Welsh and a Modern Language
Welsh and a modern language is a combination that takes seriously both Wales's living indigenous linguistic tradition and the wider European and global language landscape. Welsh is one of Europe's surviving Celtic languages, with a continuous literary tradition stretching back over fifteen hundred years and a contemporary vitality supported by bilingual education, Welsh-medium broadcasting and government policy. Studying it alongside a modern language develops cross-linguistic and comparative perspectives that single-language study cannot produce, and positions you as a graduate with a genuinely unusual and valued combination of skills.
At Cardiff University this four-year programme develops your proficiency in Welsh alongside a modern language of your choice, engaging with the literatures, cultures and contemporary social realities of both linguistic communities. You will study Welsh language and literature, contemporary Welsh-medium culture and the sociolinguistics of Welsh alongside the language, literature and cultural contexts of your chosen modern language. Cardiff's position as the capital of Wales and its strong connections to Welsh-medium cultural and professional life provide a rich context for the Welsh dimension of your studies.
The programme aims to develop graduates who think critically, understand cultural diversity and bring a wealth of transferable skills to their professional lives.
Graduates work in Welsh-medium education, BBC Wales and S4C broadcasting, Welsh government and public sector bodies with Welsh-language responsibilities, translation and interpreting, Welsh-language publishing, cultural and heritage organisations and community development. The modern language element opens additional doors in journalism, international organisations, cultural diplomacy, business roles with European connections and any role where cross-cultural communication and linguistic competence are valued. Some graduates go on to postgraduate study in Welsh studies, translation, linguistics or education.