Why Study Modern Languages?

You will often hear this question asked, because English is an established global language. However, we live in a dynamic world where other European and Asian languages are increasingly used to communicate internationally. That is why Modern Languages are valued by UK industry and government as a subject in the national interest, and also why language students have a very high success rate in finding employment.

Why study Modern Languages at Nottingham University?

One of the largest centres for Modern Languages in the UK, we can provide an extraordinarily wide choice of degree subjects:

• French Studies (including  French-speaking North Africa and Canada)
• German (including Dutch)
• Spanish (including Portuguese and Latin-America)
• Russian and Slavonic (including Polish, Slovene and Serbian/Croatian)
• Critical Theory, cultural studies and communications studies

Some of the languages, such as Russian, can be studied from beginners’ to degree level. They can be combined with each other, and with English, History, Politics, Film/TV Studies, Law, Chinese Studies and Management Studies. You can also learn Italian, Japanese and Modern Greek.

Learning the language of a particular country, you study its culture: literature, film, contemporary media, history, politics, society. This develops the broad range of skills that are prized by employers and universities world-wide:

• Analytical skills and memory skills
• Communications skills in English and in foreign language(s)
• Inter-cultural awareness
• Adaptability and resourcefulness

In most degree programmes you spend a year abroad in your third year.  You could also spend a term studying in Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden and the USA.

What do our students do when they leave?

• Management and administration
• Civil service and foreign office
• Public relations and journalism
• International agencies, accountancy, law, banking and business
• Translating
• Teaching
• Postgraduate study

Reputation for excellence

The School of Modern Languages and Cultures at Nottingham has a reputation for excellence nationally and internationally, with its teaching and research externally validated as being of the highest quality. Our students graduate with good degrees that help them find interesting jobs in the global market.

For further information or advice, see our website or contact the School of Modern Languages and Cultures.

Address: University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD
Tel: 0115 951 5507
Fax: 0115 846 7309
E-mail: jill.bramston@nottingham.ac.uk
Web: www.nottingham.ac.uk/modern-languages

Graduate Profile

Laura Harrhy (graduated 2005)
Current job: Graduate Training Programme based in Paris and London with French Corporate and Investment Bank, Société Générale.

"I came to Nottingham for the world class teaching, the beautiful campus and city, and the triple language course (French, German, Spanish beginners', in my case), with the possibility of beginning a fourth (Dutch), something unique to Nottingham. I chose an arts course rather than a business degree, because I felt I stood to widen my horizons enormously, and I love languages and the opportunities they present: my degree saw me studying in Granada and Heidelberg, and entertaining guests at Disneyland Paris!

"The manipulation of language develops lateral thinking and people skills which, coupled with the excellent international status of Nottingham helped me secure the job in the City I had dreamed of. I was one of over 2000 European applicants to the Société Générale Corporate and Investment Bank training programme, sending off my CV days after graduation. Less than a month later I found that I had beaten off hundreds of candidates holding business degrees, and was praised for my "across the board performance". I am now looking forward to three weeks' training at the business school INSEAD near Paris, and an exciting job involving lots of movement between Paris, London, and possibly further afield. A language degree from Nottingham will take you far, so aim high and do one!"