Overview of the Modern Languages BA Program

The Modern Languages BA program at the University of Kent is designed to develop language skills and intercultural awareness, preparing students for a wide range of careers across the globe. The program offers unparalleled flexibility and personalized language learning paths tailored to individual learning styles, strengths, and aspirations.

Key Information

• Start Date: September 2026
• Location: Canterbury
• Study Mode: 3 years full-time
• Fees (per year): UK: ｣9,790, International: ｣19,300
• Typical Offer: BBB / 104-120 UCAS points

Course Structure

The program is structured into three stages, each with compulsory and optional modules.

Stage 1

• Introduction to Cultural Analysis: Develops essential analytical tools and methodologies to critically assess cultural artifacts, texts, and practices.
• Politics and Societies: Explores the political and cultural history of several countries through the prism of social, cultural, and political processes.
• Studying Languages: Develops fundamental skills for language acquisition, cross-cultural understanding, and linguistic analysis.
• Languages Lab Project 1: Empowers students with tools and skills to delve into the intricacies of any language, focusing on practical communication in everyday situations.

Stage 2

• Cultures, Media and Technology: Provides a unique perspective on the cultural history of modern societies alongside key developments in technology and media.
• Language, Culture and Environment: Examines the wide-ranging definitions of the environment, ecology, and sustainability, and their contribution to the discourse from Arts and Humanities subjects.
• Culture and Heritage: Introduces key theoretical and critical frameworks for analyzing a variety of cultural forms from different national contexts.
• Modern Languages Cultural Project: Enables students to put their cultural expertise into practical use by designing a public event.

Stage 3

• Language Teachers at Work: Explores principles of second language teaching, investigating issues of theory and methodology with a strong practical focus.
• Modern Languages Big Project: Formulates and delivers a research project of the student's own making, supported by appropriate instruction and guidance.
• Intercultural Communication 1 & 2: Delves into the intricate dynamics of cross-cultural interactions and global communications, honing linguistic skills and cultural competence.

Language Options

Students can choose from a variety of languages, including:

• Arabic
• French
• German
• Italian
• Japanese
• Mandarin
• Spanish

Each language option offers beginners, intermediate, and advanced levels, focusing on developing communicative competence and intercultural awareness.

Entry Requirements

• UK: 104-120 UCAS points, with typical offers including BBB at A level or DMM in BTEC Nationals.
• International: 120 tariff points, with requirements including English language proficiency.

Fees and Funding

• Tuition Fees for 2026 Entry: UK students ｣9,790, International students ｣19,300.
• Funding: Kent offers generous financial support schemes, including scholarships.

Your Future

Graduates of the Modern Languages BA program are equipped with skills such as communication, mediation, analysis, and leadership, making them highly employable in various fields, including international banking, diplomacy, publishing, journalism, interpreting, and translating. The ability to speak more than one language is a key asset in the global employment market.

Course structure

Duration:

3 years full-time

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.

LANG0001 - Modern Languages Year Abroad Module

---

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

---

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

Provide a sound grounding in the target language(s) in all its aspects, through extensive reading in the target language(s) and through the use of the target language(s) as a spoken and written medium, including translation.

Prime students for the job market through training in intercultural communication, language mediation, cultural production, teaching, translation in the target language(s) and in the culture(s) of the target language(s)

Offer an integrated and multi-disciplinary curriculum related to the study of contemporary Europe and Latin America in the areas of language, culture, cultural production (e.g. literature, cinema, media, etc.), social and political history.

Develop a critical awareness of the cultures and societies of the countries/regions in which the target languages(s) are used from the 17

th

century to the 21

st

century.

Provide teaching which is informed by current research and scholarship and which requires students to engage with aspects of work at the frontiers of knowledge.

Contribute to widening participation in higher education by offering a wide variety of entry routes.

Meet the educational needs of a diversity of students.

Provide opportunities for the development of personal, communication, research, intercultural awareness, and other key skills appropriate for graduate employment both in industry and in the public sector.

Develop general critical, analytical, and problem-solving skills that can be applied in a wide range of situations.

Provide students with the opportunity to improve their language communication skills in educational, professional, and social contexts.

Enable students to acquire or increase first-hand knowledge of the cultures of the target languages.

Produce graduates of value to the region, nationally and internationally, in possession of key knowledge and skills.

Prepare students for employment or further study

Provide learning opportunities that are enjoyable experiences, involve realistic workloads, are based within a research-led framework, and offer appropriate support for students from a diverse range of backgrounds.

Provide high quality teaching in supportive environments with appropriately qualified and trained staff.

For students on BA (Hons) in Modern Languages with a Year Abroad the course additionally aims to: Provide students with the opportunity to spend half an academic year for each chosen language in the countries or regions in which the target languages are used. They may attend one of the partner universities, work as a language assistant in a school through the British Council, or arrange suitable employment (which must be verified by the University of Kent).

---

Learning outcomes

---

Knowledge and understanding

The target language(s)

Cultural products (e.g. literature, film, media) of the countries in which target language(s) are used

Histories, societies, and politics of the countries in which target language(s) are used

Critical theories of the countries in which target language(s) are used

Cultural theories of the countries in which target language(s) are used

---

Intellectual skills

Apply the skills needed for academic study and enquiry

Evaluate information critically

Synthesise information from a number of sources in order to gain a coherent understanding of the subject

Utilise communication skills (e.g. reading, writing, listening and speaking) for the coherent expression and transfer of knowledge

Analyse, evaluate and interpret a variety of texts and other cultural products in a critical manner

---

Subject-specific skills

Communicate effectively in the target language(s) for a range of purposes and audiences, deploying effectively the appropriate structures and registers of the target language(s)

Develop language skills in reception (e.g. listening and reading); production (e.g. speaking and writing); mediation between two languages (e.g. translation and intercultural communication)

Analyse critically a variety of texts be they journalistic, historical, visual or literary

Gain intercultural awareness and competence, and an appreciation of cultural diversity

Ability to mediate and to display qualities of empathy in an intercultural context

Acquire intercultural awareness through everyday experience of and interaction with target language(s)-speaking communities.

---

Transferable skills

Communicate effectively with a wide range of individuals using a variety of means

Problem-solving: identifying problems; assessing the strengths and weaknesses of different solutions; defending the preferred solutions with cogent arguments

Improving individual learning: identifying individual strengths and weaknesses; assessing the quality of one’s own work; managing one’s time and meeting deadlines; learning to work independently

Working with others: participating in seminar discussions, responding to the views of others and to criticisms of one’s own views without giving or taking offence; engaging in independent group work, including the preparation of group presentations

Using information technology, for example: word-processing essays; using on-line information sources; using e-mail and social networks for work; curating a blog; searching databases; recording video presentations.

---

Careers

The ability to speak a language other than English is a key asset in the global employment market, and many employers view a graduate with an additional language as more employable.

Through your studies, you also acquire many of the transferable skills considered essential by graduate employers. These include the ability to work independently and as part of a team, the confidence to offer creative solutions when faced with challenges, and the ability to express your ideas with clarity and passion.

Our graduates go into areas such as: international banking, diplomacy, publishing, journalism, interpreting and translating, European media, and language teaching. Some also go on to postgraduate study in fields as varied as international journalism, visual studies and translation.

---

Help finding a job

The University also has a friendly Careers and Employability Service which can give you advice on how to:

apply for jobs

write a good CV

perform well in interviews.

---

Work experience

We offer a number of modules with direct relevance to the world of work, including options that focus on teaching and on writing in the media.

---

Career-enhancing skills

Alongside specialist skills, you also develop the transferable skills graduate employers look for, including the ability to:

think critically

communicate your ideas and opinions

work independently and as part of a team.

You can gain extra skills by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as volunteering.

University of Kent

---

Overview:

The University of Kent is a public research university located in Canterbury, Kent, England. It is known for its commitment to ambition and providing a supportive environment for students to thrive.

---

Services Offered:

Guaranteed Campus Accommodation:

First-year students are guaranteed a place in campus accommodation upon accepting their offer.

Free Gym and Fitness Membership:

First-year students receive a free sport and fitness membership.

Campus Tours:

Prospective students can book tours to explore the campuses and learn more about accommodation options.

Clearing Support:

The university provides comprehensive support for students applying through Clearing, including a dedicated website with information and resources.

---

Student Life and Campus Experience:

The university emphasizes a vibrant student life with opportunities for community building, fitness, and social activities. Students can expect a welcoming and supportive environment.

---

Key Reasons to Study There:

Guaranteed Campus Accommodation:

Ensures a comfortable and convenient living experience.

Free Gym and Fitness Membership:

Promotes a healthy lifestyle and fosters a sense of community.

Comprehensive Clearing Support:

Provides reassurance and guidance for students applying through Clearing.

Vibrant Student Life:

Offers a range of opportunities for social interaction, personal development, and community engagement.

---

Academic Programs:

The context does not provide specific details about academic programs.

---

Other: