Language as a credit-bearing module
If you are a student at the University of Birmingham, you may be eligible to study a language as a 20-credit module (optional or compulsory) in your current Undergraduate or Postgraduate degree course.
Optional and compulsory credit-bearing modules in Languages for All are offered as co-requisite 10-credit modules in each semester and both modules must be taken.
Course dates and duration
Course start: Week commencing Monday 29 September 2025
Depending on the language and level you choose, your language course will either be:
- For level 1: Digital First online learning activities to complete independently, followed by a 2-hour* on-campus class per week (20 hours per semester)
- For Levels 2 & 3: Digital First online learning activities to complete independently, followed by a 1-hour* on-campus class (10 hours per semester)
- French, German & Spanish Level 4 to Level 8: 2-hour* on-campus class per week (20 hours per semester)
There are 10 teaching weeks per semester. Please note that some classes take place in the evening or on Wednesday afternoons.
For modules taught as Digital First courses, students are expected to engage in approximately 1-3 hours of independent online learning per week via the Canvas course provided, prior to attending the face-to-face session on campus.
The language courses continue through Semesters 1 and 2 until the end of the teaching year.
*The standard ‘University hour’ is currently set at 50 minutes.
You will find the different language course options offered in the table below.
| Language | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | Level 6 | Level 7 | Level 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arabic |
Yes, Digital First |
Yes, Digital First |
Yes, Digital First |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
| Chinese (Mandarin) |
Yes, Digital First |
Yes, Digital First |
Yes, Digital First |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
| French |
Yes, Digital First |
Yes, Digital First |
Yes, Digital First |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| German |
Yes, Digital First |
Yes, Digital First |
Yes, Digital First |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Italian |
Yes, Digital First |
Yes, Digital First |
Yes, Digital First |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
| Japanese |
Yes, Digital First |
Yes, Digital First |
Yes, Digital First |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
| Portuguese |
Yes, Digital First |
Yes, Digital First |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
| Russian |
Yes, Digital First |
Yes, Digital First |
Yes, Digital First |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
| Spanish |
Yes, Digital First |
Yes, Digital First |
Yes, Digital First |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
What level am I?
If you are unsure about which level you should join, please check the What Level am I? page.
How do I apply?
Students who are interested in studying a language as a 20-credit module are advised to check with their home school/department whether it is possible within their chosen degree programmes.
If you are permitted to take a Languages for All module as part of your programme of study, your programme administrator should email your details (name, student ID number, language and level) to: lfa@contacts.bham.ac.uk