Program Overview

Introduction to the History and Language Program

The BA History and Language program at Birkbeck is a carefully structured, wide-ranging course that combines history, culture, and language study. This program allows students to develop critical and analytical skills for assessing historical evidence and questioning conventional wisdom on the past. Students will also learn to formulate and communicate their own ideas effectively in English and in their chosen language of study.

Why Choose This Course?

• Birkbeck has one of the very few schools in the UK to include archaeologists, classicists, and historians working on every period from prehistoric humans to Ancient Greece to medieval, early modern, and modern societies.
• The program offers modules that will hone students' broader analytical, critical, and writing skills, train them in collaborative discussion and debate, and develop their research skills.
• Students will have the opportunity to pursue their interests in British, Irish, European, and global history and explore themes within histories of 'race', migration, gender, and sexuality.
• Students will also become competent in a modern foreign language, choosing from French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, or Mandarin Chinese, and study the culture associated with that language.

What You Will Learn

Students will acquire wide-ranging knowledge of the history of different nations, periods, and civilizations. They will learn how to assess historical evidence critically and master the process of scholarly argumentation and writing. The program will equip students with skills in:

• Critically analyzing narratives about the past and its role in the present across a range of contexts
• Understanding and interrogating primary and secondary sources in discussion and writing
• Navigating archives, collections, oral history sources, and libraries

How You Will Learn

History teaching on this course combines lectures from leading academics who will introduce students to the critical ideas, debates, and figures of the past, with seminars where students will pursue collaborative knowledge alongside their fellow students. Language teaching gives students plenty of opportunities to participate actively and interact with their peers as well as with experienced tutors. This course is available to study full- or part-time, with classes taking place in the evening.

Foundation Year

If students opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare them for undergraduate study. It is ideal if students are returning to study after a gap, or if they have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if they did not achieve the grades they need for a place on their chosen undergraduate degree.

Key Information and Modules

The program is offered in various formats:

• History and Language (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese) BA (Hons): 3 years full-time, on campus, starting October 2026
• History and Language (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese) BA (Hons): 4 years part-time, on campus, starting October 2026
• History and Language (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese) with Foundation Year BA (Hons): 4 years full-time, on campus, starting October 2026
• History and Language (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese) with Foundation Year BA (Hons): 6 years part-time, on campus, starting October 2026

Entry Requirements

• The program welcomes applicants without traditional entry qualifications, as decisions are based on the assessment of qualifications, knowledge, and previous work experience.
• The application process may include an interview, depending on the program chosen.
• This course is suitable for all language entry levels, from beginner to proficiency, including native speaker level if students choose to study French, German, Italian, Spanish, or Japanese. If students decide to study Korean or Mandarin Chinese, these languages are available at beginner entry level.
• For part-time courses, standard requirements are a minimum of two A-levels or equivalent.

UCAS Tariff Points

• 3 years full-time: 112 points (e.g., A-levels BBC)
• 4 years full-time with Foundation Year: 48 points

Fees

• History and Language (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese) BA (Hons): 4 years part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2026–27
  • Part-time home students: £7,335 per year
  • Part-time international students: £13,875 per year
• History and Language (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese) BA (Hons): 3 years full-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2026–27
  • Full-time home students: £9,790 per year
  • Full-time international students: £18,500 per year
• History and Language (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese) with Foundation Year BA (Hons): 6 years part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2026–27
  • Part-time home students, Year 1&2: £2,880 per year
  • Part-time international students, Year 1&2: £9,250 per year
  • Part-time home students, Year 3+: £7,335 per year
  • Part-time international students, Year 3+: £13,875 per year
• History and Language (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese) with Foundation Year BA (Hons): 4 years full-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2026–27
  • Full-time home students, Year 1: £5,760 per year
  • Full-time international students, Year 1: £18,500 per year
  • Full-time home students, Year 2+: £9,790 per year
  • Full-time international students, Year 2+: £18,500 per year

Teaching and Assessment

• Teaching may include formal lectures, seminars, and practical classes and tutorials.
• Assessment is an integral part of university studies and usually consists of a combination of coursework and examinations.
• The methods of assessment on this course are specified and include source analyses, quizzes, presentations, in-class written tests, oral and listening comprehension, and research essays.

Careers and Employability

On successfully graduating from this BA History and Language, students will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including:

• Locating, contextualizing, and interpreting a range of historical sources
• Assessing the reliability of different varieties of evidence
• Presenting findings
• Speaking, reading, and writing in the chosen language
• Knowledge about the lands and peoples associated with the chosen language Graduates can work across professions and disciplines in education, business, the arts, museums and galleries, the heritage sector, social work, or government. Possible professions include:
• Heritage manager
• Museum/gallery curator
• Archivist
• Translator
• Higher education lecturer
• Primary/secondary school teacher

Course Structure

The course structure varies depending on whether students choose the full-time or part-time option, with or without the Foundation Year. Students must complete modules worth a total of 360 credits. The course includes compulsory modules such as Approaching the Past, Exploring the Past, and Writing the Past: Dissertation, as well as a range of history and language option modules.

Conclusion

The BA History and Language program at Birkbeck offers students a unique opportunity to combine their interests in history and language, developing a range of skills that are highly valued by employers. With its flexible study options and wide range of modules, this program is ideal for students who want to pursue a career in education, research, or a related field.