Arabic and International Communication BA Honours

Course summary

Our Arabic and International Communication BA develops your knowledge of the Arabic language and culture, and develops your communication skills for the professional global environment.

Our course helps you to achieve a good or high level of linguistic proficiency in Arabic in reading, writing, listening and speaking. It also gives you insight into and practice in communicating internationally as well as mediating between English and Arabic speakers.

The curriculum integrates applied language skills and cultural studies, while ensuring a rigorous development of your foreign language competence in all areas. We teach in an integrated interdisciplinary way, exploring the connections between language and culture and the broader historical and cross-cultural contexts in which they are produced.

You'll improve your ability as an intercultural communicator by studying how our ideas are shaped and communicated in a global society, where our interactions are no longer confined by national, regional or cultural boundaries.

Studying the Arabic and International Communication BA, you'll acquire qualities and skills in areas such as interpersonal communication and organisational skills, analysis and argument, autonomy and team working, and team management. You’ll also build your flexibility, tolerance and organisational skills to enable you to be an effective international communicator. On graduation, you'll be able to thrive linguistically in diverse cultural situations.

Between Years 2 and 3, You'll have the option to spend a full academic year abroad at one of our partner institutions, or undertake an approved form of employment in a country where Arabic is the official language. You can work as a paid language assistant in a foreign school or undertake a work (or volunteering) placement, both of which give you a valuable opportunity to boost your employability while improving your language competence.

You can also undertake a study placement at one of our university partners or at one of our accredited Arabic language centres in Morocco or Jordan. You'll have the option to undertake a combination of both study and work.

Our Arabic courses are only available to beginners or 'false beginners' – you may be a false beginner if you're able to read the Arabic script, and/or have the equivalent to one or two years' part-time study. Please note that we may need to test you to decide your entry point.

Top reasons to study with us

• Enhance your language skills abroad – You'll have the option to spend a full academic year abroad in your third year, or shorter periods ranging from a few days to a full semester
• Get career-ready – Our course strengthens your communication skills and gives you practice in transferring these to the world of work
• Understand multiple forms of communication – You'll learn how to read between the lines and really understand how we're influenced by the messages around us – on TV, in advertising, and across other media
• Multicultural focus – We use our students' different cultural experiences to discover what it means to be an intercultural communicator

The University’s Careers and Employability Service has built up a network of over 3,000 employers around the world, helping all our students explore and connect with exciting opportunities and careers and support you to achieve your full potential.

This course will prepare you for a range of roles, including:

• Brand managing and advertising expert
• Communication expert in business and marketing
• Global communication executive
• Interpreter
• Liaison officer
• Teacher

Graduate employers

Graduates from this course have found employment at organisations including:

• BBC
• The House of Commons
• The Prime Minister's Office