Modern Languages

Modern languages is a degree that takes you deep into one or more foreign languages and the cultures, literatures, and histories of the societies in which those languages are spoken. It is a discipline that develops both linguistic competence and cultural intelligence, the ability to communicate with genuine fluency and the understanding to do so in ways that are sensitive to different values, assumptions, and social practices. Far from being a passive exercise in grammar, studying modern languages at degree level is a rich intellectual and personal experience that changes how you see the world.

At the University of Exeter, this three-year programme is described by its students as rich and varied, offering the opportunity not only to develop strong language skills but to build a knowledge of and genuine interest in the cultures of the languages you choose. You will engage with literature, film, history, and current affairs, bringing both analytical rigour and personal curiosity to the texts and topics you study. Exeter's modern languages programme has particular strengths in European languages and offers opportunities to engage with literature, media, and culture in ways that go well beyond language instruction.

The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement, giving you substantial professional and international experience. The year abroad is an essential part of developing the fluency, cultural confidence, and professional adaptability that the degree aims to cultivate, and the placement element allows you to apply your language skills in a professional context.

Graduates from modern languages degrees pursue careers in translation and interpreting, international business, diplomacy, journalism, education, the civil service, cultural organisations, law, and NGOs. The combination of language skills and cultural understanding is genuinely versatile and valuable in any role where communication across languages and cultures is required. Postgraduate study in translation, modern languages, or international relations is a natural route for those who wish to develop further.