Study location	United Kingdom, Colchester Campus
Type	Bachelor courses, full-time
Nominal duration	5 years
Study language	English
Awards	BA
Course code	RR90

Tuition fee	To be confirmed

Entry qualification	High school / secondary education (or higher) The entry qualification documents are accepted in any language

Language requirements	English Accepted proof of proficiency: Cambridge English, IELTS, TOEFL or other equivalent IELTS: 5.5 TOEFL (IBT): 76 CAE: B2 with 52+ CAE (from Jan 15): 169+

Other requirements	At least 1 reference(s) must be provided.

More information	Expenses, accommodation, working etc. essex.ac.uk/..tercourse=UG00180&subgroup=2

Overview

Our BA German Studies and Modern Languages (including foundation year) is open to Home, EU and international students. It will be suitable for you if your academic qualifications do not yet meet our entrance requirements for the three-year version of this course and you want a programme that increases your subject knowledge as well as improves your academic skills.

This four-year course includes a foundation year (Year Zero), followed by a further three years of study. During your Year Zero, you study four academic subjects relevant to your chosen course as well as a compulsory academic skills module.

You are an Essex student from day one, a member of our global community based at the most internationally diverse campus university in the UK.

After successful completion of Year Zero in our International Academy, you progress to complete your course with the Department of Language and Linguistics. On our course you’ll become highly proficient in German and will be able to study up to a further two of the modern languages taught at Essex, including Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French, and Mandarin Chinese. These languages can be studied alongside a complementary range of cultural and professional skills modules from Translating, Interpreting and Subtitling, to German Cinema and Culture. You can start German from scratch or at an advanced level.

For most of our languages, we offer modules in all six different levels recognised by the Common European Framework. With two modules completed in German each year, you are expected to reach Mastery level in the language by the end of our course, and are also encouraged to gain confidence in one or two other languages of your choice. As well as gaining fluency in German, you become proficient in the broad range of its practical use, from professional translation to creative writing.

We also offer a month-long summer course with fees paid for by us if you start a language from scratch via the intensive route.

If you want a global outlook, are interested in human communication, and want to study for a degree with real-world practical value in a world-class department, welcome to Essex.

Programme structure

Year 0

An Introduction to the History of the United Kingdom During the Twentieth Century
Major Writers in English Literature
Political and Social Theory From Plato to the Present Day
Western Philosophy: Fundamental Questions, Major Thinkers
Academic Skills

Year 1

Intensive Initial German (Double Module) (optional)
Intensive Initial Italian (Double Module) (optional)
Careers and Employability Skills for Languages and Linguistics

Year 2

Advanced German (optional)
Three Countries One Language – Austria, Switzerland and Germany (optional)
Advanced Italian (optional)
Spanish / Italian / Romanian to Portuguese Conversion (optional)
Careers and Employability Skills for Languages and Linguistics

Final year

Mastery Level German
Translation, Interpreting and Subtitling Skills
Proficiency Level Italian (optional)
Advanced Portuguese (optional)
Careers and Employability Skills for Languages and Linguistics

Career opportunities

Being an Essex modern languages graduate places you in a very advantageous position. You will be able to speak and write fluently, or to a very competent standard, in up to four languages Each of the languages we teach are widely used in the business world, and so many of our graduates are recruited by international firms looking for language specialists, and go on to develop successful global careers.

Our graduates become teachers, translators, administrators and journalists. Their valued language skills have enabled them to work in diverse fields including banking, entertainment, media, education and tourism, as well as for a host of UK and international companies. In particular, a degree in modern languages lends itself to a career in education, translation, interpretation, trade, PR, communications, immigration or diplomacy.