Undergraduate BA (Hons)
Modern Languages
Develop language skills and forge connections between cultures to launch your career in a globalised world.
Undergraduate Open Days
Join us at the Medway campus on Saturday 24 June and the Canterbury campus on Saturday 1 July. Meet staff and students, find out about our courses and explore our stunning campuses for yourself.
Course overview
Develop advanced skills in one or more languages and learn about the societies they're rooted in. Begin at a level that matches your ability in your chosen languages, in order to make rapid progress and prepare you to live and work in a globalised world.
You will benefit from being guided by expert staff who will help you build advanced language skills on a flexible and engaging course. You'll study one or two languages of your choice - French, German, Italian or Spanish. You’ll also have the option to take an additional year in a third Language, or spend a year studying or working abroad.
As well as language skills, our graduates leave us with a greater cultural, social and political understanding of the nations that speak them. Our approach to teaching ensures you are ready to step into a career of limitless opportunities, live and effect change in the places you want to see it.
Why study Modern Languages at Kent?
Kick-start your career.
Modern Languages unlocks opportunities across the globe. From classroom to boardroom, you'll be ready to craft a career tailored to your interests.
Top 10
All our languages ranked in the top 10 for student satisfaction in The Complete University Guide 2023.
Broaden your horizons.
Our optional Year Abroad give you the intercultural awareness and real-world experience that are highly sought after by employers.
Your degree, your way.
With a wide range of modules on offer, you can study 1 language, or 2, or focus on business with our BA Modern Languages and Management programme.
Life at Kent.
Alice and Georgie share their experiences of studying Modern Languages at Kent.
Everything you need to know about our Modern Languages course
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Entry requirements
Typical offer levels
Our typical offer levels are listed below and include indicative contextual offers. If you hold alternative qualifications just get in touch and we'll be glad to discuss these with you.
Typical A level offer
BBB
Typical BTEC offer
DMM
Typical IB offer
30 points overall or 15 points at HL
Additional requirements
Studying one language:
- BBB or equivalent at A level.
Studying two languages:
- BBB or equivalent at A level.
The University will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF; OCR) on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us for further advice on your individual circumstances. A typical offer would be to achieve DMM in a humanities based subject.
30 points overall or 15 points at HL.
Applicants wishing to study two languages should have grade B or equivalent at GCSE, ideally in one of your target languages. This is not required of applicants wishing to study one language only.
Other qualifications
Pass all components of the University of Kent International Foundation Programme with a 60% overall average.
The University will consider applicants holding T level qualifications in subjects closely aligned to the course.
The University welcomes applications from Access to Higher Education Diploma candidates for consideration. A typical offer may require you to obtain a proportion of Level 3 credits in relevant subjects at merit grade or above.
When applying you will need to indicate, under 'further details' in the 'choices' section of your application, the language or languages that you wish to study using the codes below. For further information on completing your UCAS form, please visit the UCAS website.
UCAS language codes
- French - Fre
- German - Ger
- Italian - Ital
- Spanish - Spa
It may be possible to study further languages to a lower level of proficiency than degree level in our Language Centre, subject to demand. This is arranged once you register as a student.
You could choose to add a Year in a Language to your degree to create a four-year programme with a third language option.
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What you'll study
Your degree your way. Discover the wide range of modules available to you.
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
Modules
If you are studying one language, you must choose modules with a total of 120 credits at each stage:
- 30 credits from the language modules (corresponding to your language of study)
- 30 credits from two route-defining modules
- 30 credits from free choice modules (corresponding to your language of study)
- 30 credits from the wild modules
If you are studying two languages, you must choose modules with a total of 120 credits at each stage:
- 60 credits from two language modules (corresponding to your languages of study)
- 30 credits from two route-defining modules
- 30 credits from free choice modules (corresponding to your languages of study)
Stage 1
Language modules
- ITAL3010 - Italian Beginners A1-A2 Intensive (optional for post-A level students)
- FREN3000 - French Lower Intermediate B1
- FREN3300 - French Beginners A1-A2 Intensive
- HISP3000 - Spanish Lower Intermediate B1
- HISP3020 - Spanish Beginners A1-A2 Intensive
- GRMN3010 - German Lower Intermediate B1
- GRMN3290 - German Beginners A1-A2 Intensive
Route-defining
- LANG 4002 - Global cultures of business
- LANG 4003 - Culture & Heritage: Foundations
- LANG 4004 - Resistance and Revolution
Free choice modules
- ITAL3150 - Introduction to Italian Modernity
- ITAL3120 - Introduction to Italian Cinema
- FREN3001 - Introduction to Francophone Literature and Culture
- FREN3080 - Questions of French Cinema
- FREN3100 - Twentieth Century France in Crisis
- GRMN3120 - Images of Germany 1945-Present
- GRMN3280 - Post-1989 German Cinema
- HISP3120 - Identity, Politics and Power in the Hispanic World
- HISP3190 - State-Building in Latin America
- HUMA4000 - The Home
- HUMA4001 - The Wild
Stage 2
Language modules
- ITAL5080 - Italian Intermediate B1-B2 Intensive
- FREN6520 - French Intermediate B1-B2 Intensive
- FREN6480 - French Upper Intermediate B2
- HISP5040 - Spanish Intermediate B1-B2 Intensive
- HISP5050 - Spanish Upper Intermediate B2
- GRMN5160 - German Intermediate B1-B2 Intensive
- GRMN5070 - German Upper Intermediate B2
Route-defining modules
- Branding the Nation: National Identity in the Global Marketplace
- Culture & Heritage: History
- What makes a nation? Sovereignty, Power and Identity
- Languages in the Classroom
Free choice modules
- LANG5001 - Cultures of Sustainability
- HISP5850 - Professional Spanish
- FREN5900 - Professional French
- GRMN5960 - Professional German
- ITAL5810 - Professional Italian
- HISP5710 - After Dictatorship: Spain and Latin America
- HISP5620 - The Legacy of Inequality: Race and Ethnicity in Latin America
- ITAL5780 - Musica Maestro! Music and Society in Modern Italy
- ITAL5760 - The Make-Up: Representations of Gender in Italy
- FREN5990 - Description of Modern French
- FREN6200 - The Art of Memory: Childhood in Modern French Literature
- FREN5002 - Encore! Music and Society in Modern French Culture
- GRMN5530 - From Gutenberg to Facebook: How Technology and Media Shaped German History
- GRMN5710 - The Lyric Imagination
- GRMN5730 - The German Novelle
Year abroad (optional)
It is possible to study the BA in Modern Languages as a three-year programme, or to take the four-year BA in Modern Languages with a Year Abroad.
Going abroad as part of your degree is an amazing experience and a chance to develop personally, academically and professionally. You experience a different culture, gain a new academic perspective, establish international contacts and enhance your employability.
The Year Abroad is assessed on a pass/fail basis and will not count towards your final degree classification. You spend the year working as an English language assistant or in approved employment, or studying at one of our partner universities.
Stage 3
Language modules
- ITAL5060 - Italian Advanced C1
- FREN6490 - French Advanced C1
- HISP5060 - Spanish Advanced C1
- GRMN5030 - German Advanced C1
Route-defining modules
- Global commodities
- Culture & Heritage: The Contemporary
- Crisis, aftermath and memory
- Language Teachers at Work
Free choice modules
- TBC - Modern Languages Project/Dissertation
- HISP5840 - Spanish for Business
- ITAL5800 - Italian for Business
- FREN5920 - French for Business
- GRMN5950 - German for Business
- HISP5630 - Terrorism and State Terror in Latin America
- ITAL5770 - Italian regional cinema
- ITAL5640 - Istantanea: Visual culture in contemporary Italy
- SCL504 - European Political Cinema
- GRMN5850 - Order and Madness: Classical German Literature
- FREN5610 - At the Movies: French Film Since 1990
- FREN6460 - Crossing Borders: French and Francophone Travel Writing
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How you'll study
Seminars are a crucial part of your learning. We keep class sizes small, making it easier for you to develop your own ideas and ensuring you have the space to express and defend them.
Lectures
Seminars
Tutorials
Independent Study
Teaching and assessment
Compulsory language modules typically involve three to four hours of classes per week, including one hour of small group work with a native speaker. We also make extensive use of computer-assisted language learning packages and audio and video materials.
Culture and literature modules typically involve a weekly two-hour seminar plus essay supervision. We employ language lectors, who are all native speakers, to help students improve their fluency and make rapid progress.
At all stages, assessment is based 100% on coursework (essays, oral presentations) in the first half of the year, and a combination of coursework and examination in the second half of the year. Credits from your year abroad count towards your final degree.
Contact hours
For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours. The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules. Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules. Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
Programme aims
For programme aims and learning outcomes please see the programme specification.
I really enjoy the oral seminars too – I have a native French teacher, who is really enthusiastic, really fun.
Gaby Emson was in her final year studying French. This is what she told us about her course at Kent.
Your future
The ability to speak more than one language is a key asset in the global employment market, and one that employers seek out. This means you can flexibly work across many fields and industries, and of course, across different countries.
Beyond your language skills, you will graduate equipped with skills such as, communication, mediation, analysis and leadership. These give you confidence to offer creative solutions when faced with challenges, and the ability to express your ideas with clarity and passion. These are skills that make employers take notice, and you will be able to make change happen in the places you want to see it.
Our graduates are proof of this, going into fields as varied as: international banking, diplomacy, publishing, journalism, interpreting and translating, media, marketing and language teaching. Wherever your passions and future lie, through studying Modern Languages at Kent, you will have the tools needed to get there.
Hear from Ellie.
"I spent a year studying abroad splitting my time between France and Italy. The experience was invaluable for me – my confidence and language skills improved immensely."
As time’s gone on, I’ve got more confident about going on air and now I’d like to present my own show.
Hear from Beth McIntyre, who studied German and French, as she covers studying at Kent and getting involved in campus radio.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees for 2023 entry
Full-time
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UK£9,250
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EU£13,500
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International£18,000
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
Your fee status
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence.
The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of A*AA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
Scholarships
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
Next steps
Ready to apply?
If you are from the UK or Ireland, you must apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not from the UK or Ireland, you can apply through UCAS or directly on our website if you have never used UCAS and you do not intend to use UCAS in the future.
Need help deciding?
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Modern Languages insights
STUDENT NEWS
The average week of a Kent modern languages student
Emily Underwood takes us through her average week as a Modern Languages student at Kent.
Research
Modern Languages and Linguistics recognised for research excellence
Over 90% of research outputs and 90% of research environment have been assessed as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.
RESEARCH
Dr Rebecca Ogden receives Arts and Humanities Research Council funding
Dr Rebecca Ogden, School of Culture and Languages, has received research funding for her project ‘Adolescent Parenthoods and Culture in Latin America’.
STUDENT NEWS
Success for Mandarin Year in Language Students
Year in Language students, Beth Lucas, Emma Stone, and Jonathan Standing, won the Best Participation Award for their video: 3 Minutes Tour Guide, Let Me Show You My Hometown at the Centre for Language Education and Cooperation, China.
Kent focus
Student life
Discover student life at Kent.
Top 50
Kent ranked top 50 in the The Complete University Guide 2023.
Kent Sport
Free membership for undergraduates living on campus in 2023.
Research excellence
Kent has risen 11 places in THE’s REF 2021 ranking, confirming us as a leading research university.
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