International Development and Languages (Chinese, French, Spanish) BA (Hons)

University of Portsmouth

Overview

Work towards fluency in a foreign language (or two) while exploring solutions to global social challenges such as poverty and hunger, environmental sustainability, universal education and health care.

On this BA (Hons) International Development and Languages degree course, you'll study one language from beginner's level (French, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese) or post-A level (French, Spanish). As of 2021, these three languages are spoken as first or second languages by 1,930 billion people worldwide. You'll also get the chance to learn a second language: French, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, German or British Sign Language (BSL).

You'll get full support to build your language skills to fluency alongside opportunities to apply your learning to work with not-for-profit organisations in developing countries on placement. You'll graduate prepared for a career in organisations around the globe, in roles such as in government, teaching and working with non-government organisations (NGOs).

Course highlights

• Explore fields of economics, human geography, politics and international relations to find solutions that could include changing policy at a national level, managing relations between governments and developing budgets for sustained advancement
• Use our professional-grade conference interpreting suite and language labs, where you can manipulate video, sound, text and internet sources
• Immerse yourself in the cultures of the countries where your chosen languages are spoken – in the classroom, in our Global Café and on your work or study placement abroad
• Gain on-the-ground experience of community development and protected area management on an optional field trip to Uganda
• Be taught by staff who are committed to their research in the field, such as Professor Tamsin Bradley whose research is informing schemes to help support women across South Asia in their search for equality
• Learn from professionals working in the sector
• Put your expertise into practice in Model United Nations events, in collaboration with fellow students from International Development and International Relations

Careers and opportunities

The British Council has stated that "an understanding of other cultures and languages will continue to be important for successful international relationships at all levels" (Languages for the Future, 2017). Along with the language skills you develop on this course, you'll graduate with a confidence in analysis, criticism and argument, communication and problem-solving – skills you can use in your future role advocating for and creating pathways to positive change.

You could also go into postgraduate study with a Master’s, or take the next step into research that could inform policy with a PhD.

What can you do with an international development and languages degree?

This course gives you the skills for careers in areas such as:

• international community development
• civil service
• fundraising, campaigning and advocacy
• policy development
• social enterprise
• corporate social responsibility
• project management

What jobs can you do with an international development and languages degree?

Our graduates have gone on to roles such as:

• programme management, support and evaluation roles for international agencies and non-governmental organisations
• fundraising development coordinator
• human rights advocacy
• media and digital content lead
• community development practitioner
• sustainable sourcing specialist for multinational corporations
• teacher

Graduate destinations

Our graduates have worked for non-governmental organisations (NGOs), government departments and companies such as:

• Save the Children
• Street Doctors
• • CAFOD
• the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• the Department or International Development
• Shelterbox
• British Chamber of Commerce