Modern Languages

Lancaster’s Modern Languages degree is taught by the Department of Languages and Cultures. This degree gives you the opportunity to study three languages. We offer Chinese, French, German or Spanish as major subjects and Italian as minor subject. This degree includes an international placement year where you will study abroad and a large amount of choice in both the languages you will study and cultural modules that bring your chosen languages to life.

Year One
In your first year, you can choose to study:
- three languages at advanced level

- or two languages at advanced level and one at beginner level

You will focus on developing linguistic fluency as well as learning about the cultural contexts of your chosen languages.

Year Two
You will develop your language skills and also study the cultural, political and historical context of your chosen languages in more depth.

There are two possible routes through the second year:

Route A - Chinese / French / German / Spanish
- three languages at advanced level

- or two languages at advanced level and one intensive language

- plus culture modules relating to your chosen languages

Route B - Chinese / French / German / Spanish with Italian
- two advanced languages

- two culture modules relating to the advanced languages

- two Italian language modules

Year Three - International Placement Year
Spending your third year abroad makes a major contribution to your language ability, while deepening your intercultural sensitivity. You will spend time in two countries where your major languages are spoken. You can either study at a partner institution or conduct a work placement.

We also encourage you to spend some vacation time in the country of your third language, and the department may be able to offer opportunities to apply for funding to support this.

Year Four
Back at Lancaster in the fourth year, you will consolidate your multiple language skills alongside language-specific cultural modules. You can also take comparative courses which allow you to see the languages and cultures you're studying in a global context.

There are three possible routes through the final year.

Route A - The language intensive route (Chinese / French / German / Spanish)
- three advanced languages

- culture modules relating to the advanced languages

Route B - The culture intensive route (Chinese / French / German / Spanish)
- two advanced languages

- a range of culture modules relating to the advanced languages and others

Route C - The Italian route (Chinese / French / German / Spanish with Italian)
- two advanced languages

- culture modules relating to the advanced languages

- two Italian language modules

Beginners Languages
Studying a language from beginners level is somewhat intense in nature so we only allow students to study one language from beginners level. Please bear this in mind when looking at our first year module options. If you apply to study a degree with a language from beginners level, your optional modules will only include higher level languages and modules in other subject areas.