Linguistics and Language (French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish)
Birkbeck, University of London
UCAS Code: Q101 | Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
Birkbeck, University of London
UCAS Code: Q101 | Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
We welcome applications from students on Access to Higher Education Diplomas.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
UCAS Tariff
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About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
Would you like to become highly proficient in a language at the same time as developing an advanced understanding of how language works in general? Our BA Linguistics and Language offers you a unique combination of language learning and applied linguistics to prepare you for a wide range of professional opportunities in multilingual and multicultural contexts.
**Why choose this course?**
- You can choose to become highly proficient in French, German, Italian, Japanese or Spanish, or proficient in Korean. You will also explore the literature and culture associated with this language.
- If you choose the International Experience route you will be able to immerse yourself in your chosen language and culture during a year of studying abroad at one of our partner institutions.
- On this course you will join a community of diverse and committed students from multilingual and multicultural backgrounds and learn from a community of scholars with a wide range of expertise in linguistics, language, culture and literature.
- You will develop an advanced understanding of linguistics as the scientific study of language and apply it in a variety of contexts including language learning, language teaching, speech therapy, intercultural communication, translation, and advertising and media.
**What you will learn**
You will learn about the structure and functions of language, and how it is patterned and used. You will be introduced to major areas of linguistics, including applied linguistics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics and neurolinguistics, and learn how to apply linguistics theories and concepts in real-world contexts, from language teaching and learning to intercultural communication.
You will have the opportunity to reach near-native standard in French, German, Italian or Spanish, or upper-intermediate or advanced level in Japanese, depending on your level of entry. We offer Korean from beginner up to intermediate level only.
You will also study the associated literature and culture of your chosen language and develop skills of translating, summary writing and delivering written and oral presentations.
**How you will learn**
You can study either full- or part-time. **The course has an evening timetable with classes taking place in the evening.** These consist of a combination of lectures and seminars which are designed to be small and interactive with some also offered online.
On the four-year full-time International Experience route, you will normally spend your third year at a partner institution to allow you to develop your language skills and your knowledge of the culture. Your timetable may differ during this year abroad.
**Foundation Year**
If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree.
**Highlights**
- Applied linguistics has been taught at Birkbeck since 1965, so you will be taught by experienced specialists from a centre of teaching and research excellence.
- You will benefit from a vibrant interdisciplinary research culture from our affiliated research centres, e.g. the Centre for French, Francophone and Comparative Studies (CFFCS) and the Centre for Iberian and Latin American Visual Studies (CILAVS), as well as from other public cultural events hosted at Birkbeck.
**Careers and employability**
Graduates can pursue career paths in publishing, education, policy-making or language education. Possible professions include:
- translator
- English as a Foreign Language teacher
- publishing copy editor/proofreader
- civil service fast-streamer
- editorial assistant.
Modules
For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.
Assessment methods
Assessment varies and includes coursework, written examinations, oral examinations and listening comprehension.
The Uni
Birkbeck, University of London
School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if the overall teaching satisfaction score here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Others in language and area studies
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
Linguistics
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Modern languages
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
This is a broad subject for a variety of European languages. No matter which you take, the general theme is that some graduates go to that country to work, often as English language teachers, some go into further study, often to train as teachers or translators, but most get jobs in the UK in education - most often as language tutors, unsurprisingly, or translators. Modern language grads can also be in demand in business roles where communication and language skills are particularly useful, such as marketing and PR, and in finance or law. But remember — whilst employers say they rate graduates who have graduates who have more than one language, you need to have them as part of a whole package of good skills.
Linguistics
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
This is not a particularly common subject at first degree level and most of the degrees that fall in this category are offered by the University of Durham. If you fancy one of these broad degrees, it is probably best to speak directly to tutors to find out what your options on your degree might be and what they can lead to,
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Others in language and area studies
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£25k
£23k
£37k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Linguistics
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£22k
£26k
£27k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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