Year in a Language
Do you want a career that takes you overseas? Do you want to gain a new skill—communicating in another language—that is highly valued by employers? Taking a Year in a Language can help you unlock a wide range of career opportunities both at home and abroad.
How does the Year in a Language fit into my degree?
The Year in a Language is open to all undergraduate students in the University and can be taken after stage 2 or 3, that is between your second and final year, or after your final year.
Learn Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, or Spanish to a solid intermediate level while developing valuable intercultural skills.
Through intensive study, you’ll become an independent user of your chosen language, guided by native speakers and expert teachers specialising in second language acquisition. Your learning goes beyond the classroom with full immersion in speaking, reading, writing, and listening, allowing you to engage meaningfully with both the language and its cultural context.
You’ll be part of a dynamic community of language learners, sharing experiences across different languages and cultures, and building intercultural competence alongside linguistic proficiency.
If successful, your degree title will reflect your achievement, graduating (subject) with a Year in Arabic / French / German / Italian / Japanese / Mandarin / Spanish.
How to apply
To apply, please email progadmin@kent.ac.uk giving your student number.
Application deadlines
- For current stage 3 students - applications close 26 March 2027 (students with a visa should check eligibility)
- For current stage 2 students - applications close 30 July 2027
Please note that if you are in your final year, there is an earlier deadline to enable graduation. It is important to apply as soon as possible.
With changes to student funding, anyone who starts their programme from 2027 will be able to take a Year In after Stage 3 only.
Do you have any questions?
For more information, please see our FAQs or contact:
- Dr Alvise Sforza Tarabochia (Course Lead)
- Programme Administration
Am I eligible?
Yes, if you are a University of Kent undergraduate student who:
- is currently in Stage 2 or Stage 3 of their degree
- averaging 50% or above in their current stage
Students are not eligible if they are:
- studying a Modern Language or related joint honours degree.
If your degree is accredited with a professional body, you will need to confirm with your School that this can include the option of a Year in a Language.
About the course
The Year in a Language offers more than just language learning — it’s an immersive experience that fosters intercultural competence and global awareness. You’ll engage deeply with a range of languages and cultures, broadening your perspective and enhancing your ability to navigate diverse environments.
As part of a vibrant community of language learners, you’ll share experiences, support one another, and develop valuable skills that go beyond the classroom—critical thinking, adaptability, and cultural sensitivity—preparing you for both personal growth and professional success in an increasingly interconnected world.
Modules
You will take the following compulsory modules:
Language Immersion 1 for your chosen language:
- Arabic Immersion 1
- French Immersion 1
- German Immersion 1
- Italian Immersion 1
- Japanese Immersion 1
- Mandarin Chinese Immersion 1
- Spanish Immersion 1
Intercultural Communication 1
Language Immersion 2 for your chosen language:
Intercultural Communication 2
Language Immersion 3 for your chosen language:
Modern Languages Cultural Project
Explore your passion
Katie's journey to Mandarin fluency
What excites me most is having the best opportunity to spend as much time as possible diving into my biggest passion, with teachers who are truly excellent and exceptional.
Katie Moore, Ecology and Conservation with a Year in Mandarin
FAQs
Yes, if you are a University of Kent undergraduate student who:
- is currently in Stage 2 or Stage 3 of their degree
- averaging 50% or above in their current stage
Students are not eligible if they are:
- studying a Modern Language or related joint honours degree.
If your degree is accredited with a professional body, you will need to confirm with your School that this can include the option of a Year in a Language.
Students who successfully complete the Language year and their home degree will graduate ‘with a Year in [their chosen language]'. The full transcript of your degree results will include your marks for the Year in a Language, as evidence of your achievement for potential employers.
Your degree classification will depend on your main degree subject and not the Year in a Language which is a pass/fail year. If you pass the year, you will get ‘with a Year in [your chosen Language]' added to your degree title. If you fail, you will drop back to your current degree. You do not risk your current degree classification by doing the year.
Please talk to staff in your home School about whether adding a Year in a Language will affect your accreditation or not.
The Year in a Language should be viewed simply as an additional year of study, making a three-year degree into a four-year degree. If you pay your own tuition fees, then you will have to pay for an extra year. For those eligible, student loans should normally be available for all four years. However, it is your responsibility to check with the Loan Authority that they will continue to give you financial support on the new programme.
International students wishing to add the Year in a Language will be approved on a case-by-case basis in accordance with UK immigration regulations and the University’s Tier 4 policy on Academic Progression and Change of Course.
Students also need to be aware that they may need to return to their home country to apply for a new visa to add the year to their degree.
The Year in a Language is assessed in a range of ways. Please see the module information for more details.
Unfortunately not. The programme is only open to current Kent undergraduates, not Master’s or PhD students.