About This Course
Develop skills in one, two or three languages and gain an advanced understanding of how they are used in a range of professional contexts with this three-year Modern Languages Studies BA (Hons) at Bangor University.
Choose from Spanish, German, French, Chinese and Italian – you can study languages you’ve never studied before or boost your proficiency in those you have a prior knowledge of. Through a flexible range of modules, you will gain up-to-date knowledge of exciting aspects of different cultures and discover other countries’ cinema, literature, history, politics and working practices. You will also be able to develop your employability by volunteering in language projects with local schools.
Through this Modern Languages Studies degree, you will be able to communicate in other languages and have stronger cultural awareness. Over the course, you will develop the ability to carry out research, and devise and present arguments with confidence. Together, these skills will make you employable in a wide range of sectors, both in the UK and internationally.
Why choose Bangor University for this course?
- Flexible degree studying one, two or three languages. Devote your studies to one language – choosing from French, German or Spanish – or study two or three languages, including French, German, Spanish, Italian or Chinese.
- We cater for those beginning a language from scratch, as well as more advanced learners. You’ll study in a bilingual and multilingual environment with opportunities to learn Welsh alongside your studies.
- Learn about history and culture in the societies where your language is spoken. Depending on your interests, for instance, choose options in history, literature, cinema, theatre, and popular culture.
- Close-knit, supportive learning community with easy access to lecturers. Opportunities to mentor pupils aged 12-14 in local schools and join our active student-run LangSoc.
Additional Course Options
This course is available with a Placement Year option where you will study for 1 additional year. The Placement Year is undertaken at the end of the second year and students are away for the whole of the academic year.
The Placement Year provides you with a fantastic opportunity to broaden your horizons and develop valuable skills and contacts through working with a self-sourced organisation relevant to your degree subject. The minimum period in placement (at one or more locations) is seven calendar months; more usually you would spend 10-12 months with a placement provider. You would normally start sometime in the period June to September of your second year and finish between June and September the following year. Placements can be UK-based or overseas and you will work with staff to plan and finalise the placement arrangements.
You will be expected to find and arrange a suitable placement to complement your degree and will be fully supported throughout by a dedicated member of staff at your academic School and the University’s Careers and Employability Services.
You will have the opportunity to fully consider this option when you have started your course at Bangor and can make an application for a transfer onto this pathway at the appropriate time. Read more about the work experience opportunities that may be available to you or, if you have any questions, please get in touch.
This course is available with an International Experience Year option where you will study or work abroad for 1 additional year. You will have ‘with International Experience’ added to your degree title on graduating.
Studying abroad is a great opportunity to see a different way of life, learn about new cultures and broaden your horizons. With international experience of this kind, you’ll really improve your career prospects. There are a wide variety of destinations and partner universities to choose from. If you plan to study in a country where English is not spoken natively, there may be language courses available for you at Bangor and in your host university to improve your language skills.
You will have the opportunity to fully consider this option at any time during your degree at Bangor and make your application. If you have any questions in the meantime, please get in touch.
Read more about the International Experience Year programme and see the studying or working abroad options on the Student Exchanges section of our website.
Course Content
This three-year Modern Languages Studies BA (Hons) degree offers the same modules as the four-year Modern Languages BA (Hons), but it provides more focus on languages in a professional context in the final year.
There is no year overseas as part of this degree.
Since the University was founded in 1884, Bangor has excelled at teaching and research in Modern Languages. Our staff have expertise in translation, film, literature, travel writing, performance, visual cultures, popular culture, socio-political change and transnational cultures. This is reflected in some of the optional module choices available.
Optional modules allow you to pursue specialised topics of particular interest, giving you greater appreciation of unfamiliar cultures and societies within the relevant linguistic context. Current choices include national histories, transnational cultures, identities in world cinema, and languages and ecology.
Modules for the current academic year
Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Modern Languages Studies BA (Hons) Modules page.
Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.
Facilities
Modern Languages facilities
- Language Centre where you can work on your language skills.
- Language-specific resource rooms where you can access materials to boost your language skills and cultural knowledge.
- Modern Languages DVD library featuring several hundred foreign language films that you can borrow for free.
- Dedicated study spaces.
- Film library.
- Dedicated Year Abroad support.
General University Facilities
Library and Archive Services
Our four libraries provide a range of attractive study environments including collaborative work areas, meeting rooms and silent study spaces.
We have an extensive collection of books and journals and many of the journals are available online in full-text format.
We house one of the largest university-based archives not only in Wales, but also the UK. Allied to the Archives is the Special Collections of rare printed books.
Learning Resources
There is a range of learning resources available, supported by experienced staff, to help you in your studies.
The University’s IT Services provides computing, media and reprographics facilities and services including:
- Over 1,150 computers for students, with some PC rooms open 24 hours a day
- Blackboard, a commercial Virtual Learning Environment, that makes learning materials available on-line.
Course Costs
General University Costs
Home (UK) students
- The cost of a full-time undergraduate course is £9,250 per year (2025/26).
- The fee for all integrated study abroad years is £1,385 (2025/26).
- The fee for an integrated year in industry as part of a sandwich programme is £1,850 (2025/26).
More information on fees and finance for Home (UK) students.
International (including EU) students
Additional Costs
There are also some common additional costs that are likely to arise for students on all courses, for example:
- If you choose to study abroad or take the International Experience Year as part of your course.
- If you attend your Graduation Ceremony, there will be a cost for gown hire (£25-£75) and cost for additional guest tickets (c.£12 each).
Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:
- Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.
- Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.
- Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.
Entry Requirements
For all Modern Languages courses: Relevant modern language preferred. Our courses are designed to cater for those who have studied one or more languages as well as offering pathways for those beginning a language from scratch - there is no modern language language requirement for the beginner's language route.
Offers are tariff based, 104 - 128 tariff points from a Level 3 qualification* e.g.:
- A Levels: Relevant modern language preferred (no language required for beginner's language route). General Studies and Key Skills not normally accepted.
- BTEC National Extended Diploma: DMM - DDM
- Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: DMM- DDM
- City & Guilds Advanced Technical Extended Diploma (1080): considered on a case-by-case basis
- International Baccalaureate Diploma: including grade H5 in a relevant modern language (no language required for beginner's language route)
- Access: pass required
- Welsh Baccalaureate: We will accept this qualification in conjunction with other level 3 qualifications
- T Levels: T Levels in a relevant subject considered on a case-by-case basis
- Extended Project Qualification: Points can include a relevant Extended Project (EPQ) but must include a minimum 2 full A-levels, or equivalent.
We are happy to accept combinations of the qualifications listed above, as well as alternative Level 3 qualifications such as City & Guilds, Access and Cambridge Technical Diplomas.
We also welcome applications from mature learners.
International Candidates: International Candidates: school leaving qualifications that are equivalent to A levels/Level 3 and/or college diplomas are accepted from countries worldwide (subject to minimum English Language requirements). More information can be found on our International pages.
*For a full list of accepted Level 3 qualifications, go to www.ucas.com.
General University Requirements
To study for a degree, you’ll be asked for a minimum of UCAS Tariff points. For a fuller explanation of the UCAS Tariff Points, please see www.ucas.com.
We accept students with a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds and consider each application individually.
All students need to have good basic skills and the University also values IT and communication skills.
As part of the University’s policy, we consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same grounds as all other students.
We also consider applications from mature students who can demonstrate the motivation and commitment to study a university programme. Each year we enrol a significant number of mature students. For more information about studying as a mature student, see our Studying at Bangor section of the website.
EU and International Students' Entry Requirements
For detailed guidance on the entry requirements for EU and International Students, including the minimum English Language entry requirement, please visit the Entry Requirements by Country pages. International applicants can also visit the International Education Centre section of our website for further details.
Bangor University offers International Incorporated Bachelor Degrees for International students whose High School qualification is not equivalent to the UK school leaving qualification. The first year (or Year 0) is studied at Bangor University International College, an embedded College on our University campus and delivered by Oxford International Education Group.
Careers
Having a second, third or even fourth language, you’ll be able to help people, organisations, nations and international communities communicate more effectively.
Your language skills will be particularly useful in countries where your language is either the official or one of the official languages used for communication. Regions that are popular destinations for tourism and hospitality also need people with different language skills, as do organisations and companies that deal with international partners, suppliers, clients and customers.
Our BA (Hons) Modern Languages Studies not only equips you with subject-specific skills, but also a broad range of transferrable skills that are highly valued in the workplace.
Typical roles include:
- Diplomatic service officer
- International aid/development worker
- Interpreter
- Marketer
- Sales manager
- Translator
- Researcher
- Teacher/private tutor
- Lecturer
Opportunities at Bangor
The University’s Careers and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions.
Internships
Bangor University runs a paid internship scheme within the university’s academic and service departments.
Student Volunteering
Volunteering widens your experience and improves your employability. Find out more about volunteering on the Students’ Union’s website.
Foundation Year
A 'with Foundation Year' option is available for this course. Apply for Modern Languages (with Foundation Year).
What is a Foundation Year course?
If you don’t have the required qualifications for the degree-level course or are looking to re-enter education after time away from study, then a Foundation Year Programme might be the right choice for you.
The Foundation Year is an excellent introduction to studying this subject at university and will provide you with the knowledge, skills and confidence required to go on to study this course at degree-level.
When you have successfully completed the Foundation Year, you can progress on to the first year of this degree-level course.
