Language Studies

Language studies is a flexible degree focused on the academic and practical study of modern languages, typically combining work in two or more languages with engagement with linguistics, translation, and the cultural contexts in which languages operate. It is a degree for people who are genuinely interested in language itself, not just as a means of communication but as a window onto culture, history, and the different ways human societies organise meaning and experience.

At the University of Portsmouth, this three-year full-time programme includes a sandwich placement year, a year abroad, and a work placement, making it one of the most experientially rich routes into language studies available. The year abroad is the defining feature of any serious modern languages degree, and spending an extended period in countries where your languages are spoken is the most effective way to develop genuine fluency and cultural understanding. The sandwich year and work placement add professional experience to the international academic dimension, giving you exposure to the kinds of roles in translation, international business, education, and cultural exchange where language graduates typically build careers.

You will develop language skills in your chosen languages, study linguistics and the theory of language acquisition and use, engage with the literatures and cultures of the language communities you study, and develop translation and intercultural communication skills. Portsmouth's programme is designed with employability in mind, and the combination of language study, year abroad, and professional placement experience makes for a degree with a strong practical orientation.

Graduates of language studies programmes move into careers in translation and interpreting, teaching, international business, tourism and hospitality, the civil service and diplomatic service, international organisations, journalism, publishing, and content creation in multilingual contexts. The flexibility of language study means it sits alongside a wide range of professional paths.