Program Overview

Modern Languages with Business BA

Course Overview

Are you interested in languages with a view to working in a business environment? Do you want to discover more about the history, politics and cultures of the countries where a particular language or languages are spoken? Our Modern Languages with Business degree will equip you with the knowledge, skills and expertise needed throughout your career, and open up opportunities to develop a global career.

Three quarters of your time will be spent studying one or two languages to degree level and developing your cultural and historical knowledge of the country or countries where your chosen language(s) are spoken. The other quarter of the course will be spent developing a sound understanding of fundamental business principles and theories.

The exciting opportunity of the year abroad develops your communication skills, builds your confidence and helps you stand out to future employers. Depending upon your choice of language(s) you have three options: teaching English in a School; studying at one of our partner universities; or working anywhere your chosen language is spoken.

What are my language options?

• I want to study one language from beginners' level - you may choose German, Russian or Spanish
• I want to study one language post-A level - you may choose French, German, Russian or Spanish
• I want to study two languages - you may study French, German, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, Serbian/Croatian. Only one language may be started from beginners' level

• Portuguese and Serbian/Croatian can only be taken from beginners' level.

Year Abroad

On this course, subject to you meeting the relevant requirements, you will divide your time between countries where your chosen language(s) are spoken. Depending on where your placement is, you could:

• study in a higher education institution
• teach on the British Council assistantship programme (not available in Russia, Cuba or China)
• undertake a work placement (not available in Russia, Cuba or China)

For more information, see: Year abroad options in the School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies

Key Information

• Please be aware that study abroad, compulsory year abroad, optional placements/internships and integrated year in industry opportunities may change at any time for a number of reasons, including curriculum developments, changes to arrangements with partner universities or placement/industry hosts, travel restrictions or other circumstances outside of the university’s control. Every effort will be made to update this information as quickly as possible should a change occur.

Fees

• Tuition fees 2025/26 (UK undergraduate students): The UK Government has confirmed that the maximum tuition fee for full time UK undergraduate and Initial Teacher Training students studying in England will increase to £9,535 for the 2025/26 academic year. The university will charge the maximum approved fee, which is an increase of £285 per year. For more information, please read our FAQs.

Additional Costs

• Books: You'll be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to buy your own copies of core texts. A limited number of modules have compulsory texts which you are required to buy. We recommend that you budget £100 per year for books, but this figure will vary according to which modules you take. The Blackwell's bookshop on campus offers a year-round price match against any of the main retailers (e.g. Amazon, Waterstones, WH Smith). They also offer second-hand books, as students from previous years sell their copies back to the bookshop.
• Year abroad - Reduced fees (subject to change): As a year abroad student, you will pay reduced fees. For students spending their year abroad in 2023 this was set at:
  • Home/EU students: £1,385
  • International: 50% of the relevant international fee
• Costs incurred during the year abroad: These vary from country to country, but always include:
  • travel
  • accommodation
  • subsistence
  • insurance Depending on the country visited you may also have to pay for:
  • visa
  • vaccinations
  • self-funded language courses
  • additional administration fees and study supplies in the host country or organisation
• There are a number of sources of funding:
  • Student Finance Loan
  • Means-tested travel grant
  • University of Nottingham bursaries and scholarships Your access to funding depends on:
  • the course you are taking
  • your residency status
  • where you live in term time
  • your household income You may be able to work or teach during your year abroad. This will be dependent on your course and country-specific regulations. Often students receive a small salary or stipend for these work placements. Working or teaching is not permitted in all countries. More information on your third year abroad.

Scholarships and Bursaries

• Faculty of Arts Alumni Scholarships: Our Alumni Scholarships are funding opportunities gifted by some of our alumni who want to help support the next generation through higher education. These scholarships provide eligible students with financial contributions toward essential living costs. Find out more about eligibility and how to apply.
• International students: We offer a range of international undergraduate scholarships for high-achieving international scholars who can put their Nottingham degree to great use in their careers.
• Home students: Over one third of our UK students receive our means-tested core bursary, worth up to £1,000 a year. Full details can be found on our financial support pages.

Module Information

• Year one:
  • Core modules for the language pathways.
  • French Beginners: French 1: Beginners
  • French post-A level: French 1, Introduction to French and Francophone Studies
  • German Beginners: German 1: Beginners
  • German post-A level: German 1, Introduction to German Studies
  • Spanish Beginners: Spanish 1: Beginners
  • Spanish post-A level: Spanish 1
  • Portuguese Beginners: Portuguese 1: Beginners, Culture and Society in Brazil, Portugal and Portuguese-speaking Africa
  • Russian Beginners: Russian 1: Beginners
  • Russian post-A level: Russian 1
  • Serbian/Croatian Beginners: Serbian / Croatian 1: Beginners
  • Mandarin Beginners: Mandarin Chinese for Beginners
  • Mandarin Intermediate: Mandarin Chinese for Intermediate Level
  • Mandarin Advanced: Mandarin Chinese for the Advanced Level
• Year two:
  • Core modules for the language pathways.
  • French Beginners: French 2 - Beginners, Introduction to French and Francophone Studies
  • French post-A level: French 2
  • German Beginners: German 2 - Beginners, Leben und Arbeiten in Deutschland: Introduction to Contemporary Germany
  • German post-A level: German 2
  • Spanish Beginners: Spanish 2: Beginners
  • Spanish post-A level: Spanish 2
  • Portuguese Beginners: Portuguese 2: Beginners, Nation Building and National Identities in the Lusophone World
  • Russian Beginners: Russian 2 - Beginners
  • Russian post-A level: Russian 2
  • Serbian/Croatian Beginners: Serbian / Croatian 2
  • Mandarin Beginners: Mandarin Chinese for Intermediate Level
  • Mandarin Intermediate: Mandarin Chinese for the Advanced Level
  • Mandarin Advanced: Mandarin Chinese for Proficiency Level
• Year three:
  • Year abroad
• Year four:
  • Beginners and post-A level pathways come together in year four and take the same core modules for their chosen languages.
  • French Beginners and post-A level: French 3
  • German Beginners and post-A level: German 3
  • Russian Beginners and post-A level: Russian 3
  • Serbian/Croatian Beginners: Serbian / Croatian 3
  • Spanish Beginners and post-A level: Spanish 3
  • Portuguese Beginners: Portuguese 3
  • Mandarin Beginners: Mandarin Chinese for Advanced Level
  • Mandarin Intermediate: Mandarin Chinese for the Proficiency Level
  • Mandarin Advanced: Mandarin Chinese for Research Level

How You Will Learn

• Lectures
• Seminars and workshops
• Tutorials
• eLearning
• Peer mentoring

How You Will Be Assessed

• Commentary
• Dissertation
• Essay
• In-class test
• Presentation
• Written exam

Contact Time and Study Hours

• As well as scheduled teaching you’ll carry out extensive self-study such as preparation for seminars and assessments, as well as language practice. As a guide 20 credits (a typical module) is approximately 200 hours of work (combined teaching and self-study). An average week will have between 12-15 hours of classes.

Careers Overview

• Studying languages can open up a world of opportunities. From banking to charities and from teaching to MI5, businesses and organisations across the globe seek to employ language specialists.
• During this degree you’ll be able to choose from a wide range of modules, allowing you to tailor your studies around personal interests. In doing so you’ll start to identify potential career paths and begin to discover your areas of professional interest.
• In addition to language skills, you’ll develop transferable skills highly sought after by employers such as confident communication skills, strict attention to detail and the ability to work within different cultures and organisational styles.

Job Prospects

• 87.8% of undergraduates from Nottingham University Business School secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual starting salary for these graduates was £30,195.
• 78.8% of undergraduates from the Faculty of Arts secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual starting salary for these graduates was £23,974.
• HESA Graduate Outcomes (2017 to 2021 cohorts). The Graduate Outcomes % is calculated using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on graduates working full-time within the UK.

Careers Advice

• Studying for a degree at the University of Nottingham will provide you with the type of skills and experiences that will prove invaluable in any career, whichever direction you decide to take.
• Throughout your time with us, our Careers and Employability Service can work with you to improve your employability skills even further; assisting with job or course applications, searching for appropriate work experience placements and hosting events to bring you closer to a wide range of prospective employers.
• Have a look at our careers page for an overview of all the employability support and opportunities that we provide to current students.

Your Campus - University Park

• University Park Campus covers 300 acres, with green spaces, wildlife, period buildings and modern facilities. It is one of the UK's most beautiful and sustainable campuses, winning a national Green Flag award every year since 2003.