Modern Languages - course information
We offer a range of 4-year degrees that enable students to study one language, two languages, or to combine a language with another subject. All students complete a Residence Abroad year, studying or working in Europe or overseas.
Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish.
Art History, Business and Management, English Literature, Film Studies, History, International Disaster Management and Humanitarian Response, Linguistics, Politics, or Sociology can be combined with a language.
Some subjects can be paired with any language, but some subjects are only available with selected languages. For example, Art History can be combined with French or Italian, whereas Film Studies can be combined with French or Spanish.
We have a team of staff and lots of resources to help students plan and prepare for Residence Abroad, which is in Year 3.
For many students, studying or working in a different country is the stand-out experience of their time at university. For inspiration, advice, and information about funding and costs, please see Residence Abroad.
Coming to university is often the first time that many students have had the opportunity to choose from a range of European and world languages. Many of our students start learning a language as a beginner.
Students studying two languages through the BA (Hons) Modern Languages degree can study one language as a beginner, and one language must be taken at intermediate or advanced level. They can also take both languages at intermediate or advanced level.
Please see the online prospectus for entry requirements for studying two languages.
Students join one of the language learning pathways:
- The beginner pathway is for students, who do not have any foundation in the language. Some students are complete beginners, some may have started learning a language but it was some time ago. For example, a UK student who studied a language in Years 7 and 8 at secondary school.
- The intermediate pathway is for students, who have a good foundation in the language, and have the equivalent of an A-level in their chosen language.
- The advanced pathway is for students, who are already fluent and proficient in their chosen language.
Arabic has a beginner pathway only. French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish have beginner and intermediate pathways. Chinese and Russian have beginner, intermediate, and advanced pathways.
Students remain on the same pathway for Years 1 and 2, progressing through the language learning course units. For example, the beginner pathway for Japanese starts with Japanese Language 1 and 2. In Year 2, students take Japanese Language 3 and 4.
When students return to Manchester after the Residence Abroad year, they are fluent in their chosen language(s). For all languages, except Chinese, all students take the same language learning course unit in Year 4.
The language learning pathway is an important part of the degree because it provides knowledge and skills that underpin other aspects of the course. In Years 2 and 4, course units use more language source materials (books, films, music, news and social media content). In Year 3 students are living in Europe or overseas. Assessments for language learning course units only happen once (re-sits are not available) and the minimum pass mark for each unit is 40%.
In Year 1, more time is allocated to language learning - 40 credits (beginner pathway) or 20 credits (intermediate or advanced pathway). By Year 4, most languages only have 20 credits of language learning.
Students also take course units that cover the culture, history, politics, and current affairs of countries where their chosen language is spoken.
There are also opportunities to study other subjects. Students on most courses can include 20 credits of ‘free choice’ course units each year chosen from another subject area in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures or the University College of Interdisciplinary Learning. BA (Hons) Modern Languages students that choose one language can include a minor in Digital Humanities (40 credits of study each year).
The subject guides list the course units, by title, for each year of study. For some course units, some key features or points have been flagged. If you have any questions or need more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Our courses are designed to support student choice but there are some parameters.
All students take 120 credits of course units each year. To ensure a balanced timetable, students must take a minimum of 50 credits, and a maximum of 70 credits in each semester. The credit value for full year course units, is divided evenly across each semester.
Some course units are only available in semester 1 or in semester 2.
Some course units are designed as a pair. A pre-requisite is when a course unit needs to be studied before the other. For example, a course unit in Year 1 must be chosen to study a course unit in Year 2. A co-requisite is when two course units are studied at the same time. For example, both course units are studied in the same semester.
For Joint Honours students studying two languages, or a subject and a language, the credit split between subjects in Year 1 is usually 60/60. In Years 2 and 4, some subjects may allow a 60/60 or 80/40 split. Please check individual subject guides for options.
The 40-credit dissertation unit in Year 4 is a guided research project and a significant undertaking. Joint honours students studying two languages or a subject and a language can only complete one dissertation.
Each year, students take 120 credits of course units. For a 20-credit course unit, there are usually 50-60 contact hours which are spent in a combination of seminars and lectures. In addition, there will be 120-140 hours of independent study time at home, in the library, or in the language centre.
In Year 4, the dissertation course unit enables students to undertake a guided research project, that addresses a research question they have developed in consultation with their supervisor. The contact hours for this unit are low – 24 hours (20-credit) or less than 10 hours (40-credit). The independent study commitment is high - up to 180 hours (20-credit) or up to 391 hours (40-credit).
At Manchester, we have 82, 4-year single and joint honours language degrees. When these are listed as individual course entries, that's a lot of web pages!
For 2027 entry, there are ten modern languages courses to group information together. For example, BA Politics and Modern Languages shows how to study politics with any of the nine languages available at Manchester.
Applicants for 2027 entry will be asked to confirm which language they want to study from the options available, and the language will be added to their degree title, for example BA Politics and Modern Languages (French).
This degree title change only comes into effect for 2027 entry. Students applying for 2026 entry will apply for courses that do not have modern languages in the title, for example BA Politics and French. Please see the 2026 entry course finder for the course list.
Please contact us at ug-languages@manchester.ac.uk or +44 (0)161 509 2871.
We also hold open days on campus in the summer and autumn, and virtual open days.
The subject guides list the course units, by title, for each year of study. The course information was checked against the information for current students in the 25/26 academic year.
The University of Manchester makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the courses as they have been described but sometimes changes are made. Our disclaimer statement outlines why courses can change, and what we do to update students.