Modern Languages Degree Courses (R800)

Course Overview

Our four-year degree gives you the opportunity to study three languages from a choice of French, German, Spanish, Italian or Chinese. We normally require you to have a good A-level in at least two of the languages. The third language can be studied from beginners' or post-GCSE level if you wish. Please note Chinese and Italian can only be taken as beginners’ languages, and as minors.

You will focus on developing fluency and understanding in all three languages, through extensive practice in speaking, reading, listening and writing. You can also choose from a range of modules which explore the arts, culture and history and the social and political systems of the countries whose languages you are learning. Your degree course includes a comparative element, which allows you to see the languages and cultures you're studying in the context of European or Chinese history as a whole.

If you are studying French, German and Spanish, you may choose to drop one of the three languages at the end of the second year. If you are taking Italian as one of your three languages, you will do a 1.5 unit minor in your second year. If you are taking Chinese as one of your three languages, you will do a 2 unit minor through the two years of Part II Lancaster-based study.

You will spend your third year abroad in the countries where the major languages you are studying are spoken and can choose to be a salaried English-language assistant in a school, take up a work placement or study at one of our partner universities. If you take our three language combined major scheme in Modern Languages you must split your third year between two countries. If you continue with all three major languages into your final year, we encourage you to make your own arrangements to spend your vacation time in the third country. Students taking a minor language (Italian or Chinese) are also encouraged to make their own arrangements to spend vacation time in the relevant country, and will receive support to secure funding to do so.

Related Courses

Modules

Lancaster degree programmes are flexible, offering students the opportunity to cover a wide selection of subject areas to compliment their degree. The following is an example list of modules which our previous students have studied. For a full list contact the European Languages and Cultures department.

Year 1

Part I French Studies (Intensive)
French Studies (Advanced)
French Language: Oral Skills
French Language: Written Skills
German Studies Part I (Intensive German for Beginners)
Part I German Studies (Advanced)
German Language Oral Skills
German Language Written Skills
Part I Italian Studies (Intensive)
Italian Language: Oral skills
Italian Language: Written skills
Part I Spanish Studies (Intensive)
Part I Spanish Studies (Advanced)
Spanish Language: Oral Skills
Spanish Language: Written Skills

Year 2

French Language: Oral Skills
French Language: Written Skills
Italian Language: Oral skills
Italian Language: Written skills
Spanish Language: Oral Skills
Spanish Language: Written skills
Shaping Contemporary France: Culture, Politics and the Legacy of History
Power and Resistance in Spain and Spanish America: From the Spanish Empire to the 21st Century
Preparation
French Language: Oral skills (post-intensive)
French Language: Written Skills (post-intensive)
German Language: Oral Skills
German Language: Oral Skills (post-intensive)
German Language: Written Skills
German Language: Written Skills (post-intensive)
Becoming German: Post-War German-language, Culture and Identities
German Language Oral Skills
German Language Written Skills
Italian Art and Politics from Botticelli to Berlusconi
Intensive (Spoken Language)
Intensive (Written Language)

Year 3

Residence Abroad: intercultural and academic reflection

Year 4

French Language: Oral Skills
French Language: Written Skills
Spanish Language: Oral Skills
Spanish Language: Written Skills
Catalan Language Level 1
Economic and Social Change in France, Germany and Spain since 1945
Francophone Voices: Literature and Film from Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and Canada

Lancaster University offers the chance to follow a structured study programme or the option to devise a more flexible programme. We divide academic study into 2 sections - Part 1 (Year 1) and Part 2 (Year 2, 3 and sometimes 4). In Part 1 you will take three modules of study which, depending upon your programme, will be drawn from one, two or three different academic subjects, a higher degree of specialisation then develops in subsequent years. For more information about our teaching methods at Lancaster visit our Teaching and Learning section.

For further information about the department, staff and courses please visit the European Languages and Cultures department website.

Entry Criteria

A-level: AAB, normally including two of the languages to be studied (French, German, Italian, Spanish); candidates with only one language A-level but with AS-level or other record of competence in a second language should contact the department before applying.
General Studies: Accepted as one of 3 A-levels
Key skills: Not included in offer
Scottish Highers: ABBBB
Irish Leaving Cert: Offers will be made on the basis of 5 or 6 Higher level subjects. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (01524 592028) for further information
International Bacc: 35 pts overall with 16 pts from best three HL courses
BTEC: DDD/DDM
Mature students: Applications welcomed from mature students who can provide evidence of language-learning ability. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (01524 592028) for further information
IELTS: 6.5

Careers

Play

Foreign languages are among the most valuable skills in today's workplace and Lancaster language graduates were ranked most employable in the UK in 2009 and 2010. The international experience gained from working or studying abroad, together with the language and cultural competencies developed are a real strength for graduates wishing to move into various positions in the corporate world or public sector.

Teaching and business are among the most popular career choices for our graduates, especially teaching abroad or working for a company with a European focus. Our graduates have also found work in areas as diverse as journalism, advertising, computing, librarianship and accountancy. They often find employment in international organisations such as the Diplomatic or Civil Service or the British Council. Many also decide to stay on at university after graduation to develop research interests.

Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, but that you also graduate with relevant life and work based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.

Studying

Teaching and Learning Methods

At Lancaster we offer a broad range of learning environments designed to best support the requirements of your chosen degree programme. These may include lecture and tutorials, interactive workshops, laboratory sessions, other practical activities, student-led seminars and web-based elivery.

The modules which make up a programme of study are assessed using a variety of different methods, enabling students to demonstrate their capabilities in a range of ways. Typical coursework assignments include laboratory reports, essays, literature reviews, short tests, short and sharply focussed critical reports, poster sessions and oral presentations. Formal examinations include short answer questions, essays and data analysis. Multiple choice formats are also employed where appropriate. Students are supported in the production of final year project reports and dissertations. Details of the assessment methods for individual modules can be accessed via the university's online module catalogue. In addition to these learning and teaching methods we encourage independent study, meaning you take responsibility for your own learning. For more information visit our Teaching Approach page.

Assessment Methods

We offer you a variety of stimulating and effective approaches to teaching, learning and assessment. This enables you and your tutors to explore the very latest thinking within your subject and develops your skills in problem solving, analysis and critical reflection, communication, application of knowledge and modern technologies.

As a University, we commit to providing all our undergraduates with a minimum number of contact hours per week, providing you with timely feedback on your work and a maximum number of 15 students per seminar group.

Funding

Lancaster University has committed £2.7m in scholarships and bursaries to help with your fees and living costs. Our financial support depends on your circumstances and how well you do in your A-levels (or equivalent academic qualifications) before starting study with us.

Lancaster University's priority is to support every student to make the most of their life and education. For students starting their study with us in 2014, over 600 each year will be entitled to bursaries and/or scholarships to help them with the cost of fees and/or living expenses. For UK students entering in 2014 we will have the following financial support available:

An Academic Scholarship of £2,000 for the first year of study to any student from the UK entering with A*, A*, A or equivalent academic qualifications
An Access Scholarship of £1,000 per year for all UK students from households with an income of less than £42,600 who achieve grades of A*, A, A or the equivalent academic qualifications
A Lancaster Bursary of £1,000 per annum for all students from England with a household income of more than £25,000 but less than £42,600
As part of the National Scholarship Programme, a £1,000 Bursary, a £1,000 Fee Waiver and a £1,000 Accommodation Discount in the first year of study, for students from England with a household income of less than £25,000. Plus a Lancaster Bursary of £1,000 in subsequent years.

*All of the financial awards above are subject to approval by the Office for Fair Access July 2013.

For full details of the University's financial support packages including eligibility criteria, please visit our fees and funding page

View details of our current Undergraduate fees.

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Modern Languages BA Hons