Ranking
Top 100
Globally for Modern Languages
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Course overview
Harness the ability to communicate across borders and industries through the study of language and culture.
Embrace flexibility - choose to combine study of two or three languages from Catalan, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
Other languages
Course highlights
- Top 100
Globally for Modern Languages
QS World Subject Rankings 2025
- Experience a new approach to language learning with our CLIL (Content Language Integrated Learning) teaching method - study topics of cultural significance, designed and delivered by expert researchers.
- Tailor your degree to your interests - choose to continue with languages you studied at A level, begin a new language, or mix the two!
- Live and study in one of the most culturally mixed cities in the UK. Make global connections on your course and through our student societies, including our culture and language magazine - The UoB Linguist.
Enhance your language learning with real-life experience
We’ll help you organise your time away, and you’ll be supported throughout by your Year Abroad Coordinator, as well as our academic and wellbeing teams. This means you can relax and embrace hands-on opportunities working, studying or visiting in your chosen countries!
Talk to our students
Hear more about studying at Birmingham. Chat to one of our friendly students to find out more about your favourite course, our beautiful campus and life in our vibrant and cultural city.
Course delivery
Study at the University of Birmingham and learn from world-class experts—authors of key works and leaders with global teaching and research experience.
Lecture
Seminar
Tutorial
- Lectures: These give you an insightful, expert introduction to key topics; they also provide guidance to support your reading and assessments.
- Seminars: These are small group discussions where you share and test ideas with your academic tutor and your peers. Seminars help you understand topics better and build confidence in sharing your thoughts.
Support during your studies
At Birmingham, you’ll have plenty of support to help you adjust to university life:
- Personal Academic Tutors: You'll have a tutor assigned to you who will guide and support you throughout your studies.
- Wellbeing Officers: The Wellbeing team help with extensions, disabilities, extenuating circumstances, or any personal challenges. They’ll also connect you with further support on campus or elsewhere.
- Academic Writing Advisory Service: Tutorials, workshops and support in structuring an argument and developing your own academic voice.
- Student Experience Team: They offer research opportunities, and cultural, intellectual and social activities to enhance your university experience.
Contact hours
Your degree is designed to help you achieve 120 credits per year, which equals about 40 hours of learning each week. This includes lectures, seminars, workshops, independent study, revision, and assessments.
Assessment methods
You’ll be assessed in different ways to suit each module. At the start of a module, you’ll be told how and when you’ll be assessed. Methods will vary but may include coursework (e.g., essays), group or individual presentations and projects, exams, reports or computer-based assignments.
Feedback: You will receive timely feedback on each assessment, so you can learn from it and improve your performance in future assessments.
Module information
The modules listed for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. The optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available, we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.
2025/26 Session
Students can study:
Route 1: A Major/Minor in two languages
Students study two modern foreign languages. In Year 1 and Final Year, they must take a minimum of 80 credits in one modern foreign language and 40 credits in a second modern foreign language. In Year 2, depending on the languages studied, students will either take 80 credits or 70 credits in one modern foreign language.
Students take all compulsory core language modules in their relevant languages as described below, plus further credits appropriate to their level (beginners or advanced).
Route 2: A Joint Honours in two languages
Students study two modern foreign languages. Students must take a minimum of 60 credits in one modern foreign language and 60 credits in a second modern foreign language in Year 1. In Year 2 and Final Year, students may be able to vary their credit weighting, but this will depend on the languages they study.
Please note: some languages only allow 40 credits per year (Mandarin Chinese and Japanese), others permit up to 80 credits if combined with departmental options (German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish).
Students take all compulsory core language modules in their relevant languages as described below, plus further credits appropriate to their level (beginners or advanced).
Route 3: Three languages
Students study three modern foreign languages.
With the approval of relevant staff (normally the Director of Undergraduate Studies and/ or Admissions Tutor, in consultation with teaching colleagues, according to module availability) students may seek to change the number and weighting of their languages. NB students may not normally pick up a supplementary language after the standard course change period at the start of Stage I, even if they have A Levels or equivalent in all relevant languages.
The University Regulations state that the minimum requirement for a named specialist minor is 100 credits.
Students who undertake less than 160 credits in one of their languages will graduate with a major/minor degree.
Students who undertake less than 100 credits in one of their languages will not have that language named on their degree certificate.
In order to reach 100 credits in a language (French, German, Portuguese and Spanish) you must undertake all core language modules (which will total 90 credits) and make up the additional credits with the Core V Research Project, the Independent Study Module or optional modules in the relevant languages.
Route 1: Major/Minor in two languages
Students must take a minimum of 80 credits in one modern foreign language and 40 credits in a second modern foreign language.
Route 2: Joint Honours in two languages
Students must take a minimum of 60 credits in one modern foreign language and 60 credits in a second modern foreign language.
Route 3: Three languages
Students must take 40 credits of compulsory core language modules in three different modern foreign languages
For all routes, 1-3 the following core language modules - 40 credits for beginners, or 40 credits at beginners level - are compulsory at Stage I for each language followed.
No more than two languages may be taken at beginners level, one of which must be Beginners French or Beginners Spanish.
Mandarin Chinese and Japanese can only be taken to a maximum of 40 credits in any year.
French (choose either Beginners or Advanced modules):
German (choose either Beginners or Advanced modules):
Italian (choose either Beginners or Advanced modules):
Spanish (choose either Beginners or Advanced Modules):
Mandarin (choose both Beginners modules):
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Mandarin Chinese Language beginners I | 20 |
| Mandarin Chinese Language beginners II | 20 |
Japanese (choose both Beginners modules):
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Japanese Language Beginners I | 20 |
| Japanese Language Beginners II | 20 |
Russian (choose either Beginners or Advanced modules):
Portuguese (choose both Beginners modules):
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Portuguese Core I - Beginners: The expansion of Portuguese as a World-Language | 20 |
| Portuguese Core II - Beginners: Modernities in Portuguese | 20 |
Catalan (students must take all modules for the Catalan Minor (40 credits):
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Beginners Catalan Language A | 10 |
| Beginners Catalan Language B | 10 |
| Catalan Culture Project A | 10 |
| Catalan Culture Project B | 10 |
In addition to the core language module(s) for their chosen language(s), students choose additional optional modules provided annually by the School of Languages, Cultures, Art History and Music up to the relevant credit value for their respective route, to a combined total of 120 credits. Depending on the number of credits students opt to take in each language, optional module choices may be restricted.
Entry requirements
To secure a place at Birmingham, you'll need to meet our general entry requirements as well as those specific to your course.
- A Level
ABB A level grade B is required for the advanced language you wish to study. It is also possible to study two beginner (including post-GCSE) languages without taking an advanced language, as long as one of your beginner languages is French or Spanish.
- IB
6,5,5 32 points overall. You also require a Higher Level or equivalent in each modern language that you plan to study.
- BTEC
BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM, plus B at A level in the required subject/s mentioned below. BTEC Diploma: DD, plus B at A level in the required subject/s mentioned below. BTEC Subsidiary Diploma: D, plus AB at A level, including the required subject/s mentioned below.
Number of A levels required: 3
Required subjects and grades
A level grade B is required for the advanced language you wish to study. It is also possible to study two beginner (including post-GCSE) languages without taking an advanced language, as long as one of your beginner languages is French or Spanish.
General Studies
Accepted.
IB Diploma
6,5,5 in Higher level subjects plus 32 points overall. You also require a Higher Level or equivalent in the modern language that you plan to study.
BTEC qualifications
- BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM, plus B at A level in the required subject/s mentioned above.
- BTEC Diploma: DD, plus B at A level in the required subject/s mentioned above.
- BTEC Subsidiary Diploma: D, plus AB at A level, including the required subject/s mentioned above.
Independent language diplomas:
If you would like to study advanced French, Spanish, German, Italian or Russian as part of your programme but are not currently studying the required language at A level, we are happy to consider applications from those offering an independent language diploma at B2 level as demonstration of advanced language skills.
The independent language diplomas we would consider are as follows; DELF-B2 (French), DELE-B2 (Spanish), Goethe-Zertifikat-B2 (German), DILI-B2 (Italian) and TRKI 2nd Certificate (Russian). These diplomas are assessed against the criteria set by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, and can be studied for in your own time or through a language centre. These diplomas will be considered when taken in addition to three A levels or equivalent qualifications as outlined above.
English language requirements
If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.
- TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing.
- IELTS: 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in any band.
- Pearson Test of English (PTE): PTE 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills.
- Cambridge English(exams taken from 2015): Cambridge English: Advanced Minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
- Language Cert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 ‘Communicator’ with no less than 33 in each skill
- Trinity ISE II: Not applicable
- Trinity ISE III: Pass in each Skill
Alternative Offers
Students who are eligible and complete a Pathways to Birmingham programme will receive an alternative offer, which is typically two grades below the standard offer. For more information, please contact outreach@contacts.bham.ac.uk.
Our Contextual Offer scheme
Our Contextual Offer scheme recognises the potential of students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement in school or college. If you are eligible to benefit from the Contextual Offer scheme, you will receive an offer which is one grade lower than the standard offer. You don’t need to apply for this – it will be assessed and applied at the point of application if you’re eligible.
- Pathways to Birmingham
BBC - A level
- Contextual Offer
BBB - A level
Fees and scholarships
The University tuition fee covers the cost of your tuition, examination and graduation, and includes membership of the Guild of Students.
The University will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. If your offer is for 2025 year of entry, we expect that the tuition fee for your first year of study will be £9,535 for UK students. If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study normally in line with these changes and will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay. If you are applying for 2026 year of entry, you will be advised of the annual tuition fee closer to the time.
- £9,535
per year for domestic (UK) students for 2025/26
Undergraduate loans
To help with the cost of studies, undergraduate students from the UK can apply for student finance through the Student Loans Company. The support available is made up of a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan which helps to cover living costs.
Scholarships, grants and bursaries
At Birmingham, we believe that financial worries should not be a barrier to accessing higher education. That’s why we offer a range of additional financial support for students through scholarships, bursaries and other awards.
Application process
Whatever your journey to university looks like, we’re here to support you every step of the way. For all undergraduate courses at Birmingham, you apply online through UCAS. The UCAS website has lots of information and advice around the process.
- 29 January 2025
Application deadline for September 2025 entry. Applications close at 18:00 GMT.
View further information on how to apply for undergraduate courses, including advice for UK and overseas applicants.
Career opportunities
Global workplace skills are developed throughout your time on our Modern Languages programmes, enabling our graduates to thrive in a number of professional environments.
Our Modern Languages graduates have a wide range of skills that are valued by employers, such as:
- Strong communication and presentation skills in English and your chosen languages of study
- A deep understanding and appreciation of other cultures
- Independence and experience of living abroad
- Expressing thoughts, feelings and opinions in different registers
- Leadership, negotiation, debating and teamwork
- Handling complex information
- The ability to form concise and articulate arguments
Employers our Modern Languages graduates have worked for include:
- Eurocity Group
- Harper Collins
- Deutsche Bank
- Royal Bank of Scotland
- BP
- Town Hall Symphony Hall Birmingham
- British Airways
- HSBC
- The British Council
- NATO
The University is the top choice for the UK's major employers searching for graduate recruits.
The Graduate Market in 2024, High Fliers report
Receive one-to-one careers advice, including guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique.
Meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs and employer presentations.
Careers Network
Our aim is to make sure that success in your studies leads you on to a fulfilling career. Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offer support to help you identify your options, develop your skills and gain access to opportunities that propel you towards your career goal.
Built in Birmingham. Forged for the future.
Hear from some of our inspiring alumni who have gone on to work for leading employers such as the UK Space Agency and BBC Sport.
Student experience
Your experience studying at Birmingham will give you the opportunity to discover new experiences, develop different skills and make friends for life.
Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community, and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.
Accommodation
Coming to Birmingham to study might be your first time living away from home. In our student accommodation, you can enjoy your independence in safe, welcoming and sociable surroundings.
Living in Birmingham
Our cosmopolitan city has a unique history and so much to see and do. With an ever-changing food and drink scene, a vibrant nightlife and plenty of culture, our city is more than somewhere to study.
Student support
Whoever you are and wherever you come from, we are committed to providing the best possible support to our students, both before you start and throughout your time on campus.
Campus life
Our beautiful campus is the place where our diverse community comes together to learn and socialise. Like a town of its own, it’s just minutes from the hustle and bustle of the UK’s second city.
Take a virtual tour
Explore our beautiful campus from wherever you are. Get a feel for the wide range of historic and modern spaces and state-of-the-art facilities.