| UCAS code | NN16 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 years |
| Entry year | 2025 |
| 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 | 2025 |
| 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 2024
Top 10 for Business and Management
9th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 and The Complete University Guide 2025
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 2024
Top 10 for Business and Management
9th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 and The Complete University Guide 2025
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. |
| 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. We strongly recommend that students who want to start a language degree with no previous linguistic experience should contact us. |
| 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 take BEM1027, BEM1023 and SML1005
b select 30 credits of compulsory modules in your chosen language.
c select 15 credits of optional modules consisting of content related to your chosen language
d 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 a | 15 |
| BEM1023 | Discovering Management a | 30 |
| SML1005 | Language, Communication, and Power a | 15 |
| MLF1001 | French Language b | 30 |
| MLF1052 | French Language for Beginners b | 30 |
| MLG1001 | German Language b | 30 |
| MLG1052 | German Language for Beginners b | 30 |
| MLM1052 | Beginners Chinese b | 30 |
| MLS1001 | Spanish Language b | 30 |
| MLS1056 | Spanish Language for Beginners b | 30 |
Optional modules
Business School Optional Modules: BEA, BEE, BEM
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| UEBS S1 BA International Business and Modern Languages Opt 24-25 [See note c above] | ||
| BEA1013 | Introduction to Accounting | 15 |
| BEE1021 | Personal Finance Management | 15 |
| BEM1018 | Business and Society | 15 |
| BEM1019 | Fundamentals of Marketing | 15 |
| BEM1021 | Leadership and Teams | 15 |
| BEM1020 | Innovation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution | 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 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 |
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.
e take BEM2048, BEM2047 and SML2246
f select 30 credits of compulsory modules in your chosen language.
g select 15 credits of optional modules consisting of content related to your chosen language
h select 15 credits of optional Business modules (http://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/programmes/undergraduate/modules/)
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BEM2048 | International Business e | 15 |
| BEM2047 | Organisational Behaviour e | 30 |
| SML2246 | Intercultural Communication e | 15 |
| MLF2001 | French Language, Written and Oral f | 30 |
| MLF2152 | Intermediate French f | 30 |
| MLG2001 | German Language, Written and Oral f | 30 |
| MLG2052 | Intermediate German f | 30 |
| MLM2052 | Intermediate Chinese (One) f | 30 |
| MLS2001 | Spanish Language, Written and Oral f | 30 |
| MLS2156 | Spanish Language (ex-beginners) f | 30 |
Optional modules
Business School Optional Modules: BEA, BEE, BEM
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| UEBS S2 BA International Business and Modern Languages Opt 24-25 [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 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 |
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.
No information has been returned for this stage. Please check back again later.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).
j take BEM3065and SML3009.
k select 30 credits of compulsory modules in your chosen language.
l select 15 credits of optional modules consisting of content related to your chosen language; or you may select a module from the Modern Languages optional content modules (please note if you select FLX module you must choose select one related to your chosen language).
m select 45 credits of optional Business modules (http://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/programmes/undergraduate/modules/)
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BEM3065 | Strategy i | 15 |
| SML3009 | Intercultural Communication in a Global World i | 15 |
| FLF3430 | French Advanced One k | 30 |
| MLG3111 | Advanced German Language Skills k | 30 |
| FLG3430 | German Advanced One k | 30 |
| MLM3111 | Advanced Chinese Language Skills k | 30 |
| MLS3111 | Advanced Spanish Language Skills k | 30 |
| FLS3430 | Spanish Advanced One k | 30 |
Optional modules
Business School Optional Modules: BEA, BEE, BEM
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| UEBS S3 BA International Business and Modern Languages Opt 24-25 [see note k above] | ||
| BEM3030 | International Business History | 15 |
| BEM3033 | Strategic Management | 30 |
| BEM3038 | Co-operative Enterprise | 15 |
| BEM3039 | Design Management and Marketing | 15 |
| BEM3046 | Managing Human Resources: Advanced Issues | 15 |
| BEM3047 | Contemporary Leadership Issues | 15 |
| BEM3048 | Leading Change in Practice | 15 |
| BEM3052 | Managing Change and Crisis in Organisations | 15 |
| BEM3055 | Ethics and Responsible Innovation | 15 |
| BEM3056 | Business and Climate Change | 15 |
| BEM3059 | Circular Economy Business and Enterprise | 15 |
| BEM3060 | Managing Entrepreneurially | 15 |
| BEM3061 | Business Ignition - Idea to Implementation | 15 |
| MLX Final Stage Chinese Option Modules 2023-4 [see note l above] | ||
| 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 [see note l above] | ||
| 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 [see note l above] | ||
| 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 Spanish Option Modules 2023-4 [see note l above] | ||
| 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 |
Course variants
International Placement (work or study)
Study/Work Abroad in Year 3
A pivotal part of all Modern Language programmes is the International Placement, either studying at one of our prestigious partner universities, teaching on a British Council placement, or working in other employment. By immersing yourself in the culture you study, you will not only enhance your language skills, but cultivate:
- strong intercultural understanding
- improved communication skills
- the ability to think and study in different ways
- resilience and confidence
- analytical skills and the ability to make cross-cultural comparisons
- adaptability, independence and valuable life experience
During your International Placement, you will still be registered as an Exeter student and therefore supported in several ways. You will retain your personal tutor and be expected to keep in contact with them. You will also have the support of the Exeter Global Opportunities team for advice on any matter.
Our four-year “with International Placement” degree, offers you the possibility of spending your third year abroad, either working or studying abroad.
You will need to confirm how you intend to spend your International Placement during the first semester of the second year. We will help you in the process. During your first year you will be invited to an introductory presentation about your International Placement options. In your second year, there is an extensive orientation programme to help you prepare for your International Placement.
Ways to spend the International Placement (work or study)
- You must spend 6-15 months abroad, maximising the opportunities available to you
- You can work, study, or split the year on two or more placements
- Students going to China or Russia can currently only study (work abroad is not available)
- If you study Portuguese, the only options available are study or work abroad (not a British Council assistantship)
Study Abroad
Studying abroad offers a range of possibilities, with over 40 different partner universities worldwide available to Modern Languages students. This can provide you with the opportunity to experience a different academic environment with local and other international students, broadening your knowledge of the language and culture you study.
Please note that Study Abroad placements at partner universities are subject to availability and are not guaranteed. The allocation of these places is competitive and based on first-year marks.
Work Abroad
Internships are very rewarding in that they can offer you valuable workplace experience. Placements can be sourced via our Employability and Placements webpages, but you can also source your own internship externally, though it must be approved by the Employability and Placements team.
Some of our students have spent their international placement working in translation, tourism, marketing, fashion, commerce, journalism, heritage and many other sectors.
British Council English Language Assistantship
Becoming an English Language Assistant with the British Council is a brilliant opportunity to explore both the world of working and, more specifically, the idea of working as a teacher. An academic year is spent supporting teachers in a primary or secondary school in the country of the language you are studying.
Please note that these assistantships are organised by the British Council and placements are subject to their criteria and availability.
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.
Does it count towards my degree?
Yes - the International Placement is an assessed year and the marks obtained count towards your final degree classification. If you begin a language in your first year at Exeter and intend to take that language in your final year, you must do your International Placement in that language. If you are a beginner and decide not to do an International Placement, you will be moved to the three-year International Business and Global Cultural Studies BA programme.
How does it affect my tuition fee and funding?
For your International Placement you will pay a significantly reduced tuition fee to Exeter – for more information visit our fees pages. You will also continue to receive any Student Finance support for which you are eligible. Other financial support may also be available for certain students.
How do I apply?
You may apply directly to the four-year International Business and Modern Languages BA with International Placement programme via UCAS – these students will be given priority of available study abroad placements. Alternatively, you may apply to the three-year International Business and Modern Languages BA and are able to request to apply to change onto the four-year programme once you are at Exeter, subject to meeting eligibility criteria.
Please note that study abroad placements at partner universities are subject to availability and are not guaranteed on either option. The allocation of study abroad places is competitive based on your first-year average grade along with your successful completion of Years 1 and 2.
What happens if I am unable to secure a study placement?
Once at Exeter, if students cannot go or are unwilling to go on their International Placement year, they can apply to move to either the three-year International Business and Modern Languages BA or the three-year International Business and Global Cultural Studies BA programme, dependent on their language level by the final year. This would need to be approved by the department.
Fees
Tuition fees for 2025 entry
UK students: £9,535 per year
International students: £24,700 per year
Scholarships
The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students applying to study with us in the 2025/26 academic year, such as our Exeter Excellence Scholarships*.
Financial support is also 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 apply. See online 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 one of the subjects below, you may have the words 'with proficiency in [e.g. Social Data Science]' added to your degree title when you graduate.
- A Foreign Language
- Data Science
- Entrepreneurship
- Innovation
- Law (Penryn Campus only)
- Leadership
- Management
- Social Data Science
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.
