Modern Languages

BA Hons

  • UCAS code R800
  • Entry year 2024 or 2025
  • A level requirements ABB
  • Duration Full time 4 years

This course has Clearing vacancies for 2024

Apply now to make the most of your grades at a Top 10 UK university, with guaranteed accommodation in your first year.

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Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • 3

    3rd for French

    The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2025)

  • 3

    3rd for Iberian Languages

    The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2025)

  • 4

    4th for Italian

    The Complete University Guide (2025)

Lancaster’s Modern Languages degree is taught by the School of Global Affairs. This degree gives you the opportunity to study three languages. We offer Chinese, French, German or Spanish as major subjects and Italian as minor subject. This degree includes an international placement year where you will study abroad and a large amount of choice in both the languages you will study and cultural modules that bring your chosen languages to life.

Year One

In your first year, you can choose to study:

  • three languages at advanced level
  • or two languages at advanced level and one at beginner level

You will focus on developing linguistic fluency as well as learning about the cultural contexts of your chosen languages.

Year Two

You will develop your language skills and also study the cultural, political and historical context of your chosen languages in more depth.

There are two possible routes through the second year:

Route A - Chinese / French / German / Spanish

  • three languages at advanced level
  • or two languages at advanced level and one intensive language
  • plus culture modules relating to your chosen languages

Route B - Chinese / French / German / Spanish with Italian

  • two advanced languages
  • two culture modules relating to the advanced languages
  • two Italian language modules
Year Three - International Placement Year

Spending your third year abroad makes a major contribution to your language ability, while deepening your intercultural sensitivity. You will spend time in two countries where your major languages are spoken. You can either study at a partner institution or conduct a work placement.

We also encourage you to spend some vacation time in the country of your third language, and the department may be able to offer opportunities to apply for funding to support this.

Year Four

Back at Lancaster in the fourth year, you will consolidate your multiple language skills alongside language-specific cultural modules. You can also take comparative courses which allow you to see the languages and cultures you're studying in a global context.

There are three possible routes through the final year.

Route A - The language intensive route (Chinese / French / German / Spanish)

  • three advanced languages
  • culture modules relating to the advanced languages

Route B - The culture intensive route (Chinese / French / German / Spanish)

  • two advanced languages
  • a range of culture modules relating to the advanced languages and others

Route C - The Italian route (Chinese / French / German / Spanish with Italian)

  • two advanced languages
  • culture modules relating to the advanced languages
  • two Italian language modules
Beginners Languages

Studying a language from beginners level is somewhat intense in nature so we only allow students to study one language from beginners level. Please bear this in mind when looking at our first year module options. If you apply to study a degree with a language from beginners level, your optional modules will only include higher level languages and modules in other subject areas.

Careers

As well as language and subject related skills, a degree in languages gives you the opportunity to develop rich interpersonal, intercultural, cognitive and transferable skills that can be utilised across a variety of careers. Our graduates have found work in a wide variety of areas such as accountancy, IT, business development, civil service, events management, finance, journalism, publishing, research and sales, as well as teaching and translating both in the UK and beyond.

Language graduates from Lancaster are in the top ten universities in the country in terms of their employability, with French ranked 1st for graduate prospects, and Iberian Languages (including Spanish Studies) ranked 2nd in the Complete University Guide 2020.

Many Modern Languages graduates continue their studies at Lancaster, making the most of our postgraduate research facilities. We offer Master's degrees in Translation and Languages and Cultures, which can lead to a variety of careers including translation, and teaching.

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.

Entry requirements

Grade Requirements

A Level ABB

Required Subjects We would expect you to be at A or A/S Level standard in at least two of our major languages (Chinese, French, German, and Spanish). Please visit the Languages & Cultures webpages for further details.

IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements webpages.

Other Qualifications

International Baccalaureate 32 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects, including two of the languages to be studied. Please contact the Admissions Team for further details.

BTEC Accepted alongside A levels in at least two of the languages to be studied. Please contact the Admissions Team for further details.

We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualification. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions webpages.

Contact Admissions Team + 44 (0) 1524 592028 or via ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

Course structure

Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and some which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

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Fees and funding

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.

Our Undergraduate Tuition Fees for 2024/25 are:

Home International
£9,250 £23,750

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Scholarships and bursaries

You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

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We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.

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