History and Language (French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish) with Foundation Year

On our BA History and Language you can combine the study of history with a modern language (French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean or Spanish) and its associated culture. You will be taught by internationally renowned researchers, reflecting the latest trends in history and cultural studies in modern languages. You will also have the opportunity to study a number of cross-cultural modules which will allow you to explore specific themes across a variety of language-speaking areas.

This history and language degree will equip you to reach near-native standard in French, German, Italian or Spanish, and upper-intermediate or advanced level in Japanese, depending on your starting level. If you opt to study Korean, your final degree award will be a ‘with’ degree, so for example BA History with Korean, because we currently offer this language up to intermediate level only.

You will practise allied skills such as translating, summary-writing, and delivering written and oral presentations. Alongside this, you will be able to study a range of periods, places and themes, from human prehistory and classical civilisation, through to the medieval and early modern periods, and on to twenty-first-century history, politics and culture.

This BA History and Language is carefully structured to give you the opportunity to:

develop the linguistic and research skills, analytical tools and critical approaches to assess contemporary culture and historical evidence

question accepted wisdoms about both past and present.

Your career prospects will also be enhanced by developing the ability to formulate and communicate your own ideas in both English and your chosen second language.

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.

This course has an evening timetable with lectures, seminars and classes taking place in the evening.

Highlights

Birkbeck was ranked in the top eight universities in the UK for its History research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

Situated in historic Bloomsbury, we are at the heart of academic London with access to unparalleled research resources. Situated very close by are: the Institute of Historical Research and the Institute of Classical Studies, with their specialist libraries, training facilities and seminars; the British Museum and other world-class galleries and museums; and the British Library, the largest national library in the world.

The School of Historical Studies at Birkbeck is home to thriving student societies and a number of affiliated research centres that actively run seminars, conferences and other events where some of the world's best scholars present their latest research.

Get a flavour of our teaching and research in this area through the wide range of free online and in-person seminars, workshops and tasters; check out our Discover the Past and taster courses as well as events at the Raphael Samuel History Centre, a leading centre for public history which the department co-directs.

Ours is a community of scholars with shared interests in interdisciplinary topics and cross-cultural research. Our affiliated research centres, the Centre for French, Francophone and Comparative Studies (CFFCS) and the Centre for Iberian and Latin American Visual Studies (CILAVS), provide an important platform for this exchange. We also convene the Eighteenth-Century Research Group.

Careers and employability

Graduates can pursue career paths in education, research, journalism and international organisations and businesses. Possible professions include:

heritage manager

museum/gallery curator

archivist

translator

higher education lecturer

primary/secondary school teacher.