Modern Languages and International Politics

Modern languages and international politics is a combination that equips you simultaneously to communicate across linguistic boundaries and to analyse the international system in which those communications take place. Language proficiency without political understanding leaves you able to translate what is being said but not to grasp its significance. Political analysis without language skills can leave you dependent on others' translations and interpretations of events in other countries.

Together they produce a graduate who can engage directly with the world in its own terms.

At Stirling, this programme allows you to study French and/or Spanish in vibrant contemporary contexts alongside an international politics degree that addresses the major theoretical and empirical questions of global affairs. The programme encourages you to broaden your horizons by combining your political studies with European language learning, and the year abroad gives you the opportunity to sharpen your language skills in a real immersive context. The full degree runs over four years full-time, with a typical entry tariff of 184 points.

Graduates of modern languages and international politics programmes are well placed for careers in diplomacy, the foreign and civil service, international development, journalism, international organisations, think tanks, and global businesses. The language skills give particular access to Francophone and Spanish-speaking markets, institutions, and communities, opening roles that a monolingual politics graduate could not fill. Postgraduate study in international relations, European studies, or language teaching is a common and productive route for those who want to deepen their expertise or move into specialist academic or professional roles.