Modern Languages with Linguistics BA

at University of Warwick

Core modules

In your first year you will either take two language modules, one culture or Translation Studies module and one linguistics module, or three languages and one linguistics module. The culture module can be either a culture module from your first language (French, German, Italian or Hispanic Studies) or a Translation Studies module. From Linguistics you will take one core module ‘Linguistics: Understanding Language’.

In your intermediate year you will take two (or three) core language modules and two Linguistics modules ‘Phonetics and Phonology’ and ‘Morphology and Syntax’. You will also select cultural modules (if you are studying two languages).

Your third year is normally spent abroad, where you may opt to spend a full year in one country or split the year between two countries. We encourage students to spend time in a country where their ab initio language is spoken.

In your final year you will study two (or three) core language modules and optional modules in Linguistics. You will also select cultural modules if you are studying two languages.

Year One

Language 1 (French, German, Italian or Spanish)

Language 2 (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian or Spanish)

Language 3 or a cultural module related to Language 1 or 2 or a Translation Studies module

A note on the languages
Arabic/Japanese/Russian: These languages can usually only be taken at beginner’s or post-GCSE (or equivalent) level maximum. The course aims to bring you to B2 standard (CEFR) in this language (this approximates to A level) or beyond by the end of the degree. If you have any prior learning of the language please contact ugadmissions@warwick.ac.uk before applying.

Chinese: This language can be taken at beginner’s, post-GCSE or post-A level (or equivalent) level maximum. This course would not be suitable for applicants with language ability above this level, including native speakers.

If studying three languages two of your languages should be from French, German, Italian or Spanish.

A note on cultural modules
For those studying two languages cultural modules are available in all years of the course. These either relate to French, German, Italian or Spanish, or they are of a cross-cultural nature.

Linguistics: Understanding Language
What is language? What is it made of? What rules do we follow when we put sounds together to create words and when we combine words to create sentences? How many languages are spoken in the world today, and in which ways are they similar or different? These are some of the questions that you will explore on this module. Using examples from different languages, you will analyse real-life language data in order to develop the practical skills required for linguistic analysis.

Intermediate Year

Continuation of Language 1

Continuation of Language 2

Continuation of Language 3 or cultural modules related to Language 1 or 2 including cross-cultural options

Phonetics and Phonology
This module expands on concepts introduced during ET118: Linguistics: Understanding Language in order to provide core knowledge and skills for students in phonetics and phonology as essential fields of language study. It aims to:

• Familiarise students with the phonetic and phonological systems of the world’s languages
• Introduce methodologies from a range of linguistic disciplines to document, study, and analyse language data
• Engage students in linguistic analysis within a language and cross-linguistically, both synchronically and diachronically
• Introduce research about and approaches to subfields of linguistics
   

Morphology and Syntax
What structures do the world’s languages have in common and how are they different? How can we classify languages? Why do languages change? This module expands on concepts introduced during Linguistics: Understanding Language in order to provide core knowledge and skills for students in the core linguistic domains of morphology and syntax. You’ll learn about more advanced morpho-syntactic features of a wide range of the world’s languages and how these features interact with semantics. You’ll explore methodologies to document, study, and analyse real-world language data. You’ll also be introduced to research in subfields of linguistics such as typology and language change.

Final Year

Continuation of Language 1

Continuation of Language 2

Continuation of Language 3 or cultural modules related to Language 1 or 2 including cross-cultural options

Optional modules in Applied Linguistics

All applicants, regardless of their visa requirements, are required to show that their ability to understand and express themselves in both written and spoken English is sufficiently high for them to derive full benefit from their degree course. The level of competence required depends on what type of degree you wish to study. Many applicants can demonstrate this through a satisfactory level of achievement in, for example, GCSE English Language or the English courses within the International Baccalaureate.

Applicants whose academic qualifications meet the University’s admissions requirements, but whose English language qualifications are not accepted as equivalent, may be offered a place at Warwick conditional on an acceptable English language qualification being achieved before they join the University. A number of English language tests are accepted; some of the most frequently offered ones are detailed below.

Please note that certain English tests (including IELTS and PTE) must be taken within two years and one month prior to the start of your course at Warwick. Applicants whose tests fall outside this timescale will need to retake a suitable English language test.

Applicants who require a visa to study in the UK may, depending on the circumstances, be asked to provide evidence of a secure English language test (e.g. IELTS for UKVI (Academic)), rather than an examination (such as International Baccalaureate English) due to the visa requirements set by the UK government.

International Tuition Fees:

£26290 per year

A languages degree will equip you with skills applicable to a wide variety of different jobs and career paths. Our students often go on to careers using their languages after graduation. They also develop transferrable communicative and analytical skills that are highly sought after by employers.

Graduates from Modern Language courses have gone on to work for employers including:

• Amazon
• British Airways
• Civil Service
• Grayce Consulting
• HM Revenue and Customs
• HSBC
• Ipsos Mori
• Lidl
• NBC Universal
• Save the Children International
• The Department for International Trade

They have pursued careers such as:

• Business and financial project management professionals
• Chartered and certified accountants
• Financial accounts managers
• Human resources and industrial relations officers
• Management consultants and business analysts
• Public services associate professionals
• Teachers and other educational professionals