| UCAS code | NN16 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 years |
| Entry year | 2026 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Discipline | Business and Management |
| Contact | Web: Enquire online |
| Typical offer | A-Level: AAB |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: BBB |
| UCAS code | NN15 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 years |
| Entry year | 2026 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Discipline | Business and Management |
| Contact |
| Typical offer | A-Level: AAB |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: BBB |
Overview
- Equip yourself with business acumen, commercial understanding, intercultural skills, and linguistic ability in your chosen language
- Open up your career prospects to the global business community
- Opportunity to learn Chinese (Mandarin), French, Spanish or German from beginners. French, Spanish and German can also be taken from advanced/post-A-Level.
- Tailor the direction of your studies by choosing any of our wide range of business and management modules, which are taught by our triple-accredited Business School.
- Option to spend your 3rd year abroad to give you an immersive language experience.
- Students often get involved in activities outside class such as language societies, tandem partnerships, and liaison work in schools and the community.
Top 150 in world subject rankings for Modern Languages and Cultures
QS World University Subject Rankings 2025
Top 10 for Business and Management
9th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 and The Complete University Guide 2026
Triple accredited Business School
AMBA, AACSB, EQUIS
Option to spend a year abroad studying at a partner university
Top 150 in world subject rankings for Modern Languages and Cultures
QS World University Subject Rankings 2025
Top 10 for Business and Management
9th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 and The Complete University Guide 2026
Triple accredited Business School
AMBA, AACSB, EQUIS
Option to spend a year abroad studying at a partner university
Entry requirements (typical offer)
| Qualification | Typical offer | Required subjects |
|---|---|---|
| A-Level | AAB | Dependent on subjects chosen (see below). |
| IB | 34/665 | Dependent on subjects chosen (see below). |
| BTEC | DDD | Dependent on subjects chosen (see below). |
| GCSE | C or 4 B or 5 |
Grade C or 4 in English Language, and Grade B or 5 in Mathematics Applicants who have achieved GCSE Maths one grade below the specified requirement will be considered. These applicants may be invited to complete the Maths Transition Course and receive a conditional offer on the basis of successful course completion. |
| Access to HE | 30 L3 credits at Distinction Grade and 15 L3 credits at Merit Grade. | Dependent on level chosen the required L3 credits in Modern Foreign Language subject area. |
| T-Level | Distinction | Dependent on subjects chosen (see below). |
| Contextual Offer | A-Level: BBB |
Specific subject requirements must still be achieved where stated above. Find out more about contextual offers. |
| Other accepted qualifications | ||
| English language requirements |
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B1. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country. |
|
NB General Studies is not included in any offer.
Grades advertised on each programme webpage are the typical level at which our offers are made and provide information on any specific subjects an applicant will need to have studied in order to be considered for a place on the programme. However, if we receive a large number of applications for the programme we may not be able to make an offer to all those who are predicted to achieve/have achieved grades which are in line with our typical offer. For more information on how applications are assessed and when decisions are released, please see: After you apply
Language requirements
- No previous language qualifications are required.
- You may only choose one language.
- French, German, and Spanish can be studied either from A-Level or beginner’s level, with both cohorts reaching degree level in the final year.
- Chinese can normally only be studied from beginner’s level, not from A-Level; students of this language reach degree level in final year.
Languages and levels available for Combined Honours courses
|
I want to study a new language at beginner level alongside my other subject |
|
| Modern Languages requirements | No previous language qualifications required. Students who want to start a language degree with no previous linguistic experience are invited to contact us to discuss language teaching and learning expectations and the support we have in place for them. |
| Advanced level languages available | n/a |
| Beginners level languages available | Chinese (Mandarin); French; German; Spanish |
|
I want to study my A level (or equivalent) language at advanced level alongside my other subject |
|
| Modern Languages requirements | A level grade B or IB HL5 or SL6 (or equivalent) in the language chosen at advanced level |
| Advanced level languages available | French; German; Spanish |
| Beginners level languages available | n/a |
Completing your UCAS form
In the section named ‘further details’ on your UCAS application form please indicate in the ‘choices’ field the language and route you wish to study using the abbreviations below, separated by a space:
| French | Fren |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | Chin |
| German | Germ |
| Spanish | Span |
Course content
The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
You may take option modules as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module.
Stage 1: 45 credits of compulsory Business School modules, 45 credits of compulsory modules in Modern Languages, 15 credits of optional Business School modules, 15 credits of optional modules consisting of content related to your chosen language.
a) select 30 credits of compulsory modules in your chosen language
b) select 15 credits of optional Business modules (http://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/programmes/undergraduate/modules/)
Please note that certain modules may only be available to students on Single Honours programmes, or to students who have taken a particular language module. This information will be given in the pre-requisites or co-requisites section of the relevant module descriptor.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BEM1027 | The International Business Context | 15 |
| BEM1023 | Discovering Management | 30 |
| SML1208 | Language, Culture, International Relations | 15 |
| Modern Languages Stage 1 Compulsory Language Modules [See note b above] | ||
| MLF1001 | French Language | 30 |
| MLF1052 | French Language for Beginners | 30 |
| MLG1001 | German Language | 30 |
| MLG1052 | German Language for Beginners | 30 |
| MLI1001 | Italian Language | 30 |
| MLI1052 | Italian Language for Beginners | 30 |
| MLM1052 | Beginners Chinese | 30 |
| MLP1052 | Portuguese Language for Beginners | 30 |
| MLR1001 | Contemporary Russian Written and Oral | 30 |
| MLR1030 | Russian Language for Beginners | 30 |
| MLS1001 | Spanish Language | 30 |
| MLS1056 | Spanish Language for Beginners | 30 |
Optional modules
Business School Optional Modules: BEA, BEE, BEM
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| UEBS S1 BA International Business and Modern Languages Opt 22-23 [See note c above] | ||
| BEA1013 | Introduction to Accounting | 15 |
| BEE1021 | Personal Finance Management | 15 |
| BEM1018 | Business and Society | 15 |
| BEM1019 | Fundamentals of Marketing | 15 |
| BEM1020 | Innovation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution | 15 |
| BEM1021 | Leadership and Teams | 15 |
| BEM1022 | Introduction to Leadership Studies | 15 |
| MLX S1 Chinese Option Modules 2023-4 [See note d above] | ||
| MLM1010 | China of the Senses: Approaching Chinese Culture and Environments | 15 |
| MLM1013 | A Brief History of Modern China (1861-Present) | 15 |
| MLX S1 French Option Modules 2023-4 [See note d above] | ||
| MLF1017 | The Making of Modern France | 15 |
| MLF1103 | The French Language, Present and Past | 15 |
| MLF1105 | An Introduction to French Thought | 15 |
| MLF1121 | French Visual History | 15 |
| MLF1018 | The Devil is in the Detail: An Introduction to the Short Story in French | 15 |
| MLX S1 German Option Modules 2023-4 [See note d above] | ||
| MLG1014 | A Nation Remembers: Issues in German Cultural Memory | 15 |
| MLG1017 | Turning Points in German History 1200 - 2000 | 15 |
| MLG1021 | Outside In: An Introduction to Outcasts and Outsiders in German-language Literature and Film | 15 |
| MLX S1 Italian Option Modules 2023-4 [See note d above] | ||
| MLI1016 | Italy Inside Out: Popular Visual Narratives about Italy | 15 |
| MLI1121 | A Thousand Faces: Cultures and History in 19th-Century Italy | 15 |
| MLX S1 Portuguese Option Modules 2023-4 [See note d above] | ||
| MLP1002 | Introduction to the Lusophone World | 15 |
| MLX S1 Russian Option Modules 2023-4 [See note d above] | ||
| MLR1023 | Russia: Empire and Identity | 15 |
| MLR1006 | An Emotional Experience: Russian Literature and the Expression of Feeling | 15 |
| MLX S1 Spanish Option Modules 2023-4 [See note d above] | ||
| MLS1067 | Ideology in the Hispanic World | 15 |
| SML1067 | Ideology in the Hispanic World | 15 |
| MLS1068 | An Introduction to the Literature and Film of Spain | 15 |
| MLS1064 | An Introduction to the Hispanic World: Texts in Context | 15 |
| MLS1066 | The Making of Modern Latin America: History Through Literature and Culture | 15 |
| MLS1164 | A Journey of Discovery: Hispanic Global Culture | 15 |
| MLX S1 Neutral Option Modules 2023-4 [See note d above] | ||
| SML1207 | Introduction to Film | 15 |
| SML1208 | Language, Culture, International Relations | 15 |
| SML1002 | Constructing Nature: Stories we Live By | 15 |
| SML1018 | The Devil Is in the Detail: An Introduction to the Short Story in French | 15 |
Stage 2: 45 credits of compulsory Business School modules, 45 credits of compulsory modules in Modern Languages, 15 credits of optional Business School modules, 15 credits of optional modules consisting of content related to your chosen language.
c) select 30 credits of compulsory modules in your chosen language
d) Select 15 credits of optional Business modules (http://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/programmes/undergraduate/modules/)
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BEM2048 | International Business | 15 |
| BEM2047 | Organisational Behaviour | 30 |
| SML2246 | Intercultural Communication | 15 |
| Modern Languages Stage 2 Compulsory Language Modules [See note f above] | ||
| MLF2001 | French Language, Written and Oral | 30 |
| MLF2152 | Intermediate French | 30 |
| MLG2001 | German Language, Written and Oral | 30 |
| MLG2052 | Intermediate German | 30 |
| MLI2001 | Italian Language, Written and Oral | 30 |
| MLI2051 | Italian Language | 30 |
| MLM2052 | Intermediate Chinese (One) | 30 |
| MLP2052 | Intermediate Portuguese | 30 |
| MLR2001 | Contemporary Russian Written and Oral I | 30 |
| MLR2030 | Intermediate Russian | 30 |
| MLS2001 | Spanish Language, Written and Oral | 30 |
| MLS2156 | Spanish Language (ex-beginners) | 30 |
Optional modules
Business School Optional Modules: BEA, BEE, BEM
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| UEBS S2 BA International Business and Modern Languages Opt 22-23 [See note g above] | ||
| BEM2016 | Consumer Behaviour | 15 |
| BEM2021 | Human Resource Management | 15 |
| BEM2025 | Marketing Communications: Strategies and Applications | 15 |
| BEM2032 | Startup Entrepreneurship | 15 |
| BEM2033 | Brands and Branding | 15 |
| BEM2034 | Digital Technologies and the Future of Work | 15 |
| BEM2035 | Leading in International Contexts | 15 |
| BEM2036 | Thinking Entrepreneurially | 15 |
| BEM2037 | Leadership: Challenges and Practice | 15 |
| MLX S2 Chinese Option Modules 2023-4 [See note h above] | ||
| MLM2002 | Politics of Contemporary China | 15 |
| MLM2003 | Chinoiserie and Europeenerie: Artistic and cultural exchanges between China and Europe | 15 |
| MLX S2 French Option Modules 2023-4 [See note h above] | ||
| MLF2076 | Subversive Texts: Baudelaire and Rachilde | 15 |
| MLF2005 | Classical myth in French and francophone cinema | 15 |
| MLF2069 | East is East? Cross-Cultural Encounters in Medieval French Literature | 15 |
| SML2209 | Music in Medieval Europe | 15 |
| MLF2070 | Violence and Virtue: Early Modern French Theatre | 15 |
| MLF2074 | Translating Exile: Contemporary Francophone Women Writers | 15 |
| MLF2029 | Varieties of French | 15 |
| MLF2056 | Provoking Thoughts - French Literature and Philosophy from the Renaissance to the 20th Century | 15 |
| MLX S2 German Option Modules 2023-4 [See note h above] | ||
| MLG2003 | Youth and Age: Generations in German Fiction and Film | 15 |
| MLG2019 | Gender, Race and Migration in 20th and 21st-century German Literature | 15 |
| MLG2018 | Berlin - Culture, History and Politics | 15 |
| MLX S2 Italian Option Modules 2023-4 [See note h above] | ||
| AHV2208 | Ideal Cities? Urban Cultures of Renaissance Italy | 15 |
| MLI2019 | Italian(s) in the World | 15 |
| MLI2018 | Love (and Marriage?) in Contemporary Italian Film Comedy | 15 |
| MLX S2 Portuguese Option Modules 2023-4 [See note h above] | ||
| SML2004 | Contemporary Latin American Cinema | 15 |
| SML2002 | Cultural Connections in Southern Africa: Literature and Film | 15 |
| MLP2002 | Portuguese as a Global Language | 15 |
| MLX S2 Russian Option Modules 2023-4 [See note h above] | ||
| MLR2021 | Understanding Russia | 15 |
| MLR2024 | Exploring Revolution: The Making of Soviet Society and Culture in the 1920s | 15 |
| MLX S2 Spanish Option Modules 2023-4 [See note h above] | ||
| MLS2070 | Catalonia Is Not Spain? Modern Catalan Culture in Context | 15 |
| MLS2158 | "What is Love? And Do I Need It?" An Introduction to Spanish Renaissance Love Poetry | 15 |
| MLS2072 | Place and Identity in Contemporary Venezuelan Culture | 15 |
| SML2004 | Contemporary Latin American Cinema | 15 |
| MLS2061 | The Latin American Short Story | 15 |
| MLS2045 | Federico Garcia Lorca: Theatre and Poetry | 15 |
| MLS2073 | Literary Non-Fiction in Argentina: When Writing Meets the Real | 15 |
| MLX S2 Neutral Option Modules 2023-4 [See note h above] | ||
| HUM2005 | Tales of Freedom, Necessity and Providence | 15 |
| SML2246 | Intercultural Communication | 15 |
| SML2244 | Multilingualism in Society | 15 |
| SML2003 | Research Skills in Languages and Cultures | 15 |
This degree offers you the opportunity to spend a year studying or working abroad.
If you choose this option your placement year will take place in your third year, before returning to complete your degree at Exeter in your fourth and final year of study.
You can apply directly to this option, or you can apply to the standard 3 year course and transfer onto one of these options in the first term of your first year.
Stage 4: 15 credits of compulsory Business School modules, 45 credits of compulsory modules Modern Languages, 45 credits of optional Business School modules, 15 credits of optional modules consisting of content related to your chosen language).
f) select 30 credits of compulsory modules in your chosen language.
g) Select 45 credits of optional Business modules (http://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/programmes/undergraduate/modules/)
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BEM3065 | Strategy | 15 |
| SML3009 | Intercultural Communication in a Global World | 15 |
| Modern Languages Final Stage Compulsory Language Modules [See note k above] | ||
| MLM3111 | Advanced Chinese Language Skills | 30 |
| MLF3111 | Advanced French Language Skills | 30 |
| MLG3111 | Advanced German Language Skills | 30 |
| MLI3111 | Advanced Italian Language Skills | 30 |
| MLP3111 | Advanced Portuguese Language Skills | 30 |
| MLR3111 | Advanced Russian Language Skills | 30 |
| MLS3111 | Advanced Spanish Language Skills | 30 |
Optional modules
Business School Optional Modules: BEA, BEE, BEM
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MLX Final Stage Chinese Option Modules 2023-4 | ||
| MLM3009 | China through the Lens: Cultural Translation and Self-Presentation | 15 |
| MLM3008 | Introduction to Modern Chinese Literature | 15 |
| MLM3011 | China and the Third World: Foreign Relations and Nation Building in China in the Cold War Era | 15 |
| HUM3002 | Aliens Abroad: Science Fiction in Global Literature | 15 |
| HUM3015 | The Place of Meaning: Gardens in Britain and China | 15 |
| MLX Final Stage French Option Modules 2023-4 | ||
| MLF3034 | Sociolinguistics of French | 15 |
| MLF3078 | Philosophers, Prophets and Mystics in French Culture | 15 |
| MLF3050 | Music, Poetry and Society at the Late Medieval French Court | 15 |
| MLF3079 | Sex, Subversion and Censorship: Libertine Literature in Seventeenth-Century France | 15 |
| MLF3080 | Les Miserables from the Nineteenth Century to the Present Day | 15 |
| MLF3046 | Dialectology in France | 15 |
| MLF3075 | First-Person Outsiders in Modern French Literature | 15 |
| MLF3081 | Sexual Politics: Gender Dynamics in Early Modern France | 15 |
| EAF3520 | Beyond Sex and the City: Becoming a Woman in Contemporary Western Cinema | 15 |
| MLX Final Stage German Option Modules 2023-4 | ||
| MLG3036 | Dictatorships on Display: History Exhibitions in Germany and Austria | 15 |
| MLG3037 | Coping with Catastrophe: German Culture, Literature and Politics in the Interwar Years | 15 |
| MLG3040 | Sex, Sciences and the Arts | 15 |
| MLX Final Stage Italian Option Modules 2023-4 | ||
| MLI3199 | Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend | 15 |
| AHV3002 | Understanding Space in Renaissance Italy | 15 |
| MLI3033 | Multicultural Italy | 15 |
| HUM3002 | Aliens Abroad: Science Fiction in Global Literature | 15 |
| EAF3520 | Beyond Sex and the City: Becoming a Woman in Contemporary Western Cinema | 15 |
| MLX Final Stage Portuguese Option Modules 2023-4 | ||
| MLP3009 | Afro-Brazil: Transatlantic Identities in Culture | 15 |
| SML3014 | Socialist Thought and Practice in Latin America and Africa | 15 |
| MLX Final Stage Russian Option Modules 2023-4 | ||
| MLR3027 | The Making of Underground Russia, 1825-1917 | 15 |
| MLR3026 | The Deceptive City: The Creation of St Petersburg in Russian Literature | 15 |
| HUM3002 | Aliens Abroad: Science Fiction in Global Literature | 15 |
| MLX Final Stage Spanish Option Modules 2023-4 | ||
| MLS3037 | Women and Feminism in 20th Century Spain | 15 |
| MLS3057 | Cross Currents: Memory, Myth and Modernity in Latin America | 15 |
| MLS3112 | Spanish Modernists: Narratives of Identity, Gender and Nation | 15 |
| MLS3071 | The Chilean Road to Socialism (1970-1973): What Happened and Why? Elements for a Debate | 15 |
| MLS3067 | "Monster of Nature and Phoenix of Wits." An Introduction to the Work of Lope de Vega | 15 |
| SML3031 | Advanced Translation Skills | 15 |
| MLS3066 | Almodovar's Spain: Cinema and Society | 15 |
| SML3014 | Socialist Thought and Practice in Latin America and Africa | 15 |
| HUM3002 | Aliens Abroad: Science Fiction in Global Literature | 15 |
| MLX Final Stage Neutral Option Modules 2023-4 | ||
| SML3013 | Through the Language Lens: the Relationship between Language, Culture and the Mind | 15 |
| SML3015 | Dissertation | 15 |
| SML3043 | Migration and Multilingualism | 15 |
| SML3041 | Green Matters in Modern Languages and Cultures | 15 |
| SML3042 | Transcultural Devon: Creating, Analysing and Subtitling Interviews in the Context of Migration | 15 |
| SML3009 | Intercultural Communication in a Global World | 15 |
| SML3030 | Extended Dissertation | 30 |
Course variants
Overview
The BA International Business and Modern Languages degree offers you the opportunity to spend a year studying abroad.
If you choose this option your placement year will take place in your third year, before returning to complete your degree at Exeter in your fourth and final year of study.
You can apply directly to this option, or you can apply to the standard BA International Business and Modern Languages course and transfer onto this option in the first term of your first year.
BA International Business and Modern Languages with Year Abroad
UCAS code: NN15
Our four-year ‘with Year Abroad’ degree offers you the possibility of spending your third year abroad, studying with one of our many partner universities.
Why study abroad?
Living and studying in a different country is an exciting experience that broadens your academic and cultural horizons, as well as giving you the opportunity to widen your circle of friends. Students who have studied abroad demonstrate initiative, independence, motivation and, depending on where they stay, may also have gained a working knowledge of another language – all key qualities that employers are looking for in today’s competitive employment environment.
Where can I study abroad?
We have partnership arrangements with many prestigious institutions across the globe. Exactly where you can apply to study will depend on the subjects you are studying at Exeter. For a full list please visit the Study Abroad website.
Does it count towards my degree?
Credit for academic work during your year abroad is arranged by agreement between the University of Exeter and the host institution. These marks are then translated back into your degree at Exeter. If you are studying abroad for a semester or full year, your time abroad will count toward your final degree. Please refer to your College Study Abroad co-ordinator for further details.
How does it affect my tuition fee and funding?
For the year that you spend studying abroad you will pay a significantly reduced tuition fee to Exeter, but nothing to your host university – for more information visit our fees pages. You will continue to receive a maintenance loan if you are eligible for this whilst on your Study Abroad year.
Fees
Tuition fees for 2026 entry
UK students: £9,535 per year
International students: £24,900 per year
Scholarships
The University of Exeter offers a wide range of scholarships to support your education, with £7 million available for international students applying to study with us in the 2026/27 academic year, including our prestigious Exeter Excellence Scholarships*. We also provide scholarships for sport, music and other achievements, alongside regional and partner awards such as Chevening, The Beacon Trust and the British Council. Financial support is available for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, lower income households and other under-represented groups to help them access, succeed and progress through higher education.
* Terms and conditions, including deadlines, apply. See our website for details.
Learning and teaching
How will I learn?
You will learn through a mix of:
- Lectures of one or two hours once a week for each module. These give you the information central to the module and help you understand complex ideas.
- Seminars and tutorials every week or every other week for each module. They cover in-depth discussions of topics introduced in lectures.
- Total timetabled study hours (lectures, seminars, tutorials) for your whole degree are on average between 11 and 14 hours per week. In addition you are expected to complete an average of 20-25 hours of independent or group study per week.
How will I be assessed?
Modules are assessed through a mixture of:
- Group work
- Coursework
- Project work
- Examinations
The weighting of these components varies according the module. Coursework is typically between 2,500 and 6,000 words in length, and exams are usually held at the end of the module in January and May/June.
Where will I study?
You will be based at the purpose built University of Exeter Business School located on the Streatham Campus in Exeter, Devon.
Optional modules outside of this course
Each year, if you have optional modules available, you can take up to 30 credits in a subject outside of your course. This can increase your employability and widen your intellectual horizons.
Proficiency in a second subject
If you complete 60 credits of modules in specified subjects, you may have the words 'with proficiency in’ added to your degree title when you graduate.
Your future
The BA International Business and Modern Languages is a unique programme that enables you to tailor your degree to your own strengths and employability aspirations by acquiring core specific knowledge and skills as well as selecting new subjects during your learning journey.
It is a natural fit for students wanting to give themselves an advantage in the global commercial world, and provides you with a potent combination of intercultural skills, business acumen, relevant commercial knowledge, and linguistic ability to really stand out from other graduates without this complementary combination of abilities.
We anticipate that most graduates will move on to business-oriented careers – management, marketing, finance, etc – but that they will pursue these careers across the globe for a much broader range of international companies than usual.
Skills developed during this collaborative degree – including the optional year abroad – include analytical problem solving, written and verbal fluency, managing and analysing information, cultural awareness, research, team working, and critical thinking, all of which are essential to modern global business.
The University of Exeter Business School provides a range of careers and employability support for Undergraduate students. Visit the Business School Career Zone webpage for more information.
