BA Modern Languages and Arabic

Please note: This page is for 2026 entry. Click here for 2027 entry.

UCAS code	RT60
Duration	4 years
Entry year	2026
Campus	Streatham Campus

Typical offer View full entry requirements	A-Level: ABB-BBB IB: 32/655-30/555 BTEC: DDM
Contextual offers	A-Level: BBC-BCC IB: 28/554-26/544 BTEC: DMM

Why study BA Modern Languages and Arabic at Exeter?

Enjoy a highly flexible programme which allows you to structure your studies around your interests or follow a specific career-orientated pathway. Study Arabic alongside one other language; French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian
Your final degree title will reflect your choices and you will divide your time equally between the two languages. In your second year, you will spend a year abroad in an Arabic-speaking country
You will undertake intense practical language training as well as theoretical learning to better understand the rich cultural, social and historical backdrop of Arabic and your other chosen language
The Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies is one of the foremost academic institutions in the UK offering research and taught degree programmes in a wide range of areas within the field of Arab, Middle Eastern, and Islamic Studies
Get involved in activities outside class: language societies, tandem partnerships, liaison work in schools and the community such as our Translation! Festival – the only public festival dedicated to translation in the UK

Contact

Web: Enquire online

Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72

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Top 150 in world subject rankings for Modern Languages and Cultures

QS World University Subject Rankings 2025

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Largest purpose-built Middle East centre in the UK

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4th in the UK for African & Middle Eastern Studies

The Complete University Guide 2026

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Year abroad spent studying at a partner university or in employment

Studying Modern Languages isn’t just about poring over endless grammar notes! Our course is so rich and varied that you will have the fantastic opportunity to develop not only your language skills, but a knowledge and interest in the culture of your chosen languages.

If you ask any student about the course, I very much doubt you will come away without them mentioning the Year Abroad, which for many is the highlight of the four years. I still cannot quite believe that I managed to go from working as a waitress over the summer in France, to studying in Italy, then to working as a marketing assistant in Spain all within the space of a year!

Aside from massively improving my language skills and cultural knowledge, this year definitely opened my eyes to the amazing opportunities out there for language students, and certainly made me realise how well my course and the support at the University of Exeter has prepared me for more exciting opportunities like this in the future.

Entry requirements (typical offer)

Qualification	Typical offer	Required subjects
A-Level	ABB-BBB	Dependent on subjects chosen (see below)
IB	32/655-30/555	Dependent on subjects chosen (see below)
BTEC	DDM	Dependent on subjects 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 level chosen the required L3 credits in Modern Foreign Language subject area
T-Level	Distinction	Dependent on subjects chosen, GCE A-Level in a Modern Foreign Language will also be required.
Contextual Offer	A-Level: BBC-BCC IB: 28/554-26/544 BTEC: DMM	Specific subject requirements must still be achieved where stated above. Find out more about contextual offers.
Other accepted qualifications	View 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

Completing your UCAS form

When completing your UCAS form for RT60 indicate the modern language and route you wish to study under ‘Further details’ in the ‘choices’ section of the application using the abbreviations below. Please note that you may choose only one language. It may be possible to study further languages to a lower level of proficiency than degree level in the Foreign Language Centre, subject to demand: this is arranged on registration at Exeter. For further information on completing your UCAS form, please visit the UCAS website.

French	Fren
German	Germ
Italian	Ital
Russian	Russ
Spanish	Span

Language requirements

An A-Level grade B or IB HL5 or SL6 (or equivalent) in one of the five non-Arabic languages offered for this programme (French, German, Italian, Russian or Spanish).

We are only able to guarantee a place on the relevant language programme(s) if this information is included on your UCAS form. However, we understand that you may change your mind about the language you want to continue with or take up, so if you wish to change the choice of language(s) given on your UCAS application at any stage please contact either our Admissions Office who will be able to confirm whether or not you are eligible for consideration for a different language. If you do wish to be considered for an alternative language please make your request as early as possible, as capacity and planning constraints may limit our ability to allow late changes to your language choice.

Course content

The Modern Languages and Arabic degree programme is made up of compulsory (core) and optional modules, which are worth 15 or 30 credits each, worth a total of 120 credits each year. Take up to 30 credits outside the department through modularity.

You will develop fundamental language skills such as reading, speaking, translating and writing, learning to perfect the delicate nuances of intonation, tone and inflection in your voice to become a skilled linguist. You will also study modules on Arab literature and on Islam and Arab history.

Open modules on linguistics, literature, medieval history, visual arts, film and culture will offer you the chance to further customise your programme to suit your specific needs and preferences.

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.

Year 1

Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.

60 credits of compulsory Arabic modules, 30 credits of compulsory Modern Languages modules, 30 credits of optional Modern Languages modules.

Subject to choosing 120 credits for the stage overall, you must:

select 60 credits of compulsory modules in Arabic.

select 30 credits of compulsory modules in your chosen language.

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 for the year. 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
Arabic Compulsory
	Elementary Arabic Language I	30
	Elementary Arabic Language II	30
Modern Languages Compulsory
	French Language	30
	German Language	30
	Italian Language	30
	Contemporary Russian Written and Oral	30
	Spanish Language	30

Optional modules

Code	Module	Credits
Arabic Optional Modules
	Elementary Persian	15
	Introduction to Islam	15
	Elementary Persian 2	15
	Introduction to Persian History and Culture	15
	Introduction to Islamic Archaeology	15
	Elementary Turkish I	15
	Elementary Turkish II	15
	Histories of the Middle East, 600-1800 C.E.	15
	Religious Communities of the Middle East: Culture, Endangerment and Survival	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
Russian Optional Modules
	An Emotional Experience: Russian Literature and the Expression of Feeling	15
	Russia: Empire and Identity	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 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

International Study Placement

Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.

Find out more about the International Placement.

120 credit compulsory Arabic placement module

Compulsory modules

Code	Module	Credits
Compulsory 1
	Year Abroad	120

Year 3

Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.

30 credits of compulsory Arabic modules, 30 credits of compulsory Modern Languages modules, 30 credits of optional Arabic modules and 30 credits of optional Modern Languages modules.

On the Modern Languages side of your programme, you may select a maximum of 15 credits of SML-coded modules for the year. 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
Arabic Compulsory
	Intermediate Arabic Language II	30
Modern Languages Compulsory
	French Language, Written and Oral	30
	German Language, Written and Oral	30
	Italian Language, Written and Oral	30
	Contemporary Russian Written and Oral I	30
	Spanish Language, Written and Oral	30

Optional modules

Code	Module	Credits
Optional 1
	Regions and Empires in Islamic Archaeology	15
	Magic and the Abrahamic Religions	15
	Islamist Movements: From the Muslim Brothers to the Islamic State	15
	Gender-Identity and Modernity in the Middle East	15
	Islamic Law and Society	15
	Ethnography of the Middle East	15
	Conflict and Peacemaking Palestine/Israel	15
	Intermediate Persian	15
	Classical Islamic History	15
	Muslims in Britain	15
	Intermediate Persian II	15
	Political Economy of Development in the Middle East	15
	Intermediate Turkish I	15
	Intermediate Turkish II	15
	A History of the Modern Middle East, 1900-2014	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

Final year

Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.

30 credits of compulsory Arabic, 30 credits of optional Arabic modules, 30 credits of compulsory Modern Languages modules, 30 credits of optional Modern Languages modules.

On the Modern Languages side of your programme, you may select a maximum of 15 credits of SML-coded modules for the year, unless you select SML3030 (30 credits). 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
Arabic Compulsory
	Advanced Arabic Language	30
Modern Languages Compulsory
	Advanced French Language Skills	30
	Advanced German Language Skills	30
	Advanced Italian Language Skills	30
	Advanced Russian Language Skills	30
	Advanced Spanish Language Skills	30

Optional modules

Code	Module	Credits
Optional 1
	From Home Lands to Host States: Migration, Displacement and Diaspora in the Middle East	15
	Drugs: Histories, Science, Policy	15
	Nationalisms in the Middle East	15
	The History and Political Development of Iraq	15
	The Kurds: History and Politics	15
	Iranian History, 1500-the Present	15
	Armed Islamist Movements: Jihadism and Beyond	15
	Britain in the Middle East, 1798-1977	15
	Politics and Reform in the Gulf	15
	The Arabian Nights: Perception and Reception	15
	Gender, Sexuality and Violence in Palestine/Israel	15
	Queer Theory in a Global Context	15
	The Politics of Authoritarian Rule	15
	Violence and Revolution in the Modern Middle East	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

International Study Placement

Study Abroad in Year 2

All undergraduate Arabic language students on a four-year programme spend their second year at one of our accredited Arabic language study centres.

The International Study Placement is an integral part of the study of Arabic, advancing your knowledge of grammar and syntax as well as reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. It provides an excellent opportunity for students of Arabic to become immersed in Arabic society and culture, and to gain fluency in a spoken dialect of the Arabic Language.

International Study Placement destinations can obviously vary from year to year dependent on current events in the Middle East and North Africa.

All undergraduate Arabic language students on a four-year programme spend their second year at one of our accredited Arabic language study centres. These include:

Jordan Language Academy (JLA) in Amman, Jordan
International Language Institute (ILI) in Cairo, Egypt
The Arabic Language Institute (ALIF) in Fez, Morocco

Does it count towards my degree?

The International Study Placement is an assessed year and the marks obtained count towards your final degree classification. If you would like to arrange the year differently, you should first speak with the Programme Director for your language and/or the Study Abroad Officer.

How does it affect my tuition fee and funding?

For your International Study 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.

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.}

Find out more about tuition fees and scholarships

Learning and teaching

How will I learn?

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.

Modules

Teaching on our culture modules is varied: a class about linguistics takes a rather different form than a class about theatre or film, for instance. Most cultural modules involve a combination of lectures and seminars, backed up by smaller group work and web-based learning, via the University’s online learning environment. Between classes you prepare material, evidence and arguments, individually or in groups. Seminars are your chance to try out ideas, present material to other members of the group, and respond to new material based on the critical skills you’ve been taught.

How will I be assessed?

Coursework and exams (essays, source commentaries, research exercises, oral presentations), online assessment (for language and culture modules).

Where will I study?

All language students have access to the language-learning facilities provided by the Language Centre.

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.

Find out more about minor options

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Your future

Employer-valued skills this course develops

A degree in Modern Languages and Arabic gives you an appreciation and understanding of the culture, history and language of the Middle East and French-speaking countries. You will develop analytical and research skills as well as an awareness of different interpretations of issues and events, develop opinions and use effective communication skills to put forward your ideas and conclusions. You will also develop your time-management skills. All these skills are valued by employers from many different fields and can open career paths in a wide variety of areas from academic research and government work to more commercially based careers in law and business.

Employer visits

We have a dedicated, award-winning Careers Service, with offices at our Streatham Campus, 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

Recent Graduates now working as*:

European Funding Officer
Trilingual Fraud Specialist
Insurance Broker
Marketing and Communications Officer
Reporter
TV Researcher

Recent Graduates now working for*:

Civil Service
Bloomberg
Challenges Worldwide
Ernst & Young
Cancer Research UK
Hugo Boss

_{*This information has been taken from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) Surveys 14/15, 15/16, and 16/17. Please note that, due to data protection, the job titles and organisations are listed independently and do not necessarily correspond.}

Further study

A Modern Languages degree is also excellent preparation for postgraduate study, and recent graduates have progressed to a range of courses, including: