| UCAS code | VR06 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 years |
| Entry year | 2026 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Discipline | Philosophy |
| Contact | Web: Enquire online |
| Typical offer | A-Level: ABB |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: BBC |
| UCAS code | VR05 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 years |
| Entry year | 2026 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Discipline | Philosophy |
| Contact |
| Typical offer | A-Level: ABB |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: BBC |
Overview
- Discuss and explore long-standing, philosophical questions on the nature of science, reality, ethics, art and beauty, and the mind-body relationship
- You’ll develop strong written and spoken skills in your modern language whilst gaining an understanding of other cultures
- 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.
- Our broad range of optional modules in your second and third years gives you the flexibility to tailor your degree to your interests and career ambitions
- Get involved with the Philosophy and various Language student societies: make friends, attend socials and seminars and hear from guest speakers
- Get ready for your future career by developing a range of skills valued by a wide range of employers from the media to teaching and the public, private and charity sectors
Top 10 in the UK for Philosophy
9th in The Complete University Guide 2026
Commitment to interdisciplinary teaching and research
86% of graduates in or due to start employment or further study fifteen months after graduation
Sociology, Philosophy and Anthropology graduates: based on full-time, first degree, UK domiciled graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes survey 2021/22
Choose our 4 year course to spend a year abroad, studying at a partner university or in employment
Top 10 in the UK for Philosophy
9th in The Complete University Guide 2026
Commitment to interdisciplinary teaching and research
86% of graduates in or due to start employment or further study fifteen months after graduation
Sociology, Philosophy and Anthropology graduates: based on full-time, first degree, UK domiciled graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes survey 2021/22
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) |
| 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 Philosophy. 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 Philosophy 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.
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.
30 credits of compulsory modules in your chosen language, and 30 credits of optional modules consisting of content related to your chosen language.
45 credits of compulsory Philosophy modules, and 15 credits of optional Philosophy modules.
Compulsory modules
Subject to choosing 120 credits for the stage overall, you must:
a - select 30 credits of compulsory modules in your chosen language.
b - select 45 credits of compulsory Philosophy modules from the list below.
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Modern Languages Stage 1 Compulsory Language Modules [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 |
| PHL1002A | Knowledge and Reality 1 [See note b above] | 15 |
| PHL1002B | Knowledge and Reality 2 [See note b above] | 15 |
| PHL1005A | Evidence and Argument 1 [See note b above] | 15 |
| PHL1006 | Introduction to Philosophical Analysis [See note b above] | 15 |
| PHL1013 | Philosophy of Morality [See note b above] | 15 |
Optional modules
d - Select 15 credits of Philosophy option modules.
Please note that modules are subject to change and not all modules are available across all programmes, this is due to timetable, module size constraints and availability.
c - 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 either the SML- or HUM-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.
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese Stage 1 Option Modules 2025-6 [See note b above] | ||
| PHL1010 | Introduction to Asian Philosophy | 15 |
| MLM1014 | Chinese Art and the Art of Living | 15 |
| SML1208 | Language, Culture, International Relations | 15 |
| French Stage 1 Option Modules 2025-6 [See note b above] | ||
| 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 [See note b above] | ||
| 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 |
| Portuguese Stage 1 Option Modules 2025-6 [See note b above] | ||
| 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 [See note b above] | ||
| 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 [See note b above] | ||
| 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 |
| Philosophy Stage 1 Option Modules 2025-6 [See note d above] | ||
| PHL1004 | Philosophical Problems 1 | 15 |
| PHL1007 | Philosophical Reading 1 | 15 |
| PHL1009 | Philosophies of Art | 15 |
| PHL1010 | Introduction to Asian Philosophy | 15 |
| PHL1112 | Philosophy of Film | 15 |
If you choose the with International Placement variant of this course, your placement will take place in Year 3.
120 credit compulsory placement module
Compulsory modules
i - You must take one of these modules.
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SML3010 | Work and Study Abroad [See note i above] | 120 |
| SML3020 | Study Abroad at a Partner University (with Assessment in the Foreign Language) [See note i above] | 120 |
| SML3025 | Internship Abroad Combined with Study at a Partner University Abroad [See note i above] | 120 |
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?
Philosophy
We use a wide range of teaching methods as well as encouraging independent study with an increasing emphasis on seminar discussion and project work in your second and third years. Teaching includes:
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Group work
- Project work
- Tutorials
- Independent study
You will also have access to personal and subject tutors who will give you the individual help and guidance you need to succeed.
Modern Languages
In Modern Languages our teaching aims not to just improve your production and comprehension of the language but also help to develop your language-learning skills.
- Written language taught through weekly classes of about 18 students
- Weekly oral practice in classes of around eight with native speakers
You will also have access to personal and subject tutors who will give you the individual help and guidance you need to succeed.
Assessment
- Essays and projects
- Practical assignments
- Oral language tasks
- Fieldwork notebooks
You must pass your first year modules in order to proceed but your performance at this level does not count towards your final degree classification.
The Language Centre
All language students have access to the language-learning facilities provided by the Language Centre, which include satellite television channels in each of our languages and audio, computer and multi-media language-learning packages
Optional modules outside of this course
Each year, if you have optional modules available, you can take up to 30 credits in a subject outside of your course. This can increase your employability and widen your intellectual horizons.
Proficiency in a second subject
If you complete 60 credits of modules in specified subjects, you may have the words 'with proficiency in’ added to your degree title when you graduate.
Your future
Develop skills valued by employers
Philosophy degrees are popular with employers because they produce students who think analytically and creatively and know how to relate to people. You will develop a range of professional, academic and personal skills that are good preparation for a number of careers including in the media, public sector, legal profession, business and management.
- Analytical, critical and independent thinking
- Independent research
- Discussion and group work
- Collecting, assessing and presenting evidence
- Written and verbal communication
- Articulating ideas and arguments
- Organising, planning and time management
Career paths
The broad range of transferable skills gained on a Philosophy and Modern Languages degree enable graduates to pursue further study or employment in a wide range of careers including:
- Teaching, research and academia
- Local or national government
- The Civil Service
- Business and finance
- Charities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the UK and abroad
- Marketing and public relations
- Management and administration
- Translating/Interpreting
Further study
A Philosophy and Modern Languages degree is also excellent preparation for postgraduate study, and recent graduates have progressed to a range of courses, including: MA European Politics, Graduate Diploma in Law, PGCE Secondary French, MA International Relations, MSc Globalisation and Latin American Development and MA Translation and Professional Language Skills.
Exeter Award and Exeter Leaders Award
Many of our students participate in the Exeter Award and Exeter Leaders Award. These schemes encourage you to participate in employability related workshops, skills events, volunteering and employment which will contribute to your career decision-making skills and success in the employment market.
Developing your skills and career prospects
We provide a range of support to help you develop skills attractive to employers. You will be able to access a range of specific activities such as careers skills sessions and employer-led events, or seek bespoke advice and support from Employability Officers.
The Career Zone also organises a busy schedule of activities including careers fairs, skills workshops, and training events, and can advise on graduate opportunities and volunteering.
