BA Modern Languages / International Relations
About this course
BA in Modern Languages / International Relations, a language and area studies degree combining the study of modern languages with international politics. This four-year course includes a compulsory year abroad spent in a country related to the chosen language, undertaken at a partner university or through a work placement. The first year introduces foundational themes through compulsory modules such as Behind the Headlines and Exploring the International 1: Central Concepts and Core Skills alongside optional language choices. The second year builds on political perspectives through International Relations: Perspectives and Debates and diverse optional modules in history and politics. The fourth year offers advanced language levels alongside specialised options covering global security, conflict, and regional studies.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: BBB-BCC IB: 30-26
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What students say
Based on about 9 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 98%
- Learning opportunities: 95%
- Assessment and feedback: 90%
- Academic support: 96%
- Organisation and management: 92%
- Learning resources: 88%
- Student voice: 92%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 100%
What graduates do next
Based on about 11 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 55%
- Working and studying: 15%
- Unemployed: 15%
Most common jobs
- Teaching Professionals: 15%
- Administrative occupations: 15%
- Sales occupations: 15%
- Managers, directors and senior officials: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 80%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 60%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 65%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 190 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 7%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 5%
- East Midlands: 3%
- West Midlands: 18%
- East of England: 6%
- London: 10%
- South East: 7%
- South West: 10%
- Wales: 33%
- Scotland: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 100%
Modules
- Behind the Headlines
- Exploring the International 1: Central Concepts and Core Skills
- Exploring German Cultural Identity
- Globalization and Global Development
- Hispanic Civilization
- Introduction to European Film
- Introduction to French Studies
- Language, Culture, and Identity in Europe
- Politics in the 21st Century
- Study and Research Skills in Modern Languages
- The Making of the Modern World: War Peace and Revolution since 1789
- War, Strategy and Intelligence
- French Language (Beginners)
- French Language (Non-Beginners)
- German Language (Beginners)
- German Language (Non-Beginners)
- Italian Language (Beginners)
- Spanish Language (Beginners)
- Spanish Language (Non-Beginners)
- International Relations: Perspectives and Debates
- A War on the Mind: Propaganda and Secret Intelligence from the Great War to the 21st Century
- America at War: A Military History of the United States
- China From the Opium War to the Present
- Climate Change and International Politics in the Anthropocene
- Contemporary Latin America
- Devolution and Wales
- French Language (Intermediate)
- German Language (Intermediate)
- Intervention and Humanitarianism
- Italian Language (Intermediate)
- Making Sense of Secrets: Intelligence Analysis in Theory and Practice
- People and Power: Understanding Comparative Politics Today
- Political Theory
- Politics in Diverse Societies
- Questions of International Politics
- Russian Security in the 21st Century
- Science, Technology, and International Relations
- Spanish Language (Intermediate)
- Strategy, Intelligence and Security in International Politics
- Terrorism & Counter Terrorism in the Modern World: Policing, Intelligence & War
- The BRICS in World Politics
- The Century of the Superpowers and the Global Cold War
- The Governance of Climate Change: Simulation Module
- The Second World War in Europe
- Total War, Total Peace
- Trade Wars and the Liberal Order
- Warfare after Waterloo: Military History 1815-1918
- Contemporary German Politics
- Cuba in Revolution
- German-speaking Refugees from National Socialism in the UK
- Introduction to Historical Linguistics: Languages in Europe
- Littérature fantastique, 18e-20e siècles / Fantastic literature, 18th-20th centuries
- Rethinking late 20th Century Italy
- Spanish American Cinema
- Spanish Cinema ii: New Tendencies
- The Language of German Drama
- The Spanish Avant-Garde
- Voyage Et Litterature En France / Travel and Literature in France
- A War on the Mind: Propaganda and Secret Intelligence from the Great War to the 21st Century
- America At War: a Military History of the United States
- China From the Opium War to the Present
- Climate Change and International Politics in the Anthropocene
- Contemporary Latin America
- Devolution and Wales
- Intervention and Humanitarianism
- Making Sense of Secrets: Intelligence Analysis in Theory and Practice
- Political Theory
- Politics in Diverse Societies
- Questions of International Politics
- Russian Security in the 21st Century
- Science, Technology, and International Relations
- Terrorism & Counter Terrorism in the Modern World: Policing, Intelligence & War
- The BRICS in World Politics
- The Century of the Superpowers and the Global Cold War
- The Governance of Climate Change: Simulation Module
- The Second World War in Europe
- Total War, Total Peace
- Trade Wars and the Liberal Order
- French Language (Advanced)
- German Language (Advanced)
- Italian Language (Advanced)
- Spanish Language (Advanced)
- Contemporary German Politics
- Cuba in Revolution
- German-speaking Refugees from National Socialism in the UK
- Introduction to Historical Linguistics: Languages in Europe
- Littérature fantastique, 18e-20e siècles / Fantastic literature, 18th-20th centuries
- Reading Late 19th Century Literature
- Rethinking late 20th Century Italy
- Spanish Cinema ii: New Tendencies
- The Language of German Drama
- Voyage Et Litterature En France / Travel and Literature in France
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Modern Languages / International Relations at Aberystwyth University earn?
The median salary is £27,000 after 15 months, £20,000 after 3 years, £24,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £19,500 and £30,000. The £24,500 median after five years is £9,500 less than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA Modern Languages / International Relations at Aberystwyth University do next?
70% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Modern Languages / International Relations at Aberystwyth University?
98% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Modern Languages / International Relations at Aberystwyth University?
The typical offer is BBB at A level. The average entrant had 124 UCAS points.
Does BA Modern Languages / International Relations at Aberystwyth University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Modern Languages / International Relations at Aberystwyth University?
100% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.