BA History and Modern Languages
| UCAS code | VR10 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 years |
| Entry year | 2026 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Typical offer | A-Level: ABB |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: BBC |
| UCAS code | VR09 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 years |
| Entry year | 2026 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Typical offer | A-Level: ABB |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: BBC |
Why study BA History and Modern Languages at Exeter?
- Study international, economic, cultural and social history and many geographical areas including the Americas, parts of Asia, Britain and Europe
- Develop strong skills in spoken and written language, analytical thought, and a deeper understanding of another culture and people
- 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.
- Exeter is a city bursting with history and heritage that offers museums, art galleries and a wide range of historical architecture. The University Library has extensive historical holdings and collections
- Get involved in activities outside class: language societies, tandem partnerships, liaison work in schools and the community such as our Languages in a Global World Festival – the only public festival dedicated to translation in the UK
We are 6th in the UK for research in History
Based on our GPA in REF 2021
Top 100 in world subject rankings for History
QS World University Subject Rankings 2025
Top 150 in world subject rankings for Modern Languages and Cultures
QS World University Subject Rankings 2025
Choose our 4 year course to spend a year abroad, studying at a partner university or in employment
I decided to apply to Exeter as it offered a unique course combination that I couldn’t find at many other universities. I did Latin at GCSE and was torn between studying History and Ancient History so the option to study both was perfect for me!
I visited both the open day and offer holders’ day and really loved the green campus and felt welcomed by the friendly atmosphere. I would definitely recommend studying at Exeter; my course is so interesting and I especially like the wide range of module options I can choose from, I also take a French language module alongside my degree. All the lecturers in my department are lovely and have a great relationship with the students.
Grace
BA History and Ancient History
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) |
| T-Level | Distinction | Dependent on language level chosen (see below), GCE A-Level in a Modern Foreign Language may also be required. |
| 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 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
Choosing a language
You may choose one language to study alongside History. 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
The History and Modern Languages degree programme is made up of compulsory (core) and optional modules, which are worth 15 or 30 credits each. Full-time undergraduate students need to complete modules worth a total of 120 credits each year.
Students studying beginners languages must take the 4-year “with International Placement” course.
You may notice changes to some of our modules over the coming months. This is because we are making space for the following:
- Minors: Future Skills Pathways - Alongside your main degree you may be eligible (depending on your course) to choose modules from another subject to broaden your skills and interests.
- Skills to Thrive built into every degree - Essential skills for your future, including communication, problem-solving, teamwork and digital confidence.
- Increased innovation and wellbeing - More room for creative learning, real-world projects and a healthier study rhythm.
The modules below 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.
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
45 credits of compulsory History modules, 30 credits of compulsory modules in your chosen language.
Subject to choosing 120 credits for the stage overall, you must:
From Modern Languages Compulsory - select 30 credits of compulsory modules in your chosen language.
b - select HIH1421 Understanding Medieval and Early Modern History OR HIH1422 Understanding Modern History.
Optional Modules
From History Optional 1 - select 15 credits of Sources and Skills History modules.
From Language Modules - select 30 credits of optional modules consisting of content related to your chosen language; on the Modern Languages side of your programme, you may select a maximum of 15 credits with the prefix SML.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory 1 | ||
| Becoming a Historian: Core | 15 | |
| Compulsory Choice | ||
| Understanding Medieval and Early Modern History | 30 | |
| Understanding Modern History | 30 | |
| Compulsory Choice Language Modules 1 | ||
| French Language | 30 | |
| French Language for Beginners | 30 | |
| German Language | 30 | |
| German Language for Beginners | 30 | |
| Italian Language | 30 | |
| Italian Language for Beginners | 30 | |
| Beginners Chinese | 30 | |
| Portuguese Language for Beginners | 30 | |
| Contemporary Russian Written and Oral | 30 | |
| Russian Language for Beginners | 30 | |
| Spanish Language | 30 | |
| Spanish Language for Beginners | 30 | |
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Optional 1 | ||
| Climate Emergency! An Introduction to Environmental Arts and Humanities | 15 | |
| Sources and Skills: Modern | 15 | |
| Sources and Skills: Early Modern | 15 | |
| Sources and Skills: Medieval | 15 | |
| French Optional Modules | ||
| The Making of Modern France | 15 | |
| The Devil is in the Detail: An Introduction to the Short Story in French | 15 | |
| The French Language, Present and Past | 15 | |
| An Introduction to French Thought | 15 | |
| German Optional Modules | ||
| A Nation Remembers: Issues in German Cultural Memory | 15 | |
| Turning Points in German History 1200 - 2000 | 15 | |
| Chinese Optional Modules | ||
| Chinese Art and the Art of Living | 15 | |
| Introduction to Asian Philosophy | 15 | |
| Italian Optional Modules | ||
| Italy Inside Out: Popular Visual Narratives about Italy | 15 | |
| A Thousand Faces: Cultures and History in 19th-Century Italy | 15 | |
| Neutral Optional Modules | ||
| Comparative Literatures and Cultures: Theories and Approaches | 15 | |
| Reading Comparatively | 15 | |
| Language, Communication and Power | 15 | |
| Introduction to Film | 15 | |
| Language, Culture, International Relations | 15 | |
| Spanish beginner Optional Modules | ||
| An Introduction to the Hispanic World: Texts in Context | 15 | |
| Spanish post A-Level Optional Modules | ||
| The Making of Modern Latin America: History Through Literature and Culture | 15 | |
| An Introduction to the Literature and Film of Spain | 15 | |
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
30 credits of compulsory modules in your chosen language, 60 credits of History option modules, and 30 credits of Modern Languages option modules.
Optional Modules
Select 60 credits from the lists of optional History modules in Pathway A, B, C or D; you must take HIH2237 Doing History in the Digital Age if you intend to select HIH3005 History Dissertation in the final stage.
History Route A - 2 History option modules. Global Studies Dissertation in final stage
History Route B - HIH2002 Uses of the Past + 1 other History option. Final year will be option modules including possibility of Modern Languages Dissertation
History Route C - HIH2237 Doing History in the Digital Age + 1 other History option. History Dissertation in final stage
History Route D - HIH2237 Doing History in the Digital Age + HIH2002 Uses of the Past. History Dissertation in final stage
From Languages - select 30 credits of optional modules consisting of content related to your chosen language; on the Modern Languages side of your programme, you may select a maximum of 15 credits of SML-coded modules.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Choice Language Modules 1 | ||
| French Language, Written and Oral | 30 | |
| Intermediate French | 30 | |
| German Language, Written and Oral | 30 | |
| Intermediate German | 30 | |
| Italian Language, Written and Oral | 30 | |
| Italian Language | 30 | |
| Intermediate Chinese (One) | 30 | |
| Intermediate Portuguese | 30 | |
| Contemporary Russian Written and Oral I | 30 | |
| Intermediate Russian | 30 | |
| Spanish Language, Written and Oral | 30 | |
| Spanish Language (ex-beginners) | 30 | |
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| History (Combined Honours) Optional Route A | ||
| Adventures in Environmental Arts and Humanities | 30 | |
| Forgetting Fascism, Remembering Communism: Memory in Modern Europe | 30 | |
| Deviants and Dissenters in Early Modern England | 30 | |
| Rebellion! Uprisings in England and France, 1173-1569 | 30 | |
| From Gallows to ASBOs: Crime, Punishment, and Society in Britain and Ireland | 30 | |
| Strategy and Success in the Second World War | 30 | |
| Vikings and Other Invaders: Europe under Siege in in the Tenth Century | 30 | |
| Beyond Bridgerton: A Peoples' History of Britain, 1688-1834 | 30 | |
| Atlantic History, 1500-1850: Communities, Identity and Empire | 30 | |
| Creating an American Empire: From Westward Expansion to Colonial Empire | 30 | |
| Hunger Games: Poverty, Famine, and Environment | 30 | |
| Russia’s Empires: Societies, Peoples and Cultures | 30 | |
| Beyond the Tudors: Europe’s Worldview Transformed c.1500-1600 | 30 | |
| History (Combined Honours) Optional Route B | ||
| Adventures in Environmental Arts and Humanities | 30 | |
| Uses of the Past | 30 | |
| Forgetting Fascism, Remembering Communism: Memory in Modern Europe | 30 | |
| From Gallows to ASBOs: Crime, Punishment, and Society in Britain and Ireland | 30 | |
| Vikings and Other Invaders: Europe under Siege in in the Tenth Century | 30 | |
| Beyond Bridgerton: A Peoples' History of Britain, 1688-1834 | 30 | |
| Hunger Games: Poverty, Famine, and Environment | 30 | |
| Beyond the Tudors: Europe’s Worldview Transformed c.1500-1600 | 30 | |
| History (Combined Honours) Optional Route C | ||
| Deviants and Dissenters in Early Modern England | 30 | |
| Doing History in the Digital Age | 30 | |
| Rebellion! Uprisings in England and France, 1173-1569 | 30 | |
| Strategy and Success in the Second World War | 30 | |
| Atlantic History, 1500-1850: Communities, Identity and Empire | 30 | |
| Creating an American Empire: From Westward Expansion to Colonial Empire | 30 | |
| Russia’s Empires: Societies, Peoples and Cultures | 30 | |
| History (Combined Honours) Optional Route D | ||
| Uses of the Past | 30 | |
| Doing History in the Digital Age | 30 | |
| Chinese Optional Modules | ||
| Chinoiserie and Européenerie: Artistic and cultural exchanges between China and Europe | 15 | |
| Digital China: Popular Culture, Technology, and Society | 15 | |
| French Optional Modules | ||
| Revolutions! Art and Society in France, 1770-1830 | 15 | |
| Evolution of the French Language | 15 | |
| Intimate Spaces of the French Enlightenment | 15 | |
| Violence and Virtue: Early Modern French Theatre | 15 | |
| Subversive Texts: Baudelaire and Rachilde | 15 | |
| German Optional Modules | ||
| Berlin - Culture, History and Politics | 15 | |
| Gender, Race and Migration in 20th and 21st-century German Literature | 15 | |
| Neutral Optional Modules | ||
| Migrating Texts: Classical Reception, Adaptation, Translation | 15 | |
| Research Skills in Languages and Cultures | 15 | |
| Contemporary Latin American Cinema | 15 | |
| Multilingualism in Society | 15 | |
| Intercultural Communication | 15 | |
| Tales of Freedom, Necessity and Providence | 15 | |
| From Page to Screen: Female Detectives in Literature, Film, and Television | 15 | |
| Russian Optional Modules | ||
| Exploring Revolution: The Making of Soviet Society and Culture in the 1920s | 15 | |
| Apocalypse/Utopia: the Russian Roots of Revolution | 15 | |
| Other Shores: Exile and Emigration in Russian Literature | 15 | |
| Spanish Optional Modules | ||
| Federico Garcia Lorca: Theatre and Poetry | 15 | |
| The Latin American Short Story | 15 | |
| Catalonia Is Not Spain? Modern Catalan Culture in Context | 15 | |
| "What is Love? And Do I Need It?" An Introduction to Spanish Renaissance Love Poetry | 15 | |
| Fiction in Post-War Spain: Voices of Conformity and Subversion | 15 | |
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
If you choose the with International Placement variant of this course, your placement will take place in Year 3.
120 credit placement compulsory module.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Choice 1 | ||
| Work and Study Abroad | 120 | |
| Study Abroad at a Partner University (with Assessment in the Foreign Language) | 120 | |
| Internship Abroad Combined with Study at a Partner University Abroad | 120 | |
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
30 credits of compulsory modules in your chosen language, 90 credits of optional modules (including 60 credits of History modules, and 30 credits of optional modules consisting of content related to your chosen language).
Optional Modules
Route A or B taken in Stage 2 - Select 30 Credits of Modern Languages Options. Select a Special Subject for 60 credits.
Route C or D taken in stage 2 - You are encouraged to select Dissertation module HIH3005.
Select 30 credits from the Concepts modules, or 30 credits outside of History. Select 60 credits of Modern Languages Options.
If choosing option modules outside of your named subjects, you must make sure that your total for both History and Modern Languages is 90 credits each over the second and final year. This is to insure you meet the requirements needed for the degree title.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Choice Language Modules 1 | ||
| Advanced French Language Skills | 30 | |
| Advanced German Language Skills | 30 | |
| Advanced Italian Language Skills | 30 | |
| Advanced Chinese Language Skills | 30 | |
| Advanced Portuguese Language Skills | 30 | |
| Advanced Russian Language Skills | 30 | |
| Advanced Spanish Language Skills | 30 | |
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Concepts Optional Modules | ||
| Truth | 30 | |
| Disease | 30 | |
| War | 30 | |
| Violence | 30 | |
| Revolution | 30 | |
| Sexualities | 30 | |
| Optional | ||
| The Legend of King Arthur | 30 | |
| Special Subject Optional Modules | ||
| The Yes, Minister Files: Perspectives on British Government since 1914 | 60 | |
| The Russian Revolution | 60 | |
| Magic in the Middle Ages | 60 | |
| Governing the World: A History of Internationalism from WW1 to the Present | 60 | |
| Health and its Politics in the 20th Century | 60 | |
| From the Grand Tour to Gladiator: Modern Encounters with the Ancient World | 60 | |
| The Body in Early Modern England | 60 | |
| Britons Abroad: The Experience of Travel, c. 1650-1900 | 60 | |
| The Celtic Frontier | 60 | |
| Borders and Mobilities in Postcolonial South Asia | 60 | |
| Chinese Optional Modules | ||
| The Place of Meaning: Gardens in Asia and Europe | 15 | |
| Introduction to Modern Chinese Literature | 15 | |
| China through the Lens: Cultural Translation and Self-Presentation | 15 | |
| French Optional Modules | ||
| First-Person Outsiders in Modern French Literature | 15 | |
| Philosophers, Prophets and Mystics in French Culture | 15 | |
| Sex, Subversion and Censorship: Libertine Literature in Seventeenth-Century France | 15 | |
| French Sociolinguistics and Dialectology | 15 | |
| German Optional Modules | ||
| Dictatorships on Display: History Exhibitions in Germany and Austria | 15 | |
| Italian Optional Modules | ||
| Understanding Space in Renaissance Italy | 15 | |
| Neutral Optional Modules | ||
| Intercultural Communication in a Global World | 15 | |
| Through the Language Lens: the Relationship between Language, Culture and the Mind | 15 | |
| Corporate Language and Communication: When Sharks Work with Dolphins | 15 | |
| Extended Dissertation | 30 | |
| Green Matters in Modern Languages and Cultures | 15 | |
| Transcultural Devon: Creating, Analysing and Subtitling Interviews in the Context of Migration | 15 | |
| Migration and Multilingualism | 15 | |
| Migration in World Cinema | 15 | |
| Aliens Abroad: Science Fiction in Global Literature | 15 | |
| Russian Optional Modules | ||
| Apocalypse/Utopia: The Russian Roots of Revolution | 15 | |
| Other Shores: Exile and Emigration in Russian Literature | 15 | |
| Exploring Revolution: The Making of Soviet Society and Culture in the 1920s | 15 | |
| Spanish Optional Modules | ||
| Women and Feminism in 20th Century Spain | 15 | |
| The Chilean Road to Socialism (1970-1973): What Happened and Why? Elements for a Debate | 15 | |
| "What is Love? And Do I Need It?" An Introduction to Spanish Renaissance Love Poetry | 15 | |
| Spanish Modernists: Narratives of Identity, Gender and Nation | 15 | |
| 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 2026 entry
UK students: £9,790 per year
International students: £24,950 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?
Throughout the History programmes stress is laid on the need to analyse, discuss and deploy historical evidence in a variety of settings and not simply on the ability to memorise. You will learn through lectures, tutorials and seminars, with a growing emphasis at each successive level on student-led learning.
Our teaching within languages aims not just to improve your production and comprehension of the language but also to help you develop your language-learning skills. These will enable you to take responsibility for your language learning, to continue learning the language(s) after graduation and to pick up new languages in the future.
Modules
Modules are designed to encourage you to think about long-term developments and processes of historical change, and to make comparisons between countries and cultures. This helps you progress from the more tightly defined topics studied at A level. Modules are also designed to encourage you to think and write analytically about these broad subjects. They emphasise historical questions that require you to identify patterns across time, or between countries, and to isolate common or competing trends, instead of concentrating on short-term or single explanations.
Teaching hours
Written language is taught through weekly classes of about 18 students with teams of tutors who contribute to a programme aimed at grammar improvement and the development of advanced writing skills. You’ll also have weekly oral practice in classes of about eight with native speakers of the language(s) that you are studying. You’ll be expected to prepare written work or presentations for seminars, in which you’ll have the opportunity to express your own point of view and to discuss other people’s ideas.
Non-language modules are taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and/or tutorials. Our teaching methods are chosen to encourage you to become an increasingly independent learner as you progress through the years.
Personal tutor
You'll have a personal tutor, as well as tutors in individual subjects and they will work with you to monitor your progress, as well as offering pastoral support and other help. You will have a chance to make your mark on the programmes through regular student evaluations and participation in the Student-Staff Liaison Committees and the student History Societies on both campuses.
Assessment
Modules are assessed by a combination of exams and coursework (essays, projects and other written and oral tasks).
You will have to pass assessments in your first year to proceed to the second year, but they do not count towards your final degree classification. The assessments in the second year, year abroad and final year contribute to your final degree award.
Progression
You must pass your first-year assessment in order to progress to the second year, but the results do not count towards your degree classification. For three-year programmes, the assessments in the second and third years contribute to your final degree classification. For four-year programmes the assessments in the second, third and fourth years all contribute to your final degree classification.
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.
Minors: Future Skills Pathways
You can study a Future Skills Pathway alongside your main degree by choosing up to 30 credits of modules from a different subject area in your second and final years.
Your future
Employer-valued skills this course develops
History graduates from the University of Exeter have an excellent reputation with graduate recruiters and compete very successfully in the employment market. Alongside in-depth subject knowledge you’ll develop highly transferable skills in researching; analysing and assessing sources; written and verbal communication; managing and interpreting information; developing ideas and arguments; teamwork; and problem solving.
Employer visits
We have a dedicated, award-winning Careers Service, with offices at our Exeter and Penryn campuses, ensuring you have access to careers advisors, mentors and the tools you need to succeed in finding employment in your chosen field on graduation. We offer the Exeter Award and the Exeter Leaders Award which include employability-related workshops, skills events, volunteering and employment which will contribute to your career decision-making skills and success in the employment market. Our graduates compete very successfully in the employment market, with many employers targeting the University when recruiting new graduates. For further information please visit our Careers Service.
Career paths
You will be equipped with skills that are attractive to employers and relevant for a wide range of careers, including graduate-level roles in the heritage and arts sectors as well as other fields of work, including education, retail management, recruitment, charities, finance and accounting, and journalism.
Example careers
- Account Manager
- Archivist
- Business Analyst
- Civil Servant
- Digital Marketing and
- Events Executive
- Event Project Manager
- Global Market
- Researcher
- Historian
- Parliamentary Researcher
- TV Researcher
Further study
A History degree may also lead to further study or research and recent graduates have progressed to postgraduate courses in:
- MA History
- MA English Literary Studies
- Graduate Diploma in Law
- MA Conflict, Security and Development
- MSc International Management
- PGCE
