning from Experience Teaching Placement
Optional modules
- Business and Markets in a Global Environment
- Clinical Linguistics
- Comparative European Politics
- Development and Democracy in Latin America
- East Asian States and Societies
- Empire and Its Afterlives in Britain, Europe, and Africa
- Engaged Citizenship in Humanities and Social Sciences
- English Forms and Functions
- Forensic Linguistics
- France in the World: Global Actor or Global Maverick?
- Global Security
- Intercultural Perspectives on Communication
- Introduction to Professional Language Services
- Introduction to Teaching
- Introduction to Translation
- Managing Across Cultures
- Marketing and Communication
- Modern Foreign Language via the Institution-Wide Language Programme (IWLP)
- Modernity and Globalisation
- Nationalism and Migration: Chaos, Crisis and the Everyday
- News, Discourse and Media
- Politics and Culture of the Hispanic World in 20th Century Literature and Film
- Principles of Economic Crime Investigation
- Professional Communication in a Global Workplace
- Professional Experience
- Rethinking Nazi Germany: Politics, History, Society
- Second Language Acquisition
- Space, Place and Being
- TESOL (Teaching English To Speakers Of Other Languages)
- The Making of the German Nation
- Transitional Justice and Human Rights
- Trinity Certificate Teaching Practice
- Wildlife Crime: Threats and Response
- World and Transnational Cinema
Year 3
Core modules
- Dissertation, Major Project, or Professional Practice in MFL Teaching and Research Project
- Exploring Language and Culture 1 (French/German/Spanish) – you won't take this module if you spend a semester abroad
- Exploring Language and Culture 2 (French/German/Spanish)
- Professional Practice in MFL Teaching and Research Project (QTS pathway only)
Optional modules
- Communication Theory
- Creativity in the Language Classroom
- Englishes in the World
- Exploring Language and Culture 1
- Gender, Language and Sexuality
- Introduction to Teaching
- Language and Social Media
- Modern Foreign Language
- Professional Development: Recruiters and Candidates
- Professional Experience
- Research Project
- Researching English Vocabulary
- Spoken Discourse in the Workplace
- Study Abroad
- Written Discourse in the Workplace
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
Assessment methods
You’ll be assessed through:
- oral presentations
- essays
- written work, including reports, articles, case studies, book or film reviews
group and individual projects
- translations and commentaries
- interviews
- examinations
- use of software (desktop publishing, podcasts, vlogs)
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
University of Portsmouth
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
French studies
Sorry, no information to show
This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
German and scandinavian studies
Sorry, no information to show
This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
Others in language and area studies
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
Iberian studies
Sorry, no information to show
This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
French studies
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
German and scandinavian studies
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Others in language and area studies
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
This is a broad subject for a variety of European languages. No matter which you take, the general theme is that some graduates go to that country to work, often as English language teachers, some go into further study, often to train as teachers or translators, but most get jobs in the UK in education - most often as language tutors, unsurprisingly, or translators. Modern language grads can also be in demand in business roles where communication and language skills are particularly useful, such as marketing and PR, and in finance or law. But remember — whilst employers say they rate graduates who have graduates who have more than one language, you need to have them as part of a whole package of good skills.
Iberian studies
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
French studies
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£20k
£25k
£27k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
German and scandinavian studies
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£20k
£25k
£27k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Others in language and area studies
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£20k
£25k
£27k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Iberian studies
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£20k
£25k
£27k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Explore these similar courses...
Higher entry requirementsLower entry requirementsSame University
Nearby UniversityThis is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Course location and department:
This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):
We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
