Modern Languages

Studying modern languages is one of the most intellectually and professionally broadening choices available at undergraduate level. It is not simply a matter of learning to communicate in another tongue, though the linguistic skill itself is formidable. It is also an encounter with different ways of thinking, different literary and cultural traditions, and the historical forces that have shaped societies quite different from your own.

Languages open access to literatures, films, political debates and everyday experiences that are otherwise closed, and they fundamentally change how you understand your own culture by giving you a vantage point outside it.

At Bangor University this programme runs over four years of full-time study and includes both a foundation year and a placement year with an embedded work experience element. The foundation year provides the academic and linguistic grounding you need to progress confidently into the main degree, while the placement year gives you the opportunity to work in a professional context where your language skills are genuinely needed. You will develop reading, writing, listening and speaking skills in your chosen language or languages alongside the study of literature, culture, history and translation.

Bangor's location in Wales means there is also a distinctive context of multilingualism around you, which can enrich your understanding of how languages function in living communities.

Languages graduates are consistently among the most employable, partly because linguistic competence is rare among UK graduates and partly because the skills developed in language study, analytical thinking, close reading, cultural sensitivity and precision in writing, are valued across many fields. Graduates find careers in international business, diplomacy, journalism, translation and interpreting, education, publishing, the civil service, law, marketing and the arts. Postgraduate study in translation, international relations, area studies or further language specialisation is also a well-trodden path.

The placement year gives you a significant advantage in a competitive graduate market.