History and Modern Languages with a Year Abroad

History and modern languages is a pairing that takes seriously the idea that you cannot fully understand the past without engaging with the languages in which people thought, wrote, and argued. A historian who can read primary sources in their original language has access to evidence and nuance that translation inevitably obscures. A linguist grounded in history understands that language is never simply a neutral medium but is shaped by the political, social, and cultural forces that history studies.

The two disciplines make each other more rigorous and more interesting.

At King's College London this four-year full-time degree places you in one of the world's great cities and in one of its most intellectually stimulating universities. You will develop your historical understanding and research skills across a broad range of periods and themes, drawing on King's particular strengths in modern European, global, and imperial history, while also building genuine proficiency in a modern language and engaging with its literature and culture. The degree includes a year abroad, which is integral to both the language and the historical dimensions of the programme: living in another country gives you a relationship to your language that classroom study alone cannot provide, and it situates you in a historical and cultural context that deepens your understanding in ways that cannot be taught.

Graduates of history and modern languages programmes are valued across many sectors. Publishing, journalism, the civil service, diplomacy, international organisations, museums, heritage, education, law, and international business all offer strong career paths. The combination of historical analytical skills and language proficiency is particularly valued in organisations working across national and cultural boundaries.

Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in history, languages, international relations, or law, and some pursue doctoral research. King's location in London and its extensive alumni network also provide direct access to professional communities in many of these fields.