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Modern Languages (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese) with Foundation Year at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

Birkbeck, University of London

Degree level: Undergraduate
Awarded by: University of London

Modern Languages (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese) with Foundation Year

Course options

2026 - 2027
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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

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

Open days

7Mar
Birkbeck, University of London - Undergraduate Open Day
Undergraduate

Course summary

Would you love to develop your understanding of different cultures and become a highly proficient linguist in the process? Our BA Modern Languages gives you the chance to specialise in one or two modern languages - from French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean and Mandarin Chinese - along with the literature, history, film, thought and visual culture associated with them. Why choose this course?

  • Studying languages allows you to better understand people, their culture and the world in which they live, and develop advanced communication skills and intercultural awareness.
  • It gives you the chance to cultivate an intellectual interest in comparative literature.
  • We also offer this course with an International Experience pathway which gives you the opportunity to spend a year abroad at one of our partner universities in Europe or Japan.
What you will learn You will gain proficiency in your chosen language(s) and master skills such as essay writing, oral presentations and written reports, critical thinking and translating. You can study French, German or Spanish as a single language, from at least A-level (or equivalent), and graduate with BA French Studies, BA German Studies or BA Spanish and Latin American Studies If you wish to study Japanese as a single language, please see our separate course page for BA Japanese Studies. If you choose to study two languages, you can take one from beginner level and the other from A-level (or equivalent), raising your language skills to near-native standard in at least one language. Your eventual degree title will name both languages, e.g. BA French and Spanish, or BA French with Spanish. Italian, Japanese, Korean and Mandarin Chinese can be taken only as a second language. Korean and Mandarin Chinese are offered from beginner to intermediate level, so your final degree will be ‘with’ one of these languages, for example, BA French with Korean. You will also develop your cultural understanding through modules on literature, film, popular culture, history, visual art and linguistics. How you will learn Teaching is in small-group seminars. Language teaching is delivered in the target language. This course can be studied full- or part-time. Classes take place mainly in the evening, with some classes on Saturday daytime depending on the languages you choose. This may differ during your year abroad if you choose the International Experience route. International Experience If you choose the four-year full-time International Experience route, you will normally spend your third year at a partner institution in Europe or Japan, depending on the language you study, to allow you to develop your language skills and your knowledge of the culture. There is a minimum language requirement of A2 for European languages when starting this course. Foundation Year If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. Highlights
  • We are surrounded by cultural institutes relevant to the study of languages and literature, such as the Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies, the Goethe Institute, German Historical Institute, Institut Français, Instituto Cervantes, and Japan House London.
  • We also offer a range of combined language courses in which you can study another subject, such as art history, English, law, linguistics, journalism, politics or digital media, along with learning a language and its culture.
Careers and employability This course will prepare you for careers in fields such as:
  • teaching languages
  • banking and finance
  • publishing
  • journalism
  • the Civil Service
  • translation
  • diplomacy
  • international relations
  • the cultural sector.

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment method

Essays and written and oral examinations.

How to apply

14Jan

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:

  • Foundation

International applicants

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
60%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
85%
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

International £18500 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

The 2025-26 home fees were Year 1: £5,760 and Year 2+: £9,535. These fees may be subject to inflationary increases in 2026-27, depending upon UK government announcements on the tuition fee loan cap. The 2026-27 international fees are Year 1-4: £18,500. Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.
Modern Languages (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese) with Foundation Year at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS