History and Modern Languages

A degree course in History and Modern Languages with us is an exciting way to explore language, culture and history from across the globe, and to develop skills that will open a wide range of career opportunities.

The course is an excellent way to combine the study of a single European language with a broader humanities education. In studying History and Modern Languages, you can call on the forensic literary skills of a linguist in interrogating historical documents. You can also draw on your understanding of political, social and economic developments to enrich your engagement with literature, film and other culture.

A typical week

Your time will be divided between the Faculties of History and Medieval and Modern Languages, and your college.

A week’s work will include tutorials in history and in the literature and culture of the language you study and around 3 or 4 lectures/classes for each subject and language classes involving different skills, e.g. translation, oral and grammar. The rest of your time will be allocated to independent study preparing essays for your weekly tutorials.

Most tutorials, classes, and lectures are delivered by staff who are tutors in their subject. Many are world-leading experts with years of experience in teaching and research. Some teaching may also be delivered by postgraduate students who are usually studying at doctoral level.

To find out more about how our teaching year is structured, visit our Academic Year page.

Courses

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Assessment

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Six courses are taken:

• History
  • European/World history (four options: 370–900; 1000–1300; 1400–1650; 1815–1914)
  • Either a British Isles history period, or a historical methods paper, or a foreign text or an optional subject
• Modern Language
  • Practical language work (two papers)
  • Two literature papers

First University examinations: six written papers

Employers value language skills combined with the many transferable skills of a History and Modern Languages degree including: