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International Relations and Languages (Chinese, French, German, Spanish) at University of Portsmouth - UCAS

University of Portsmouth

Degree level: Undergraduate

International Relations and Languages (Chinese, French, German, Spanish)

Course options

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.

Open days

7Dec
University of Portsmouth Open Day
Undergraduate

Course summary

Overview Immerse yourself in global history, politics, language and culture. Understand the forces shaping how nations interact. Discover the role international relations plays in tackling the big issues facing society and the planet. On this BA (Hons) International Relations and Languages degree, you’ll explore topics such as global migration, terrorism, climate change, the rise and fall of major powers, and global protest movements – and learn the skills needed to help enact change, shape opinions, and tackle inequality. You’ll study a foreign language and spend a year abroad in a country and culture where your chosen language is spoken – and set yourself up for careers in international diplomacy, business, journalism, research and translation. Course highlights

  • Learn from staff at our Centre for European and International Studies Research (CEISR), whose research impacts government policy
  • Use our professional-grade conference interpreting suite and language labs
  • Immerse yourself in the cultures of the country where your chosen language is spoken – in the classroom and on your work or study placement abroad in year 3
  • Attend events and talks led by people working in NGOs, local, national and international government, and journalism
  • Have the opportunity to take part in a Model United Nations as part of your course
  • Go on field trips to locations such as the Houses of Parliament
  • Create policy briefing papers offering recommendations to practitioners on major recent international issues, such as the Ukraine Crisis, the 'MeToo' movement, the rise of terrorist organisations and the Arab Revolutions, as part of a simulated ‘academic conference’
Careers and opportunities The language skills you’ll gain can open up a world of opportunities: they’ll help you to work globally, and open up job opportunities across borders and cultures. With technology continuing to develop at a frantic pace, there’s also an ever-increasing demand for graduates with the knowledge required to ensure new developments are ethical. The analytical skills you’ll develop are in demand, too – your ability to understand complex issues and find solutions to them means that roles across government agencies, NGOs, charities, think tanks and international organisations are all within your reach. When you finish the course, our Careers and Employability service can help you find a job that puts your skills and cultural experience to work. What can you do with an International Relations and Languages degree? Graduates from this degree have gone on to careers in the following sectors:
  • local and central government
  • embassies
  • non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
  • security services
  • international organisations, like the United Nations (UN)
  • international charities like Amnesty International or the Red Cross
  • policy research and think tanks
  • media and international business consultancy
  • political risk analysis
  • public relations
  • voluntary organisations
  • management
  • banking and financial services
  • tourism
What jobs can you do with an International Relations and Languages degree? Recent graduates have gone on to roles including:
  • bilingual consultant
  • multilingual project coordinator
  • translator
  • political researcher, Houses of Parliament
  • civil servant, the Cabinet Office
  • senior policy advisor, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
  • communications officer, House of Commons
  • local government administrator, Government of Jersey
  • public affairs consultant
  • social researcher
  • information officer
  • conference producer
After you leave the University, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.

Subject options

This course offers the following subject options:

  • French
  • German
  • Mandarin
  • Spanish

Modules

Year 1 Core modules:

  • Critical Thinking and Professional Identity
  • Key Themes in International Relations
  • Political Thought
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 Core modules:
  • Bending the Truth a Little? Researching Politics and International Relations
  • International Thought
Optional modules:
  • A History of Us Foreign Policy: From the Great War to 9/11
  • Analysing Foreign Policy
  • 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
  • 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 Translation
  • Language for Professional Communication (French)
  • Language for Professional Communication (German)
  • Language for Professional Communication (Spanish)
  • 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
  • Russia, Central Europe and the World
  • Spanish General Language Grade 3 & 4 (Part 1)
  • Spanish General Language Grade 3 & 4 (Part 2)
  • Spanish General Language Grade 4
  • The Geopolitics and Geo-Economics of Africa
  • Transitional Justice & Human Rights
  • Wildlife Crime: Threats and Response
  • Working With Languages Today
Year abroad In your third year, you'll spend a year in a country where the main language you're studying is spoken. Year 4 Core modules in this year include:
  • Security Challenges in the Twenty-First Century
  • Translation Theory & Practice
Optional modules in this year currently include:
  • Decolonial Politics and Theory in International Relations
  • France in the World: Global Actor Or Global Maverick?
  • French General Language Grade 6
  • German General Language Grade 6
  • Global Capitalism: Past, Present and Future
  • Independent Project (International Relations)
  • International Security in the Asia-Pacific
  • Interpreting 1
  • Interpreting 2
  • Mandarin General Language Grade 6
  • NGOs and Social Movements
  • Professional Development: Recruiters and Candidates
  • Professional Experience L6
  • Race, Rights & Development: Global Perspectives On Inequality & Social Justice
  • Religion and Politics in Global Perspective
  • Research Project
  • Spanish General Language Grade 6
  • The European Union: a Global Power in the Making?
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 and some optional modules may not run every year. 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:

  • written exams
  • practical exams
  • coursework: essays, reports, case studies or book reviews
  • projects
  • oral presentations
  • simulations, podcasts and creative videos
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: 15% by written exams, 26% by practical exams and 59% by coursework Year 2 students: 15% by written exams, 3% by practical exams and 82% by coursework Year 3 students: 100% by coursework Year 4 students: 7% by written exams, 17% by practical exams and 76% 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:
LR29
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 2024/25): UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £1,385 EU – £1,385 (including Transition Scholarship) International (Non-EU) – £2,875. Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice. 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
International Relations and Languages (Chinese, French, German, Spanish) at University of Portsmouth - UCAS