Modern Languages (French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish) BA (Hons)
Birkbeck, University of London
Key Course Facts
Student Reviews
Below you can see course specific reviews of 15 graduates of Modern Languages (French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish) BA (Hons) and other courses in Others in Language and Area Studies at Birkbeck, University of London for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Others in Language and Area Studies.
Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.
All Others in Language and Area Studies courses of Birkbeck, University of London
Salary
Salary of all UK Graduates of Languages and Area Studies
| 15 months after graduation | 3 years after graduation | 5 years after graduation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median salary | £26063 | £24027 | £28233 |
| 25-75 percentile range | £23000 - £30158 | £18667 - £30646 | £21578 - £37856 |
All Languages and Area Studies courses in the UK
Course Description
Would you love to develop your understanding of the cultures and values that lie at the heart of different countries and become a highly proficient linguist in the process?
Our BA Modern Languages gives you the opportunity to specialise in one or two languages from a choice of French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish.
If you choose to study one language, you will normally enter with at least AS- or A-level (or equivalent) in that language (except Japanese, which allows beginner-level entry), and your eventual degree title will be one of the following to reflect this specialisation*:
- BA French Studies
- BA German Studies
- BA Japanese Studies
- BA Spanish and Latin American Studies
If you decide to take two languages, you can study one from beginners’ level and the other one from A-level or equivalent level, which will allow you to raise your language skills to near-native standard in at least one of the two languages. Your eventual degree title will name both languages, for example, BA French and Spanish.
Whichever language or languages you choose, you will develop your cultural understanding through modules exploring literature, film, popular culture, visual art or linguistics. Cross-cultural modules will also allow you to analyse comparative themes across a variety of linguistic and cultural contexts.
At the same time, you will also master transferable skills such as summary and essay writing, oral presentations and written reports, critical and logical thinking, and translating.
*Please note that Italian can currently only be taken together with another language, not on its own.
Highlights
- You will be taught by specialists from a centre of teaching and research excellence that prides itself on research-led teaching in French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish, making it an outstanding multidisciplinary department.
- Ours is a community of scholars with shared interests in interdisciplinary topics and cross-cultural research. Our affiliated research centres, the Centre for French, Francophone and Comparative Studies (CFFCS) and the Centre for Iberian and Latin American Visual Studies (CILAVS), provide an important platform for this exchange.
- All teaching takes place in our central London location in Bloomsbury, a stone’s throw from research libraries and all the cultural richness that London has to offer by way of theatre, museums and galleries.
- You could be studying in a building that was once home to Virginia Woolf and frequented by members of the Bloomsbury Group. The building houses our own creative hub which includes the Peltz Gallery, the Gordon Square Cinema and a theatre and performance space.
Careers and employability
Graduates can pursue career paths in education, publishing, or commerce and banking. Possible professions include:
- translator
- interpreter
- secondary school teacher
- broadcast journalist
- English as a Foreign Language teacher.
Jobs & Career Perspectives
15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.
All Others in Language and Area Studies courses of Birkbeck, University of London
Current jobs
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Required skill level of job after 15 months
All Others in Language and Area Studies courses of Birkbeck, University of London
Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)
Example below based on all graduates of Modern Languages (French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish) BA (Hons) at Birkbeck, University of London
| 40% | Customer service occupations |
| 15% | Business, Research and Administrative Professionals |
| 10% | Caring personal services |
| 10% | Welfare and housing associate professionals |
| 5% | Teaching Professionals |
| 5% | Leisure, travel and related personal service occupations |
| 5% | Managers, directors and senior officials |
| 5% | Science, engineering and technology associate professionals |
| 5% | Finance Professionals |
Grading & Study Time
Entry Requirements / Admissions
UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for Others in Language and Area Studies
All Others in Language and Area Studies courses of Birkbeck, University of London
Qualification requirements
Including a relevant subject/science @ C or above (80 UCAS tariff points)
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. On this programme you can focus on two of the following languages: French, German, Italian, Japanese or Spanish. You must have at least A-level/B2 (CEFR) competence in one of your two languages, unless the stronger of your two languages is Japanese, in which case GCSE-level (70% of the content that is needed to pass the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test N5) is sufficient. Your second language can be at any level from beginner onwards. The programme is also suitable for applicants at proficiency and native speaker level. FOUNDATION YEAR DEGREES Our 'with Foundation Year' route is designed to give you extra support as it provides you with an additional year (full-time) or two years (part-time) of supported study. This is an ideal route if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied this subject, or if you did not achieve the grades you need for a place on this degree. Once you successfully complete your Foundation Year studies, you will automatically advance onto the main degree. ALTERNATIVE ENTRY ROUTES Credits gained on the Certificate of Higher Education in Culture and Language (French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish) can be counted towards the degree.
Requirements for international students / English requirements
IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)
-
- 6.5
- Mphil / PhD
Costs
Average student cost of living in London
| Rent | £518 |
| Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) | £50 |
| Supermarket shopping | £81 |
| Clothing | £35 |
| Eating out | £33 |
| Alcohol | £27 |
| Takeaways / food deliveries | £30 |
| Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) | £24 |
| Holidays and weekend trips | £78 |
| Transport within city | £17 |
| Self-care / sports | £20 |
| Stationary / books | £13 |
| Mobile phone / internet | £13 |
| Cable TV / streaming | £7 |
| Insurance | £51 |
| Other | £95 |
| Average student cost of living | £1092 |
London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.
How to apply
Application deadline:
January 1, 2025
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.
Possible Entry Points:
- year 1 (Default entry point)
University Rankings
Positions of Birkbeck, University of London in top UK and global rankings.
See all 17 university rankings of Birkbeck, University of London
About Birkbeck, University of London
Birkbeck, University of London (BBK) was established in 1823, and takes a different stance towards admissions than many other universities. Applicants are encouraged by BKK to apply even if they don’t possess the traditional qualifications normally required, as applications here are also considered based on an assessment of your knowledge on the subject, and any work experience you might have. Being located in the very centre of London, students will have all the advantages of the city’s public transport connections, as well as the chance to live in such a diverse and vibrant city with all that it offers.
List of 197 Bachelor and Master Courses from Birkbeck, University of London - Course Catalogue
Student composition of Birkbeck, University of London
-
Total number of students enrolled at Birkbeck, University of London by level Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
- undergraduates:
- 4800
- postgraduates:
- 2810
- Total:
- 7610
-
Number of students enrolled in courses of subject “Modern Languages”: Academic year - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
Where is this programme taught
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