Modern Languages and Translation BA
4 years
Combine the in-depth study of a foreign language and its culture with the acquisition of advanced skills in translation.
Please note that this degree can be studied as a 75/25 split (two languages plus translation) or as a 50/50 split (one language plus translation) but the title/UCAS code remain the same for both. We are in the process of updating the course structure provided below.
Start date:
Course information
Typical offer BBB
UCAS code R901
International fee £19,700
Institute code L34
Taught by Modern Languages
Ranked 1st in subjects aligned to Modern Languages for ‘overall positivity’ in the NSS 2024 (according to Times Higher Education NSS 2023 methodology applied to the NSS 2024 data).
Top 12 in the UK for Languages and Linguistics (The Guardian University Guide 2025)
Top 10 in the UK for Italian (Complete University Guide 2025)
Course description
Course description
A career in translation or interpreting can be exciting and rewarding, and our Modern Languages and Translation BA will help you gain the skills you need while studying a foreign language in depth. As an advanced language learner you will immediately start translating and interpreting into your target language.
You will study one language at Advanced level (choose from French, Italian, or Spanish). Throughout the course you will divide your time equally between studying translation and interpreting in theory and in practice, and developing your language proficiency, whilst learning about the social, political, and cultural forces that have shaped that country.
At the end of your first year, you attend one of our partly-funded two-week summer schools. This immersive experience includes language tuition, cultural and social activities and accommodation with a local family.
Developing your foreign language skills gives you a powerful advantage in business and opens up a wide and exciting range of careers. You will enjoy a rich culture of learning-led experience in a supportive and tailored learning environment, and you will be supported by our team of personal tutors to help you make the best of your time here.
You will also spend a year abroad where you can live as a student or work as a teaching assistant, with tutors on hand to help throughout the year. We have links with several universities in Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Canada, and Latin America. Alternatively, you can take up an approved work placement.
Here in Modern Languages at Leicester we offer a rich and diverse learning experience, with great facilities, knowledgeable staff who are experts in their fields, and a unique chance to study abroad and build your international communication skills.
Learn an extra language
All Modern Languages students have the opportunity in Year 1 to complete a year-long extracurricular Languages at Leicester course – for free. You can choose from any of these languages (subject to availability).
Chinese speakers
If you are a native Chinese speaker (or have an A-level in Chinese) but do not have the necessary qualification in a European language, you can take beginners-level modules in French, Italian or Spanish and apply your translation studies to English-Chinese.
Arabic speakers
If you are a native Arabic speaker (or have an A-level in Arabic) but do not have the necessary qualification in a European language, you can take beginners-level modules in French, Italian or Spanish and apply your translation studies to English-Arabic.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
- A/AS-levels: BBB at A-level including French or Spanish or Italian. Two AS-levels may be considered in place of one A-level. General Studies is accepted
- EPQ with A-levels: BBC at A-level including French or Spanish or Italian + EPQ at grade B
- Access to HE Diploma: Pass diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3, 24 of which must be at distinction. Plus grade B in A-level (or equivalent) in French or Spanish or Italian
- International Baccalaureate: Pass Diploma with 28 points including grade 6 in Higher Level in French or Spanish or Italian.
- BTEC Nationals: Pass Diploma at DDM. Plus Grade B at A-level (or equivalent) in French or Spanish or Italian
For the Chinese/Arabic Pathway: must be either a native speaker of, or have an A-level or equivalent in, Chinese or Arabic.
Other official national and international qualifications considered from across the world. You can review some of the qualifications we accept on our countries page and English Language equivalencies.
If your qualification or country is not listed, please contact us for more information, including the name and result of the qualification you have studied.
Second Year Entry may be possible with suitable qualifications.
Contextual offers
The University of Leicester is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all applicants from all backgrounds. We make contextual offers to support students who may be impacted by the area they live in, their personal circumstances or who have completed one of our progression programmes. These offers are usually one or two grades lower than the standard entry requirements. To qualify for a contextual offer, you must apply for an eligible course and meet specific criteria – check if you’re eligible.
Selection Process
When considering your application, we will look for evidence that you will be able to fulfil the objectives of the course and achieve the standards required. We will take into account a range of factors including previous exam results.
Applicants are not normally interviewed. If you receive an offer you will be invited to visit the department.
Native Speakers
If your native language is French, Italian or Spanish, and you wish to study this language at Leicester, you will normally be required, in the first year of study, to take English language modules in lieu of the foreign language modules in your native tongue. If you have native speaker fluency in both English and your chosen foreign language(s), you will normally be required to substitute content modules for the relevant language modules.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries listFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK Students
Starting in 2025
Tuition fees for 2025/26 are yet to be confirmed. As an indication of what you might pay, the fees for students who started in 2024/25 were:
- £9,250 in your first year. Tuition fees are subject to government regulations and may change in future years
- Year Abroad: your fee will be £1,385 for that year
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
International Students
Starting in 2025
- £19,700 per year
- Year Abroad: £4,925 which is 25% of the full-time tuition fee
If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
If you are an EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme, you may qualify for the UK fee (subject to criteria).
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
In most cases your Year Abroad can include a year-long teaching assistantship or you could spend one or two semesters on a work placement approved by the University.
Our annual Careers Week includes seminars exploring diverse career paths. Speakers have come from European embassies and the EU.
In most cases your Year Abroad can include a year-long teaching assistantship or you could spend one or two semesters on a work placement approved by the University.
Our annual Careers Week includes seminars exploring diverse career paths. Speakers have come from European embassies and the EU.
Graduate destinations
Graduates from our Modern Languages degrees have gone on to work for a wide range of employers including:
- Amazon Emirates
- Airlines Ford Credit
- Europe Ministerio de Educación
- Cultura y Deporte (Spain)
- Resilient PLC
- STA International
- Sweet Cherry Publishing
After graduating from Leicester, Joanna went on to work for one of the largest translation services in the world.
Careers and Employability Service
Get career-ready at Leicester with guidance from our award-winning Careers and Employability Service. We're here to give you a lifetime offer of support, even after graduation. Our team of specialist careers advisers and mentors will help you every step of the way. From supporting you with CVs and interviews, to volunteering opportunities and placements, we're here to help you reach your professional goals.
Related courses
Related courses
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goals
We are committed to providing skills and knowledge to help prepare you tackle global challenges. We have mapped our undergraduate degrees for learning which aligns to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
This degree includes learning which relates to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
- Goal 5: Gender equality
- Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
- Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong institutions
Course structure
Advanced French
Advanced French
You will study French language and culture for 50% of your course and translation for the other 50%.
To follow this pathway, you must have A-level French, unless you are a native speaker of Chinese or Arabic.
Year 1
Core modules
- French Language (Advanced) (Chinese/Arabic speakers may take French Language (Beginners) instead.)
- Introduction to French Studies
- Introduction to Interpreting
- Introduction to Translating
- Introduction to Translation Studies
- General Translation
Option modules
Choose one module from:
Year 2
Core modules
- French Language (Post-Advanced) (Chinese/Arabic speakers may take French Language (Post-Beginners) instead.)
- Practical Translation
- Electronic Tools for Translators
- Consecutive Interpreting
- Translation Studies
Option modules
Choose one module from:
- Challenging Perspectives: Conflict and Relations in French Culture
- French Urban Space: From City of Lights to the Banlieue
Then choose one module from:
- Politics, Technology, and Ecology in Francophone Culture
- Introduction to French Linguistics
- Media and Cultural Practices in France
Year Abroad
The Year Abroad is a fundamental element of this course, during which time you will study or work in a French-speaking country. Alternatively, you can apply to spend a year working as a British Council language-teaching assistant or on some other work placement of your choice, subject to approval. It is even possible to split the year between study abroad and work placement, giving you the best of both worlds. However, it is possible, in exceptional cases, to complete this degree in three years, without a year abroad.
Studying abroad is central to what makes our graduates stand out. You will acquire life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. You will have the chance to perfect your spoken and written language and engage with new societies, whist all the time building your independence and becoming more employable. Whether you go on to a career in the private, public or third sector - or plough your own furrow as an entrepreneur – you will find the experience invaluable.
Please note
- A year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding section of this page for details.
- You may be eligible for a travel grant from Student Finance England.
Final Year
Core module
Option modules
Choose one module from:
- Immigration and Ethnicity in Colonial and Post-Colonial France
- Gender and Power in Contemporary France
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages 1
Then choose one module from:
Then choose two modules from:
Then choose two modules from:- Conference Interpreting 2
- Managing Translation Project
- Extended Translation
- Dissertation (double module)
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Advanced Italian
Advanced Italian
You will study Italian language and culture for 50% of your course and translation for the other 50%.
To follow this pathway, you must have A-level Italian, unless you are a native speaker of Chinese or Arabic.
Year 1
Core modules
- Italian Language (Advanced) (Chinese/Arabic speakers may take Italian Language (Beginners) instead.)
- Introduction to Italian Studies
- Introduction to Interpreting
- Introduction to Translating
- Introduction to Translation Studies
- General Translation
Option modules
Choose one module from:
Year 2
Core modules
- Italian Language (Post-Advanced) (Chinese/Arabic speakers may take Italian Language (Post-Beginners) instead.)
- Practical Translation
- Electronic Tools for Translators
- Consecutive Interpreting
- Translation Studies
Option modules
Choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Year Abroad
The Year Abroad is a fundamental element of this course, during which time you will study or work in Italy. Alternatively, you can apply to spend a year working as a British Council language-teaching assistant or on some other work placement of your choice, subject to approval. It is even possible to split the year between study abroad and work placement, giving you the best of both worlds. However, it is possible, in exceptional cases, to complete this degree in three years, without a year abroad.
Studying abroad is central to what makes our graduates stand out. You will acquire life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. You will have the chance to perfect your spoken and written language and engage with new societies, whist all the time building your independence and becoming more employable. Whether you go on to a career in the private, public or third sector - or plough your own furrow as an entrepreneur – you will find the experience invaluable.
Please note
- A year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding section of this page for details.
- You may be eligible for a travel grant from Student Finance England.
Final Year
Core module
Option modules
Choose one module from:
- Contemporary Italian Fiction
- Made in Italy. Italian Design and Fashion in the 20th and 21st Century
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages 1
Then choose one module from:
- Postwar Italian Directors
- Greening Italy: Literature and the Environmental Imagination
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages 2
- Extended Essay
Then choose two modules from:
Then choose two modules from:
- Conference Interpreting 2
- Managing Translation Project
- Extended Translation
- Dissertation (double module)
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Advanced Spanish
Advanced Spanish
You will study Spanish language and culture for 50% of your course and translation for the other 50%.
To follow this pathway, you must have A-level Spanish, unless you are a native speaker of Chinese or Arabic.
Year 1
Core modules
- Spanish Language (Advanced) (Chinese/Arabic speakers may take Spanish Language (Beginners) instead.)
- Introduction to Spanish and Latin American Studies
- Introduction to Interpreting
- Introduction to Translating
- Introduction to Translation Studies
- General Translation
Option modules
Choose one module from:
Year 2
Core modules
- Spanish Language (Post-Advanced) (Chinese/Arabic speakers may take Spanish Language (Post-Beginners) instead.)
- Practical Translation
- Electronic Tools for Translators
- Consecutive Interpreting
- Translation Studies
Option modules
Choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
- The Mexican-US Borders: History, Culture, Identity
- Latinx Literature and Culture in the United States
Year Abroad
The Year Abroad is a fundamental element of this course, during which time you will study or work in a Spanish-speaking country. Alternatively, you can apply to spend a year working as a British Council language-teaching assistant or on some other work placement of your choice, subject to approval. It is even possible to split the year between study abroad and work placement, giving you the best of both worlds. However, it is possible, in exceptional cases, to complete this degree in three years, without a year abroad.
Studying abroad is central to what makes our graduates stand out. You will acquire life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. You will have the chance to perfect your spoken and written language and engage with new societies, whist all the time building your independence and becoming more employable. Whether you go on to a career in the private, public or third sector - or plough your own furrow as an entrepreneur – you will find the experience invaluable.
Please note
- A year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding section of this page for details.
- You may be eligible for a travel grant from Student Finance England.
Final Year
Core module
Option modules
Choose one module from:
- Cinematic Representations of Latin America
- Latin American Eco-Literature
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages 1
Then choose one module from:
- Boom Literature: Language and Creation
- Spain and its Others
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages 2
- Extended Essay
Then choose two modules from:
Then choose two modules from:
- Conference Interpreting 2
- Managing Translation Project
- Extended Translation
- Dissertation (double module)
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Advanced French + Advanced Italian
Advanced French + Advanced Italian
You will study French and Italian languages and cultures for 75% of your course and translation for the other 25%.
To follow this pathway, you must have A-level French and A-level Italian.
Year 1
Core modules
Option modules
Choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Year 2
Core modules
Option modules
Choose one module from:
- Challenging Perspectives: Conflict and Relations in French Culture
- French Urban Space: From City of Lights to the Banlieue
- Italian Linguistics
- History of Italian Cinema
Then choose one module from:
- Politics, Technology, and Ecology in Francophone Culture
- Introduction to French Linguistics
- Media and Cultural Practices in France
- Italian Society and Culture under Fascism
Then choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Year Abroad
The Year Abroad is a fundamental element of this course, during which time you will study or work in Italy or a French-speaking country. Alternatively, you can apply to spend a year working as a British Council language-teaching assistant or on some other work placement of your choice, subject to approval. It is even possible to split the year between study abroad and work placement, giving you the best of both worlds. However, it is possible, in exceptional cases, to complete this degree in three years, without a year abroad.
Studying abroad is central to what makes our graduates stand out. You will acquire life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. You will have the chance to perfect your spoken and written language and engage with new societies, whist all the time building your independence and becoming more employable. Whether you go on to a career in the private, public or third sector - or plough your own furrow as an entrepreneur – you will find the experience invaluable.
Please note
- A year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding section of this page for details.
- You may be eligible for a travel grant from Student Finance England.
Final Year
Core modules
Option modules
Choose one module from:
- Immigration and Ethnicity in Colonial and Post-Colonial France
- Gender and Power in Contemporary France
- Contemporary Italian Fiction
- Made in Italy. Italian Design and Fashion in the 20th and 21st Century
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages 1
Then choose one module from:
- Norms and Margins in French Cinema
- Postwar Italian Directors
- Greening Italy: Literature and the Environmental Imagination
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages 2
- Extended Essay
Then choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Advanced French + Advanced Spanish
Advanced French + Advanced Spanish
You will study French and Spanish languages and cultures for 75% of your course and translation for the other 25%.
To follow this pathway, you must have A-level French and A-level Spanish.
Year 1
Core modules
Option modules
Choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Year 2
Core modules
Option modules
Choose one module from:
- Challenging Perspectives: Conflict and Relations in French Culture
- French Urban Space: From City of Lights to the Banlieue
- Contemporary Mexican Cinema
- The Spanish Civil War in Literature and Film
Then choose one module from:
- Politics, Technology, and Ecology in Francophone Culture
- Introduction to French Linguistics
- Media and Cultural Practices in France
- The Mexican-US Borders: History, Culture, Identity
- Latinx Literature and Culture in the United States
Then choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Year Abroad
The Year Abroad is a fundamental element of this course, during which time you will study or work in a French-speaking or Spanish-speaking country. Alternatively, you can apply to spend a year working as a British Council language-teaching assistant or on some other work placement of your choice, subject to approval. It is even possible to split the year between study abroad and work placement, giving you the best of both worlds. However, it is possible, in exceptional cases, to complete this degree in three years, without a year abroad.
Studying abroad is central to what makes our graduates stand out. You will acquire life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. You will have the chance to perfect your spoken and written language and engage with new societies, whist all the time building your independence and becoming more employable. Whether you go on to a career in the private, public or third sector - or plough your own furrow as an entrepreneur – you will find the experience invaluable.
Please note
- A year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding section of this page for details.
- You may be eligible for a travel grant from Student Finance England.
Final Year
Core modules
Option modules
Choose one module from:
- Immigration and Ethnicity in Colonial and Post-Colonial France
- Gender and Power in Contemporary France
- Cinematic Representations of Latin America
- Latin American Eco-Literature
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages 1
Then choose one module from:
- Norms and Margins in French Cinema
- Boom Literature: Language and Creation
- Spain and its Others
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages 2
- Extended Essay
Then choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Advanced Italian + Advanced Spanish
Advanced Italian + Advanced Spanish
You will study Italian and Spanish languages and cultures for 75% of your course and translation for the other 25%.
To follow this pathway, you must have A-level Italian and A-level Spanish.
Year 1
Core modules
Option modules
Choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Year 2
Core modules
Option modules
Choose one module from:
- Italian Linguistics
- History of Italian Cinema
- Contemporary Mexican Cinema
- The Spanish Civil War in Literature and Film
Then choose one module from:
- Italian Society and Culture under Fascism
- The Mexican-US Borders: History, Culture, Identity
- Latinx Literature and Culture in the United States
Then choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Year Abroad
The Year Abroad is a fundamental element of this course, during which time you will study or work in Italy or a Spanish-speaking country. Alternatively, you can apply to spend a year working as a British Council language-teaching assistant or on some other work placement of your choice, subject to approval. It is even possible to split the year between study abroad and work placement, giving you the best of both worlds. However, it is possible, in exceptional cases, to complete this degree in three years, without a year abroad.
Studying abroad is central to what makes our graduates stand out. You will acquire life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. You will have the chance to perfect your spoken and written language and engage with new societies, whist all the time building your independence and becoming more employable. Whether you go on to a career in the private, public or third sector - or plough your own furrow as an entrepreneur – you will find the experience invaluable.
Please note
- A year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding section of this page for details.
- You may be eligible for a travel grant from Student Finance England.
Final Year
Core modules
Option modules
Choose one module from:
- Contemporary Italian Fiction
- Made in Italy. Italian Design and Fashion in the 20th and 21st Century
- Cinematic Representations of Latin America
- Latin American Eco-Literature
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages 1
Then choose one module from:
- Postwar Italian Directors
- Greening Italy: Literature and the Environmental Imagination
- Boom Literature: Language and Creation
- Spain and its Others
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages 2
- Extended Essay
Then choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Advanced French + a Beginners level language
Advanced French + a Beginners level language
You will study French and either Italian or Spanish languages and cultures for 75% of your course and translation for the other 25%.
To follow this pathway, you must have A-level French.
Year 1
Core modules
plus either these modules:
Or these modules:
Option modules
Choose one module from:
- 20th Century French Literature
- Authors and Genres
- Italy Since 1945
- Latin American Literature and Film
- Spanish Literature and Film
Then choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Year 2
Core modules
plus either Italian Language (Post-Beginners) or Spanish Language (Post-Beginners)
Option modules
Choose one module from:
- Challenging Perspectives: Conflict and Relations in French Culture
- French Urban Space: From City of Lights to the Banlieue
- Italian Linguistics
- Italian Society and Culture under Fascism
- Contemporary Mexican Cinema
- Latinx Literature and Culture in the United States
Then choose one module from:
- Politics, Technology, and Ecology in Francophone Culture
- Introduction to French Linguistics
- Media and Cultural Practices in France
- History of Italian Cinema
- The Mexican-US Borders: History, Culture, Identity
- Drugs and Displacement in Contemporary Colombian Culture
Then choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Year Abroad
The Year Abroad is a fundamental element of this course, during which time you will study or work in a French-speaking country. Alternatively, you can apply to spend a year working as a British Council language-teaching assistant or on some other work placement of your choice, subject to approval. It is even possible to split the year between study abroad and work placement, giving you the best of both worlds. However, it is possible, in exceptional cases, to complete this degree in three years, without a year abroad.
Studying abroad is central to what makes our graduates stand out. You will acquire life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. You will have the chance to perfect your spoken and written language and engage with new societies, whist all the time building your independence and becoming more employable. Whether you go on to a career in the private, public or third sector - or plough your own furrow as an entrepreneur – you will find the experience invaluable.
Please note
- A year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding section of this page for details.
- You may be eligible for a travel grant from Student Finance England.
Final Year
Core modules
plus either Italian Language (Proficiency) or Spanish Language (Proficiency)
Option modules
Choose one module from:
- Immigration and Ethnicity in Colonial and Post-Colonial France
- Gender and Power in Contemporary France
- Contemporary Italian Fiction
- Made in Italy. Italian Design and Fashion in the 20th and 21st Century
- Cinematic Representations of Latin America
- Putumayo: the History and Culture of a Latin American Conflict Zone
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages 1
Then choose one module from:
- Norms and Margins in French Cinema
- Postwar Italian Directors
- The Cinema of Luis Buñuel
- Spain and its Others
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages 2
- Extended Essay
Then choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Advanced Italian + a Beginners level language
Advanced Italian + a Beginners level language
You will study Italian and either French or Spanish languages and cultures for 75% of your course and translation for the other 25%.
To follow this pathway, you must have A-level Italian.
Year 1
Core modules
plus either these modules:
Or these modules:
Option modules
Choose one module from:
- 20th Century French Literature
- Authors and Genres
- Italy Since 1945
- Latin American Literature and Film
- Spanish Literature and Film
Then choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Year 2
Core modules
plus either French Language (Post-Beginners) or Spanish Language (Post-Beginners)
Option modules
Choose one module from:
- Challenging Perspectives: Conflict and Relations in French Culture
- French Urban Space: From City of Lights to the Banlieue
- Italian Linguistics
- History of Italian Cinema
- Contemporary Mexican Cinema
- Latinx Literature and Culture in the United States
Then choose one module from:
- Introduction to French Linguistics
- Media and Cultural Practices in France
- Italian Society and Culture under Fascism
- The Mexican-US Borders: History, Culture, Identity
- Drugs and Displacement in Contemporary Colombian Culture
Then choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Year Abroad
The Year Abroad is a fundamental element of this course, during which time you will study or work in Italy. Alternatively, you can apply to spend a year working as a British Council language-teaching assistant or on some other work placement of your choice, subject to approval. It is even possible to split the year between study abroad and work placement, giving you the best of both worlds. However, it is possible, in exceptional cases, to complete this degree in three years, without a year abroad.
Studying abroad is central to what makes our graduates stand out. You will acquire life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. You will have the chance to perfect your spoken and written language and engage with new societies, whist all the time building your independence and becoming more employable. Whether you go on to a career in the private, public or third sector - or plough your own furrow as an entrepreneur – you will find the experience invaluable.
Please note
- A year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding section of this page for details.
- You may be eligible for a travel grant from Student Finance England.
Final Year
Core modules
plus either or Spanish Language (Proficiency)
Option modules
Choose one module from:
- Immigration and Ethnicity in Colonial and Post-Colonial France
- Gender and Power in Contemporary France
- Contemporary Italian Fiction
- Made in Italy. Italian Design and Fashion in the 20th and 21st Century
- Cinematic Representations of Latin America
- Putumayo: the History and Culture of a Latin American Conflict Zone
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages 1
Then choose one module from:
- Norms and Margins in French Cinema
- Postwar Italian Directors
- Greening Italy: Literature and the Environmental Imagination
- The Cinema of Luis Buñuel
- Spain and its Others
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages 2
- Extended Essay
Then choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Advanced Spanish + a Beginners level language
Advanced Spanish + a Beginners level language
You will study Spanish and either French or Italian languages and cultures for 75% of your course and translation for the other 25%.
To follow this pathway, you must have A-level Spanish.
Year 1
Core modules
plus either these modules:
Or these modules:
Option modules
Choose one module from:
- 20th Century French Literature
- Authors and Genres
- Italy Since 1945
- Latin American Literature and Film
- Spanish Literature and Film
Then choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Year 2
Core modules
plus either French Language (Post-Beginners) or Italian Language (Post-Beginners)
Option modules
Choose one module from:
- Challenging Perspectives: Conflict and Relations in French Culture
- French Urban Space: From City of Lights to the Banlieue
- Italian Linguistics
- Italian Society and Culture under Fascism
- Contemporary Mexican Cinema
- The Spanish Civil War in Literature and Film
Then choose one module from:
- Introduction to French Linguistics
- Media and Cultural Practices in France
- History of Italian Cinema
- The Mexican-US Borders: History, Culture, Identity
- Latinx Literature and Culture in the United States
Then choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Year Abroad
The Year Abroad is a fundamental element of this course, during which time you will study or work in a Spanish-speaking country. Alternatively, you can apply to spend a year working as a British Council language-teaching assistant or on some other work placement of your choice, subject to approval. It is even possible to split the year between study abroad and work placement, giving you the best of both worlds. However, it is possible, in exceptional cases, to complete this degree in three years, without a year abroad.
Studying abroad is central to what makes our graduates stand out. You will acquire life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. You will have the chance to perfect your spoken and written language and engage with new societies, whist all the time building your independence and becoming more employable. Whether you go on to a career in the private, public or third sector - or plough your own furrow as an entrepreneur – you will find the experience invaluable.
Please note
- A year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding section of this page for details.
- You may be eligible for a travel grant from Student Finance England.
Final Year
Core modules
plus either or Italian Language (Proficiency)
Option modules
Choose one module from:
- Immigration and Ethnicity in Colonial and Post-Colonial France
- Gender and Power in Contemporary France
- Contemporary Italian Fiction
- Made in Italy. Italian Design and Fashion in the 20th and 21st Century
- Cinematic Representations of Latin America
- Latin American Eco-Literature
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages 1
Then choose one module from:
- Norms and Margins in French Cinema
- Postwar Italian Directors
- Boom Literature: Language and Creation
- Spain and its Others
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages 2
- Extended Essay
Then choose one module from:
Then choose one module from:
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
We offer a partly-funded two-week summer school between Years 1 and 2. You will immerse yourself in a different culture and language, building your confidence in your language skills.
You will definitely want to join the Students' Union's Modern Languages Society which organises academic and social events including film screenings, nights out, guest speakers, language-themed nights, sports events and even a weekend in Paris.
Teaching and learning
Summer School
When you take one of our Modern Languages courses, you will attend one of our partly-funded two-week summer schools during the summer vacation at the end of your first year, which is an integral part of your degree.
Whether you choose to study in Montpellier (France), Mondavio (Italy), or Santiago de Compostela (Spain), you will live with selected local families and hosts and enjoy language tuition in small groups each morning. In the afternoons, and some evenings and weekends, you'll take part in cultural and social activities for a complete immersion in the heart of the society, country and region you are visiting.
The benefits you'll gain are invaluable - you'll build your confidence in your chosen spoken and written language, gain crucial transferable skills (on completion of the summer school you will receive a HEAR certificate), discover new cultures, and build life-long friendships.
Teaching
Each week, you can expect to receive 3-4 hours of language teaching for each of your languages, and 2 hours of contact time for each optional module.
Language skills are taught in small groups, predominantly by native speakers. Our courses stress the importance of communicative ability as well as linguistic accuracy, and oral skills are highly valued.
You will develop professional translation skills through a combination of lectures, seminars, and practical workshops. These workshops will cover a wide range of genres, including business, literary, legal, and scientific translation. You will also be introduced to the use of AI and machine translation tools. Additionally, you have the choice to focus on interpreting skills with access to a purpose-built interpreting suite. Specialised technology is an important part of the curriculum, including software for audiovisual translation and Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools, to further support your learning and professional development.
Cultural studies modules are taught through a mix of lectures and seminars, which encourage discussion and debate around prepared topics and texts.
The use of online tutorials and exercises on Blackboard, the University’s virtual learning environment, allows us to include interactive training in our courses and to facilitate learning in specific areas such as essay writing and grammatical terminology.
You will be assessed throughout each year by a combination of continuous assessment, translations, interpreting tasks, seminar presentations, essays, scenario-based assessments and formal exams at the end of each semester. While final year work is most heavily weighted in determining the degree class, your achievements during your second year and your year abroad are also taken into account.
You will have regular meetings with your personal tutor to discuss progress in your studies. Your personal tutor will also provide a sympathetic ear for all matters of personal concern, whether academic, financial, housing, career, or social.
Independent learning
When not attending lectures, seminars or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. To help with your independent learning, you can access the Library and our social study spaces in halls of residence.
Your contact hours will depend on the option modules you select. You can see details of the contact hours on individual module pages.
Academic support
Our Centre for Academic Achievement provides help in the following areas:
- study and exam skills
- academic writing
- presentations
- dissertations
- numerical data skills
- referencing sources
Our AccessAbility Centre offers support and practical help for students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, including physical, mental health or mobility difficulties, deafness, or visual impairment.
Teaching staff
You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. PhD research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader. Our teaching is informed by the research we do. You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles.
Apply now
Course | Qualification | Duration | UCAS Code | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|
Course Modern Languages and Translation | Qualification BA | Duration 4 years full-time | UCAS Code R901 | Availability How to apply |
Data about this course
One of the many great things about studying Languages at Leicester is the inclusion of contemporary and historical cultural modules alongside the linguistic aspect of the course.