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TSR Wiki > University > Choosing a Subject > University Courses > Languages Degree

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Contents 1 Course Overviews 2 Admissions 2.1 Academic Requirements 2.2 UCAS Form & Personal Statement 3 Course Structures 4 Life as a Foreign Languages Student 5 Graduate Destinations and Career Prospects 6 Frequently Asked Questions

Course Overviews

Admissions

Academic Requirements

The majority of Universities have relatively low expectations when it comes to entry requirements. This is mainly due to the underprescription on most language courses. With the exception of the most prestigious universities you can expect an offer within the region of ABB-BBC, with the language you are going to study included in this.

In instances whereby you are studying a brand new beginner's language (say Russian, Swedish etc) the majority of universities expect an A level in an other modern foreign language.

UCAS Form & Personal Statement

Course Structures

Most people choose to do a joint honours degree either with 2 foreign languages or another subject, such as Marketing with a language. Some universities (Durham, Nottingham, St Andrews and more) allow you to study 3 languages, and a few offer the chance to study more than this.

Foreign Languages university courses tend to have 3 or four elements to them. Firstly there is the language element which includes skills such as grammar, translation and oral classes. Most courses then include modules on the literature, history and culture of the country/countries which speak the language(s) you are studying. Certain universities may focus more on literature, others on culture. You should choose your course carefully depending on which you prefer. For example, if you despise literature, it is probably not a good idea to apply to Oxford, as this course is very literature-heavy.

In addidtion to this, almost every language student must spend time abroad as part of their degree. Normally you spend the time either as a teaching assistant, studying at a foreign university or working (either paid or voluntary). It is usually up to the student to do the majority of the organisation of the year abroad and to decide how to split it between the languages studied. The year abroad is usually in the 3rd year of study, but this can vary depending on the university. Make sure you check this out before you apply.

Life as a Foreign Languages Student

As a languages student, you will probably have around 12-14 hours a week of classes. These can be big lectures, smaller seminars, tutorials, language labs (listening classes). You will also receive homework, as there will be lots of vocabulary and grammar work to do each week. This means that you may be a lot busier than most other arts students.

Language students also tend to be quite social as the very nature of the degree invovles speaking. You will also find that linguists have a huge passion for their area of study, so you will meet a lot of enthusiastic and hard-working students.

Most universities will have societies for the languages, e.g Russian Society, French Society, etc., where Languages students and language enthusiasts alike meet to talk in the language, watch films and have social events.

Graduate Destinations and Career Prospects

The government graduate careers website, Prospects has a great article on graduate destinations for Languages Students.[1]

Frequently Asked Questions