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Language Studies at University of Portsmouth - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

University of Portsmouth has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Open days

7Dec
University of Portsmouth Open Day
Undergraduate

Course summary

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.

Subject options

This course offers the following subject options:

  • Language Studies with Qualified Teacher Status

Modules

Year 1 Core modules

  • Investigating Language Practices
  • Language, Learning & Teaching
Optional modules
  • French Grade 1&2 - General Language
  • French Grade 1&2 - Language in Use
  • German Grade 1&2 - General Language
  • German Grade 1&2 - Language in Use
  • Language Project (French)
  • Language Project (German)
  • Language Project (Spanish)
  • Mandarin Grade 1&2 - General Language
  • Mandarin Grade 1&2 - Language in Use
  • Nation, Language & Identity
  • Spanish Grade 1&2 - General Language
  • Spanish Grade 1&2 - Language in Use
  • French General Language Grade 3
  • German General Language Grade 3
  • Spanish General Language Grade 3
  • General Language Grade 6 (English)
Year 2 Optional modules
  • 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: Language As Evidence
  • French General Language Grade 3 & 4 (Part 1)
  • French General Language Grade 3 & 4 (Part 2)
  • French General Language Grade 4
  • German General Language Grade 3 & 4 (Part 1)
  • German General Language Grade 3 & 4 (Part 2)
  • German General Language Grade 4
  • Global Security
  • Intercultural Perspectives On Communication
  • Introduction to Teaching
  • Introduction to Translation
  • Language and Social Justice
  • Language for Professional Communication (French)
  • Language for Professional Communication (German)
  • Language for Professional Communication (Spanish)
  • Language of Human Resource Management
  • Language Project (Mandarin)
  • Language Project Part 2 (French)
  • Language Project Part 2 (German)
  • Language Project Part 2 (Spanish)
  • Managing Across Cultures
  • Mandarin General Language Grade 3 & 4 (Part 1)
  • Mandarin General Language Grade 3 & 4 (Part 2)
  • Marketing & Communication
  • Modernity and Globalisation
  • Nationalism and Migration: Chaos, Crisis and the Everyday
  • News, Discourse, and Media
  • Principles of Economic Crime Investigation
  • Professional Experience
  • Puritans to Postmodernists: American Literature
  • Second Language Acquisition (20 credits)
  • Spanish General Language Grade 3 & 4 (Part 1)
  • Spanish General Language Grade 3 & 4 (Part 2)
  • Spanish General Language Grade 4
  • Tesol
  • Transitional Justice & Human Rights
  • Trinity Certificate Teaching Practice
  • Wildlife Crime: Threats and Response
  • Working With Languages Today
  • World and Transnational Cinema
Placement year (optional) Have the opportunity to do a work placement year after your second or third year on this Connected Degree - we're the only UK university to offer flexible sandwich placements for undergraduates Year 3 Optional modules
  • Advanced Language Project
  • Business & Markets in a Global Environment
  • Business Planning
  • Corpus Linguistics and Lexicology
  • Creativity in the Language Classroom
  • Dissertation
  • English Through Time
  • Englishes in the World
  • Forensic Linguistics: Language and the Law
  • France in the World: Global Actor Or Global Maverick?
  • Gender, Language and Sexuality
  • General Language Grade 6 Part a (French)
  • General Language Grade 6 Part a (German)
  • General Language Grade 6 Part a (Italian)
  • General Language Grade 6 Part a (Mandarin)
  • General Language Grade 6 Part a (Spanish)
  • General Language Grade 6 Part B (French)
  • General Language Grade 6 Part B (German)
  • General Language Grade 6 Part B (Italian)
  • General Language Grade 6 Part B (Mandarin)
  • General Language Grade 6 Part B (Spanish)
  • Holocaust Literatures
  • International Security in the Asia-Pacific
  • Language and Social Media
  • Major Project
  • Professional Development: Recruiters and Candidates
  • Professional Experience
  • Research Project
  • Sell Study Abroad
  • Spoken Discourse in the Workplace
  • The European Union: A Global Power in the Making?
  • Translation Theory & Practice
- Writing for Different Audiences

Assessment method

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.

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
Cambridge English AdvancedCambridge English: Advanced (CAE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Cambridge English ProficiencyCambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
PTE Academic62An overall score of 62 with a minimum of 59 in each skill.
TOEFL (iBT)7979 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing.
Trinity ISEPassTrinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

**Undergraduate fees for 2025 entry will be available shortly.** For more information about fees, go to https://www.port.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-fees-and-student-finance/tuition-fees-living-costs-and-other-study-costs
Language Studies at University of Portsmouth - UCAS