UCAS code | Q205 |
---|---|
Duration | 4 years |
Entry year | 2026 |
Campus | Streatham Campus |
Discipline | Modern Languages and Cultures |
Contact |
Typical offer | A-Level: ABB |
---|---|
A-Level: BBC |
UCAS code | Q204 |
---|---|
Duration | 3 years |
Entry year | 2026 |
Campus | Streatham Campus |
Discipline | Modern Languages and Cultures |
Contact |
Typical offer | A-Level: ABB |
---|---|
A-Level: BBC |
Overview
- Gain a breadth of knowledge in literature, film and art from around the world, from the ancient to the contemporary.
- Develop your translation literacy and understanding of the cultural, political, social and economic forces that shape how material travels from one language and context to another.
- Our BA takes a comparative lens on pressing issues such as migration, the environment, and gender and sexuality. We have a decolonial focus, both in terms of theory and our commitment to consider literature beyond the Western canon.
- Opportunity to learn Chinese (Mandarin), French, Spanish, German, Italian, Russian or Portuguese from beginners. French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Russian can also be taken from advanced/post-A level.
- Option to spend your third year studying or working abroad in a country where you can develop your chosen language. Students studying beginners languages are required to study the 4-year “with International Placement” course.
- Gain a high level of proficiency in reading, writing, understanding and speaking your selected language, providing you with valued language skills of potential use for future careers.
Top 150 in world subject rankings for Modern Languages and Cultures
QS World University Subject Rankings 2025
Internationally recognised fine art, heritage and film collections on site, including the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum
Top 20 in UK subject rankings for Modern Languages
The Complete University Guide 2026
Choose our 4 year course to spend a year abroad, studying at a partner university or in employment
Top 150 in world subject rankings for Modern Languages and Cultures
QS World University Subject Rankings 2025
Internationally recognised fine art, heritage and film collections on site, including the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum
Top 20 in UK subject rankings for Modern Languages
The Complete University Guide 2026
Choose our 4 year course to spend a year abroad, studying at a partner university or in employment
Course duration
Did you know that there are both 3-year and 4-year degree programmes in Modern Languages at Exeter?
There are significant benefits of choosing the 4-year with International Placement programme, particularly in enhancing your language proficiency.
Both the 4-year and 3-year programmes offer a comprehensive and in-depth study of modern languages and cultures. However, the 4-year degree includes a valuable international placement year, giving you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the language and culture of your chosen country while either studying or working.
We know that graduates who have studied the 4-year course with a year abroad have benefitted from a range of key skills that have been vital in shaping their early careers:
- Enhanced language proficiency – Evidence shows that speaking your chosen language in the country where it is the main language helps improve proficiency significantly.
- Cultural immersion – Spending time on an international placement will give you a deeper understanding of the nation’s cultures and broaden your appreciation of individuals from different backgrounds.
- Personal and professional development – You will have the opportunity to independently build intercultural communication skills and experience a range of professional sectors. These are key skills highly valued by today’s employers.
- Competitive edge – Our graduates have gone on to work for organisations across the globe, and they tell us that gaining skills and experiences while on the international placement is the most important factor when applying for jobs after graduating.
Please also note that, if you are starting a language from beginner level, you must take the 4-year programme to ensure you develop the necessary language skills. If you are studying languages post-A level, it is possible to choose the 3-year programme. You can apply to both the 3- and 4-year courses via UCAS.
Entry requirements (typical offer)
Qualification | Typical offer | Required subjects |
---|---|---|
A-Level | ABB | Dependent on language level chosen (see below) |
IB | 32/655 | Dependent on language level chosen (see below) |
BTEC | DDM | Dependent on language level chosen (see below) |
GCSE | C or 4 | English Language |
Access to HE | 24 L3 Credits at Distinction Grade and 21 L3 credits at Merit Grade | Dependent on language level chosen (see below) the required L3 credits in Modern Foreign Language subject area |
T-Level | N/A | T-Levels not accepted |
Contextual Offer | A-Level: BBC |
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 B2. 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
Choosing a language
You may choose one language to study alongside Latin. Find out more about the languages we offer below.
Check subject requirements for different language levels
It may be possible to study further languages to a lower level of proficiency than degree level in the Language Centre, subject to demand: this is arranged on registration at Exeter.
Completing your UCAS form
When completing your UCAS form you must indicate the language you want to study with us under ‘further details’ in the ‘choices’ section of the application form, using the below abbreviations.
French | Fren |
Chinese (Mandarin) | Chin |
German | Germ |
Italian | Ital |
Portuguese | Port |
Russian | Russ |
Spanish | Span |
For further information on completing your UCAS form, please visit the UCAS website.
Course content
Each year, you will study 30 credits of a compulsory language module, 30 credits of optional modules developing your knowledge and understanding of the country/countries where your chosen language is spoken, and 60 credits of Comparative Literatures and Cultures modules.
The Modern Languages side of the programme offers the choice of one of seven major languages (Chinese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish), taught by experienced language specialists including native speakers and academic staff at the cutting edge of research in their particular discipline.
Progression through the programme will combine the acquisition of language with the study of the literature, culture, film, history and/or linguistics of the language disciplines as well as advanced translation practice. You will develop a high level of proficiency in reading, writing, understanding and speaking your selected language.
Comparative Literatures and Cultures at Exeter is unique for its breadth, introducing you to literature, film and art from around the world, from the ancient to the contemporary. You will be taught by world-leading scholars with expertise in literature and culture from the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia. You will develop the key intercultural understanding and communication skills necessary to be a global citizen.
This programme will prepare you for a range of careers around the world. It includes a compulsory element of either an employability module (e.g. Humanities in the Workplace) or a module preparing you for MA study. You also have the option to spend your third year studying or working abroad in a country where you can develop your chosen language.
Students studying beginners languages must take the 4-year “with International Placement” course.
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.
Stage 1: 60 credits of compulsory modules, 60 credits of optional modules
30 credits of compulsory Comparative Literatures and Cultures modules, 30 credits of compulsory language module.
[Note a] select one compulsory language module for 30 credits.
Compulsory modules
Code | Module | Credits |
---|---|---|
SML1003 | Comparative Literatures and Cultures: Theories and Approaches | 15 |
SML1004 | Reading Comparatively | 15 |
Modern Languages Stage 1 Compulsory Language Modules Please see Note a 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
Please select 30 credits of optional modules related to your chosen language, and 30 credits of Comparative Literatures and Cultures options. Your chosen CLC options should not be related to your chosen language.
Code | Module | Credits |
---|---|---|
Comparative Literature and Cultures Stage 1 Option Modules 2025-6 | ||
CLA1006 | Greek and Roman Drama | 30 |
SML1207 | Introduction to Film | 15 |
MLF1018 | The Devil is in the Detail: An Introduction to the Short Story in French | 15 |
MLM1014 | Chinese Art and the Art of Living | 15 |
MLP1002 | Introduction to the Lusophone World | 15 |
MLS1064 | An Introduction to the Hispanic World: Texts in Context | 15 |
HAS1002 | Introduction to Black British Studies | 15 |
THE1101 | The Bible: Past and Present | 15 |
SML1002 | Constructing Nature: Stories we Live By | 15 |
MLG1014 | A Nation Remembers: Issues in German Cultural Memory | 15 |
MLI1016 | Italy Inside Out: Popular Visual Narratives about Italy | 15 |
MLR1006 | An Emotional Experience: Russian Literature and the Expression of Feeling | 15 |
MLS1164 | A Journey of Discovery: Hispanic Global Culture | 15 |
AHV1005 | Inside the Museum | 15 |
ARA1021 | Introduction to Persian History and Culture | 15 |
EAS1037 | The Novel | 15 |
EAS1041 | Rethinking Shakespeare | 15 |
French Stage 1 Option Modules 2025-6 | ||
MLF1017 | The Making of Modern France | 15 |
MLF1018 | The Devil is in the Detail: An Introduction to the Short Story in French | 15 |
SML1207 | Introduction to Film | 15 |
MLF1103 | The French Language, Present and Past | 15 |
MLF1105 | An Introduction to French Thought | 15 |
MLF1121 | French Visual History | 15 |
SML1208 | Language, Culture, International Relations | 15 |
German Stage 1 Option Modules 2025-6 | ||
MLG1020 | Made in Germany: the History and Culture of a Global Brand | 15 |
SML1207 | Introduction to Film | 15 |
MLG1014 | A Nation Remembers: Issues in German Cultural Memory | 15 |
SML1208 | Language, Culture, International Relations | 15 |
Italian Stage 1 Option Modules 2025-6 | ||
SML1207 | Introduction to Film | 15 |
MLI1016 | Italy Inside Out: Popular Visual Narratives about Italy | 15 |
MLI1121 | A Thousand Faces: Cultures and History in 19th-Century Italy | 15 |
SML1208 | Language, Culture, International Relations | 15 |
Chinese Stage 1 Option Modules 2025-6 | ||
PHL1010 | Introduction to Asian Philosophy | 15 |
MLM1014 | Chinese Art and the Art of Living | 15 |
SML1208 | Language, Culture, International Relations | 15 |
Portuguese Stage 1 Option Modules 2025-6 | ||
MLP1002 | Introduction to the Lusophone World | 15 |
SML1207 | Introduction to Film | 15 |
SML1208 | Language, Culture, International Relations | 15 |
Russian Stage 1 Option Modules 2025-6 | ||
MLR1006 | An Emotional Experience: Russian Literature and the Expression of Feeling | 15 |
SML1207 | Introduction to Film | 15 |
MLR1023 | Russia: Empire and Identity | 15 |
SML1208 | Language, Culture, International Relations | 15 |
Spanish Stage 1 Option Modules 2025-6 | ||
MLS1064 | An Introduction to the Hispanic World: Texts in Context | 15 |
MLS1068 | An Introduction to the Literature and Film of Spain | 15 |
SML1207 | Introduction to Film | 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: 60 credits of compulsory modules, 60 credits of optional modules
Alongside the compulsory SML2001 Migrating Texts, students should choose at least one of HUM2001 or SML2003.
Note b - select one compulsory 30-credit language module
Compulsory modules
Code | Module | Credits |
---|---|---|
SML2001 | Migrating Texts: Classical Reception, Adaptation, Translation | 15 |
HAS2010 | Work Experience: Building Skills and Unlocking Opportunities | 15 |
SML2003 | Research Skills in Languages and Cultures | 15 |
Modern Languages Stage 2 Compulsory Language Modules Please see Note b 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
Optional modules are subject to change each year based on staff availability. Please select 30 credits of optional modules related to your chosen language, and 30 credits of Comparative Literatures and Cultures options. Your chosen CLC options should not be related to your chosen language.
Code | Module | Credits |
---|---|---|
Comparative Literature and Cultures Stage 2 Option Modules 2025-6 | ||
CLA2006 | Greek and Roman Drama | 30 |
SML2004 | Contemporary Latin American Cinema | 15 |
MLF2005 | Classical myth in French and francophone cinema | 15 |
MLG2003 | Youth and Age: Generations in German Fiction and Film | 15 |
MLI2004 | From Page to Screen: The Italian Female Detective in Literature, Film and Television | 15 |
MLR2026 | The Deceptive City: the Creation of St Petersburg in Russian Literature | 15 |
AHV2023 | Global Impressionisms | 15 |
EAS2103 | Modernism and Modernity: Literature 1900-1960 | 30 |
SML2003 | Research Skills in Languages and Cultures | 15 |
SML2247 | Tales of Freedom, Necessity and Providence | 15 |
MLM2008 | Introduction to Modern Chinese Literature | 15 |
MLM2003 | Chinoiserie and Europeenerie: Artistic and cultural exchanges between China and Europe | 15 |
MLR2025 | Imperfect Murder: Reading Crime and Punishment | 15 |
EAS2113 | Culture, Crisis and Ecology in a Postcolonial World | 30 |
CLC Op French Stage 2 2025-6 | ||
MLF2006 | French-language Road Movies: Space, Place and Identity | 15 |
MLF2012 | Evolution of the French Language | 15 |
MLF2029 | Varieties of French | 15 |
MLF2069 | East is East? Cross-Cultural Encounters in Medieval French Literature | 15 |
MLF2070 | Violence and Virtue: Early Modern French Theatre | 15 |
MLF2076 | Subversive Texts: Baudelaire and Rachilde | 15 |
HIH2208A | Medieval Paris | 30 |
HIH2591 | Philip Augustus and the Making of France, 1180-1223 | 30 |
CLC Op German Stage 2 2025-6 | ||
MLG2003 | Youth and Age: Generations in German Fiction and Film | 15 |
MLG2018 | Berlin - Culture, History and Politics | 15 |
MLG2019 | Gender, Race and Migration in 20th and 21st-century German Literature | 15 |
CLC Op Italian Stage 2 2025-6 | ||
AHV2208 | Ideal Cities? Urban Cultures of Renaissance Italy | 15 |
MLI2004 | From Page to Screen: The Italian Female Detective in Literature, Film and Television | 15 |
MLI2019 | Italian(s) in the World | 15 |
CLC Op Chinese Stage 2 2025-6 | ||
MLM2008 | Introduction to Modern Chinese Literature | 15 |
CLC Op Russian Stage 2 2025-6 | ||
MLR2021 | Understanding Russia | 15 |
MLR2023 | A Russian Carnival of the Animals | 15 |
MLR2025 | Imperfect Murder: Reading Crime and Punishment | 15 |
MLR2026 | The Deceptive City: the Creation of St Petersburg in Russian Literature | 15 |
CLC Op Spanish Stage 2 2025-6 | ||
MLS2044 | How to be a Knight: Political Lessons from 14th-Century Spain | 15 |
MLS2045 | Federico Garcia Lorca: Theatre and Poetry | 15 |
MLS2061 | The Latin American Short Story | 15 |
MLS2072 | Place and Identity in Contemporary Venezuelan Culture | 15 |
MLS2073 | Literary Non-Fiction in Argentina: When Writing Meets the Real | 15 |
MLS2158 | "What is Love? And Do I Need It?" An Introduction to Spanish Renaissance Love Poetry | 15 |
HIH2145A | Spain from Absolutism to Democracy | 30 |
If you choose the with International Placement variant of this course, your placement will take place in Year 3.
c You must take one of these modules.
Compulsory modules
Code | Module | Credits |
---|---|---|
SML3010 | Work and Study Abroad [see note c above] | 120 |
SML3020 | Study Abroad at a Partner University (with Assessment in the Foreign Language) [see note c above] | 120 |
SML3025 | Internship Abroad Combined with Study at a Partner University Abroad [see note c above] | 120 |
Stage 3: 30 credits of compulsory Dissertation, 30 credits of compulsory language
Note C - You must select 30 credits in your chosen language modules, 60 credits of optional modules
Compulsory modules
Code | Module | Credits |
---|---|---|
SML3030 | Extended Dissertation | 30 |
Optional modules
Code | Module | Credits |
---|---|---|
Comparative Literature and Cultures Final Stage Option Modules 2025-6 | ||
CLA3265 | Art and Visual Culture in the Roman World | 15 |
EAS3194 | Resource Fictions: Oil, Water and Conflict in the World-System | 30 |
EAS3195 | Acts of Writing: From Decolonisation to Globalisation | 30 |
EAS3421 | Picturing the Global City: Literature and Visual Culture in the 21st Century | 30 |
HAS3006 | The Legend of King Arthur | 30 |
MLG3037 | Coping with Catastrophe: German Culture, Literature and Politics in the Interwar Years | 15 |
MLM3009 | China through the Lens: Cultural Translation and Self-Presentation | 15 |
MLR3026 | The Deceptive City: The Creation of St Petersburg in Russian Literature | 15 |
SML3052 | The Place of Meaning: Gardens in Europe and Asia | 15 |
AHV3007 | Global Modernisms | 15 |
ARA3197 | The Arabian Nights: Perception and Reception | 15 |
CLA3275 | Women Writing Classics | 15 |
MLG3036 | Dictatorships on Display: History Exhibitions in Germany and Austria | 15 |
MLM3008 | Introduction to Modern Chinese Literature | 15 |
MLR3125 | Imperfect Murder: Reading Crime and Punishment | 15 |
SML3040 | Women in Translation: Gender and Publishing in the 21st Century | 15 |
SML3041 | Green Matters in Modern Languages and Cultures | 15 |
SML3044 | Migration in World Cinema | 15 |
CLC Op Final Stage French 2025-26 | ||
MLF3007 | Multilingualism, Audiovisual Translation and Power in Cinema-monde | 15 |
MLF3034 | Sociolinguistics of French | 15 |
MLF3046 | Dialectology in France | 15 |
MLF3075 | First-Person Outsiders in Modern French Literature | 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 |
CLC Op Final Stage German 2025-26 | ||
MLG3036 | Dictatorships on Display: History Exhibitions in Germany and Austria | 15 |
MLG3040 | Sex, Sciences and the Arts | 15 |
CLC Op Final Stage Chinese 2025-26 | ||
MLM3008 | Introduction to Modern Chinese Literature | 15 |
CLC Op Final Stage Italian 2025-26 | ||
MLI3033 | Multicultural Italy | 15 |
MLI3199 | Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend | 15 |
CLC Op Final Stage Portuguese 2025-26 | ||
SML3014 | Socialist Thought and Practice in Latin America and Africa | 15 |
MLP3005 | Changing voices: tracing the development of Portuguese over time | 15 |
CLC Op Final Stage Russian 2025-26 | ||
MLR3121 | Understanding Russia | 15 |
MLR3123 | A Russian Carnival of the Animals | 15 |
MLR3125 | Imperfect Murder: Reading Crime and Punishment | 15 |
MLR3026 | The Deceptive City: The Creation of St Petersburg in Russian Literature | 15 |
CLC Op Final Stage Spanish 2025-26 | ||
MLS3037 | Women and Feminism in 20th Century Spain | 15 |
MLS3057 | Cross Currents: Memory, Myth and Modernity in Latin America | 15 |
MLS3071 | The Chilean Road to Socialism (1970-1973): What Happened and Why? Elements for a Debate | 15 |
MLS3072 | Unlawful Sex: Sexualities on Trial in Medieval Spain | 15 |
SML3014 | Socialist Thought and Practice in Latin America and Africa | 15 |
SML3031 | Advanced Translation Skills | 15 |
Our languages
Combined Honours students can choose from one of the seven languages we offer at Exeter.
All languages are available at beginners level. French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish can be studied at advanced level.
In addition, there is also the possibility to take modules in an extra language through the Language Centre.
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?
The nature of learning at university involves considerable self-guided study and research. You will be taught through a combination of lectures and discussion-based seminars. We also support the development of team-based learning by organising students into study groups, and we make full use of both traditional learning resources and our virtual learning environment. Lecturers and tutors are all available to provide further support in one-to-one consultations.
Written language is taught through weekly classes, with teams of tutors, including native speakers who contribute to a programme aimed at grammar improvement and the development of advanced writing and translating skills. You’ll also have weekly oral practice in classes of eight to 10 students with native speakers of the language(s) that you are studying. You will have access to our Language Lab for private study, and can benefit from the Peer Assisted Learning scheme.
Most of your work will be done in group and self-directed study: reading or viewing module material, writing essays or preparing for your seminars. Active participation in seminars develops important transferable skills such as good verbal and visual communication and effective interaction with other people.
You will also develop a range of professional abilities, such as time management and team working, plus valuable critical, analytical and communication skills.
We are actively engaged in introducing new methods of learning and teaching, including the increasing use of interactive computer-based approaches to learning. Through our virtual learning environment, you can access detailed information about modules, and interact through activities such as discussion forums.
You will also have access to online subscription databases and websites, such as Early English Books Online (EEBO), Eighteenth Century Collections Online (ECCO), MLA FirstSearch and JSTOR
How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed by coursework, which will take a variety of forms, from traditional essays to reflective portfolios, videos and research projects. The range of assessments is designed to develop skills including communication, critical thinking and creativity. Some assessment will involve group work to strengthen your ability to work in a team.
The assessments in the second year, year abroad (if applicable) and final year will contribute to your final degree classification.
Other/extra-curricular opportunities
We provide an exciting range of special lectures and seminars by visiting academics and cultural practitioners. In addition to your academic work, student-run cultural societies (e.g. Literary Society, French Society) organise book and poetry readings, film screenings and social events, providing an opportunity to meet students who share a love of literature, culture and the arts.
Students from the Languages, Cultures and Visual Studies department are active in the University student newspapers, radio and TV station. The department also has strong links with Exeter UNESCO City of Literature, the Phoenix arts centre, the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and other local cultural organisations.
Your future
This programme will equip you with a comprehensive understanding and skillset for a range of careers across a multitude of industries. In particular: intercultural understanding and communication skills, which are at the heart of this programme, are increasingly required by employers in a globalized world.
The course includes a compulsory element of either an employability module (e.g. Humanities in the Workplace; Making a Career in Publishing) or a module preparing students for further study. Digital literacy and translation literacy are embedded throughout the course.
Career paths
Example destinations for our students include:
- Publishing
- Journalism
- Translation
- Teaching and roles in other educational organisations
- Accountancy and financial services
- Public sector roles
Further study
This course is also excellent preparation for postgraduate study in areas such as:
- MA Comparative Literature and Cultures
- MA Translation Studies
- MA Intercultural Communications
- MA Publishing
- MA English Literary Studies
- MA Classics
- MA Creativity