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Linguistics and Modern Languages & Cultures

Entry requirements


A level

A,B,B

typically including a modern foreign language

Access to HE Diploma

D:30,M:15,P:0

Award of Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 30 at Distinction and 15 at Merit

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

33

typically with 5 in a Higher Level modern foreign language

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H2,H2,H2,H2,H3,H3

typically including a modern foreign language

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DD

+ B at A Level, typically in a modern foreign language

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDD

in a relevant subject + an appropriate modern foreign language qualification

Scottish Advanced Higher

B

typically in a modern foreign language + AABBB in Scottish Highers

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)

B

+ AB at A Level, typically including a modern foreign language

UCAS Tariff

48-128

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About this course


Course option

4years

Full-time | 2024

Subjects

Linguistics

Modern languages

The combination of linguistics and modern languages and cultures will deepen your understanding of how language and languages work. You'll study the inner workings of language, and apply this knowledge to your study of either one or two modern foreign languages. You will also examine the history, literature and culture of those languages.

As a dual honours student, you'll divide your studies between the School of English and the School of Languages and Cultures. Choice and flexibility are at the heart of our teaching, which means you can pursue and develop your own interests. At every level, there is a wide variety of modules to choose from. You will be taught by world-leading experts from both departments.

You'll be required to take a minimum number of credits within both departments each year, but how you choose to divide your modules after this is up to you: split your modules evenly between linguistics and modern languages and cultures, or choose to weight your degree in favour of one subject or the other.

For the modern languages and cultures side of your course, you'll focus on one or two languages, choosing from French, German, Russian, Spanish, Dutch, Czech, Italian (available as a second language only), Catalan, Luxembourgish (available to study from second year) or Portuguese.

You can take any language from beginner's level, and you can take French, German, Russian or Spanish post-A Level (or equivalent). As well as taking modules that focus on practical language skills, you'll also explore topics such as linguistics, literature, society, politics, history, philosophy and film studies.

In linguistics, core modules will teach you the analytical techniques and concepts that are essential for studying human language. Optional modules give you the chance to specialise in areas of the subject that catch your imagination, including language acquisition, historical linguistics, or the study of language in its social and cultural contexts.

You'll spend the third year of your course abroad. We have a wide range of destinations on offer, both within Europe and beyond: choose to study at a leading university, carry out an approved work placement, or in some cases take part in exciting volunteering opportunities. Please be aware that we do not offer a year abroad option in Italy.

Research is central to the student experience here in Sheffield. All our teaching is informed by the latest findings, and all our students have the opportunity to carry out their own research project as part of their degree. Outside your degree, there are many opportunities to develop your interests, insights and critical faculties.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

England
£9,250
per year
International
£22,680
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

University of Sheffield

Department:

Languages and Cultures

Read full university profile

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.

69%
Linguistics
58%
Modern languages

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.

Linguistics

Teaching and learning

92%
Staff make the subject interesting
100%
Staff are good at explaining things
80%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
88%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

76%
Library resources
92%
IT resources
85%
Course specific equipment and facilities
50%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

88%
UK students
12%
International students
22%
Male students
78%
Female students
97%
2:1 or above
12%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

A
B
A

Others in language and area studies

Teaching and learning

87%
Staff make the subject interesting
91%
Staff are good at explaining things
85%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
76%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

87%
Library resources
96%
IT resources
87%
Course specific equipment and facilities
20%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

95%
UK students
5%
International students
30%
Male students
70%
Female students
100%
2:1 or above
16%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

A
A
A

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.

Linguistics

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.

£19,000
med
Average annual salary
98%
med
Employed or in further education
53%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

12%
Teaching and educational professionals
12%
Other elementary services occupations
10%
Sales, marketing and related associate professionals

This is not a particularly common subject at first degree level and most of the degrees that fall in this category are offered by the University of Durham. If you fancy one of these broad degrees, it is probably best to speak directly to tutors to find out what your options on your degree might be and what they can lead to,

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.

£18,800
med
Average annual salary
96%
med
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

15%
Teaching and educational professionals
10%
Sales, marketing and related associate professionals
10%
Business, finance and related associate professionals

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.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Linguistics

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£18k

£18k

£24k

£24k

£27k

£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.

£19k

£19k

£23k

£23k

£29k

£29k

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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