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Modern Languages at University of Portsmouth - UCAS

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2025 - 2026
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University of Portsmouth has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Course summary

Overview On this BA (Hons) Modern Languages degree course, you'll study one language in-depth, immersing yourself in the culture, history and identity of the communities that speak it. In an increasingly global world, equip yourself with the ability to connect with millions of people in their native language. You'll have the choice to work towards fluency in one of the following languages:

  • French – spoken by 267 million people worldwide
  • German – spoken by 135 million people worldwide
  • Spanish – spoken by 543 million people worldwide
  • Mandarin Chinese – spoken by 1,120 million people worldwide
Boost your language and cultural studies with a year abroad on a study or work placement, in a country or region that speaks your chosen language. Previous students have experienced life in Germany, Spain, China, Taiwan, Latin America and Senegal. Wherever you choose to go, this course and the year abroad will transform your passion for language into practical multilingual skills you can use to build your career in any field – from teaching to international management and finance, or media and marketing. Course highlights
  • Take a work or study abroad placement in year 3, to fully absorb the history and culture of another country and develop the skills and experience you need to build a career across borders
  • 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
  • Choose to focus on the aspects of other countries that fascinate you – from their history and politics, through to economics and business
  • 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
Careers and opportunities As early as 2014, UK Trade and Investment reported that the UK's lack of language skills was leading to a 3.5% loss in national income through trade. This highlights the need UK companies have for bilingual and multilingual employees. Fast forward to a post-pandemic 2021, the opportunity to work remotely from anywhere in the world has dramatically increased and globalization of trade continues to grow (according to the DHL Global Connectedness Index). The professional language skills you develop on this course could set you apart in a global job market, whether you plan to work in the UK after graduation or pursue a career abroad. What jobs can you do with a modern languages degree? Roles you could go onto include:
  • bilingual consultant
  • multilingual project coordinator translator
  • translator/interpreter
  • diplomat
  • journalist
  • tourist guide
  • market analyst
What areas can you work in with a modern languages degree? This degree broadens your options so you can pursue almost any career. Learning a second language is useful in all sectors, including:
  • marketing
  • journalism and the media
  • international management
  • translation and interpreting
  • 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.After you graduate, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.

Modules

Year 1 Core modules:

  • Investigating Language Practices
  • Language, Learning & Teaching
  • Nation, Language & Identity
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
  • 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
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
  • Spanish General Language Grade 3 & 4 (Part 1)
  • Spanish General Language Grade 3 & 4 (Part 2)
  • Spanish General Language Grade 4
  • Tesol (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
  • Transitional Justice & Human Rights
  • Trinity Certificate Teaching Practice
  • Wildlife Crime: Threats and Response
  • Working With Languages Today
  • World and Transnational Cinema
Year 3
  • Study Abroad
Year 4 Optional modules:
  • Advanced Language Project
  • Business & Markets in a Global Environment
  • Business Planning
  • Corpus Linguistics and Lexicology
  • Creativity in the Language Classroom
  • Dissertation
  • Forensic Linguistics: Language and the Law
  • France in the World: Global Actor Or Global Maverick?
  • French General Language Grade 6
  • Gender, Language and Sexuality
  • German General Language Grade 6
  • Holocaust Literatures
  • International Security in the Asia-Pacific
  • Interpreting 1
  • Interpreting 2
  • Introduction to Teaching
  • Italian General Language Grade 6
  • Language and Social Media
  • Major Project
  • Mandarin General Language Grade 6
  • Professional Development: Recruiters and Candidates
  • Professional Experience
  • Research Project
  • Spanish General Language Grade 6
  • Spoken Discourse in the Workplace
  • The European Union: a Global Power in the Making?
  • Translation Theory & Practice
  • Writing for Different Audiences
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. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Assessment method

You’ll be assessed through:

  • essays
  • use of software including desktop publishing, podcasts, subtitling and web design
  • case studies
  • blogging
  • examinations
  • book reviews
  • professional and business reports
  • group and individual projects
  • oral presentations
  • portfolio of achievement
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. The way you’re assessed may depend on the modules you select. As a guide, students on this course last year were typically assessed as follows: Year 1 students: 23% by written exams, 16% by practical exams and 61% by coursework Year 2 students: 38% by written exams, 7% by practical exams and 55% by coursework Year 3 students: 100% by coursework Year 4 students: 7% by written exams, 3% by practical exams and 90% by coursework

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

Course code:
R902
Institution code:
P80
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

We welcome applications for advanced entry. If you’d like to apply for advanced entry, you need to select the required year when you complete your UCAS application.

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
75%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
95%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

EU £9535 Year 1
England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
Channel Islands £9535 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9535 Year 1
International £17200 Year 1

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

Students who are resident in EU countries: please note that the net fee is inclusive of the Transition Scholarship Placement Year and Year abroad (at the time of publishing for 2025/26): UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £1,430 EU – £1,430 International (Non-EU) – £2,875. Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice. Please check the course page on our website for the most up to date fee information All fees are subject to annual increase. For more information about fees, go to port.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-fees-and-student-finance/tuition-fees-living-costs-and-other-study-costs
Modern Languages at University of Portsmouth - UCAS