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

What does this TEF outcome mean?

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 in this year, alongside your language study, include:

Investigating Language Practices

Language, Learning and Teaching

Nation, Language and Identity

If you do the QTS route, you'll complete teaching placements, a professional practice teaching unit and a language research project.

Year 2 In your second year you'll continue studying the language or languages that you chose in your first year. Optional modules in this year currently include:

Business and Markets in a Global Environment

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

France in the World: Global Actor or Global Maverick?

Global Security

Intercultural Perspectives on Communication

Introduction to Professional Language Services

Introduction to Teaching

Introduction to Translation

Language in Literature: Stylistics

Language of Human Resource Management

Managing Across Cultures (Fheq5)

Modern Foreign Language

Modernity and Globalisation

Nationalism and Migration: Chaos, Crisis and the Everyday

News, Discourse and Media

Politics and Culture of the Hispanic World in 20Th Century Literature and Film

Principles of Economic Crime Investigation

Professional Communication in a Global Workplace

Professional Experience

Rethinking Nazi Germany: Politics, History, Society

Second Language Acquisition

Space, Place and Being

TESOL (Teaching English To Speakers Of Other Languages)

The Making of the German Nation

Transitional Justice and Human Rights

Trinity Certificate Teaching Practice

Wildlife Crime: Threats and Response

World and Transnational Cinema

The optional modules you can select may depend on which languages you've chosen. Year 3 You'll spend your third year on this course abroad, either studying at a university or working through an arranged work placement. Year 4 Optional modules in this year currently include:

Creativity in the Language Classroom

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

Mandarin General Language Grade 6

Politics and Culture of the Hispanic World in 20th Century Literature and Film

Professional Development: Recruiters and Candidates

Professional Experience L6

Research Project

Spanish General Language Grade 6

Spoken Discourse in the Workplace

The European Union: A Global Power in the Making?

Translation Theory and Practice

Written Discourse in the Workplace

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:

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

31Jan

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

UCAS Tariff - 112 - 128 points

A level - ABB - BBC

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDM - DMM

Access to HE Diploma

Scottish Higher

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)

Scottish Advanced Higher

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 25 - 26 points

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H3, H3, H3, H3, H4 - H2, H2, H3, H3, H3

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

GCSE/National 4/National 5

T Level - M

English language requirements

Test	Grade	Additional details
IELTS (Academic)	6	English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
PTE Academic	54	An overall score of 54 with a minimum of 51 in each skill.
TOEFL (iBT)	79	79 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing.
Cambridge English Advanced		Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Cambridge English Proficiency		Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Trinity ISE	Pass	Trinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components

Student Outcomes

Degree level: Undergraduate

Modern Languages

Course options