Language Studies
University of Portsmouth
UCAS Code: R903 | Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
We also accept other combinations equivalent to 112-120 Tariff points to include a minimum of 2 A levels.
112-122 Tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma.
Cambridge Pre-U score of 46-50.
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,H3,H3,H3,H4-H3,H3,H3,H3,H3
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma
Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF)
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
112-120 Tariff points.
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications
T Level
UCAS Tariff
112-120 points.
About this 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
- 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. In fact, 16% of companies worldwide are completely remote, and 85% of managers believe their future teams will include remote workers (Findstack).
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.
What jobs can you do with a language studies degree?
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?
This degree broadens your options so you can pursue almost any career. 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
- French/German/Spanish General Language Grade 3
- French/German/Spanish Language Project
- Language, Learning and Teaching
- Language, Society and Mind
- Researching Language and Professional Practice
Core modules – ab initio route
- French/German/Spanish Grade 1 & 2 – General Language
- French/German/Spanish Grade 1 & 2 – Language in Use
- Language, Learning and Teaching
- Language, Society and Mind
- Researching Language and Professional Practice
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 – ab initio route
- French/German/Spanish General Language Grade 3 and 4 – part 1
- French/German/Spanish General Language Grade 3 and 4 – part 2
- French/German/Spanish Language Project
ITT pathway
If you do the Initial Teacher Training (ITT) pathway, these modules are also core in year 2:
- Learning from Experience Teaching Placement
- Modern Foreign Language via the Institution-Wide Language Programme (IWLP)
Optional modules
- Analysing Media Discourse
- Intercultural Perspectives on Communication
- Introduction to Teaching
- Introduction to Translation
- Learning from Experience (LiFE)
- Managing Across Cultures
- Modern Foreign Language via the Institution-Wide Language Programme (IWLP)
- Second Language Acquisition
- TESOL (Teaching English To Speakers Of Other Languages)
- The Language of Literature
- Trinity Certificate Teaching Practice
Placement year (optional)
On this course, you can do an optional work placement year between your 2nd and 3rd years to get valuable experience working in industry. Possible placement destinations include:
- Translation agencies
- Local schools
- Charities/NGOs (such as Red Cross and Friends Without Borders)
- Museums (such as Museum of the Royal Navy)
- Royal Navy
- Portsmouth City Council
You'll also have the option to work as a research assistant, copy editor or teaching assistant or start your own business in your placement year.
We’ll help you secure a placement that fits your career goals. You'll get support from our Placements Office with applications, interviews and assessment days. You’ll also get mentoring and support to make the most out of your placement year, including visits from lecturers.
Year 3
Core modules
- Dissertation, Major Project, or Professional Practice in MFL Teaching & 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 (ITT pathway only)
Optional modules
- Communication Theory
- Creative Activities in the Language Classroom
- English in the World
- Gender, Language and Sexuality
- Introduction to Teaching
- Language and Social Media
- Learning from Experience (LiFE)
- Modern Foreign Language
- Professional Development: Recruiters and Candidates
- Researching English Vocabulary
- Workplace Discourse
- Writing to Persuade
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.
- Others in language and area studies
- Languages and area studies
- French studies
- German and scandinavian studies
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)
Languages and area 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)
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)
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.
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
Languages 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
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Languages 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.
£19k
£24k
£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.
- What's it like studying a degree in Language and area studies
- What's it like studying a degree in French language
- What's it like studying a degree in German language
- What's it like studying a degree in Modern languages
- What's it like studying a degree in Spanish language
- What's it like studying a degree in Languages and area studies
- What's it like studying a degree in French studies
- What's it like studying a degree in German and Scandinavian studies
- What's it like studying a degree in Iberian studies
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Higher entry requirements
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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?
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