About us
Welcome from Dr Guy Baron, Head of Department
There has never been a more exciting time to study languages. With other languages competing with English to be the main language of global communication, there are more reasons than ever to become bilingual or even multilingual.
Studying languages is a chance to acquire the knowledge and skills that are needed to take full advantage of opportunities in the 21st century. In addition, studying languages fosters enhanced communication and adaptability skills and a deeper cultural awareness, and these are attributes that are highly valued by employers at home and abroad.
Here in the Department of Modern Languages at Aberystwyth University, we offer a range of courses in the study of French, Spanish, German and Italian, either as single or joint honours degree programmes in the case of Spanish and French, or joint honours in the case of German and Italian. We are one of a handful of universities in the UK that offers you the opportunity to combine the study of three languages, two of which can be taught from beginners’ level. You can also combine your language study with a wide range of other subjects including History, International Relations, English, Education and Drama.
Studying Modern Languages at Aberystwyth will allow you to develop as a linguist across four years of BA study so that you graduate with high-level proficiency in your language(s) of choice. We place particularly strong emphasis on employability and the value of developing language skills for professional life. Combined with specialised language study, here at Aberystwyth you will also follow courses that develop your understanding of national societies and cultures and the place of these in the world. As you progress in your studies, you will have the choice to follow a number of specialist modules that will deepen your knowledge of national and transnational topics in society and culture.
Our teaching is informed by high-quality research and innovative ways to engage and excite students in learning languages in the classroom. The Department of Modern Languages was 3rd overall, 1st for Feedback and 1st for Added Value in the UK for the subject of Languages and Linguistics in the Guardian University League Table 2024. We also consistently perform well in the annual National Student Survey. In the 2023 NSS, 100% of students agreed that teaching staff were very good or good at explaining things.
As well as being surrounded by the language in the Department, the year abroad in your third year of study will ensure that you’ll also be fully immersed in the culture of your chosen language(s), providing you with cultural and social insights, and enhancing your knowledge and confidence.
The experiences our students gain during their year abroad (which they may spend studying at a partner university, as language teachers with the British Council, or on a range of work placements) are a central feature of our modern languages degrees. The flexibility, independence and problem-solving skills that are developed during this year are often cited by employers as a major attraction for hiring language students after graduation. The year abroad is a transformational experience that will equip you very effectively for a global future.
As a department, we are confident we can support your passion for modern languages whilst equipping you for a bright future. Come and visit us to see for yourself and find out more about what we can offer you. We would be delighted to welcome you to our Department, to tell you more about our degrees and to introduce you to our vibrant community of teachers, scholars and students.