BA Modern Languages and International Relations
About this course
BA Honours in Modern Languages and International Relations, an undergraduate degree combining foreign language learning with the study of global politics and international affairs. Core topics include Research Methods and Policy Analysis. Students can optionally undertake a placement year in the UK or spend a year abroad during their studies. During the first year, students study compulsory modules including Key Concepts in International Politics, Power and Inequality: How to Study Global Politics ... and Change the World, and Academic Study and Research Skills, alongside a wide range of optional language modules in Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish. The second year continues with compulsory modules such as Becoming a Political Researcher and Year Abroad Preparation. Optional modules allow students to further develop their language proficiency and explore specialised topics in international relations, politics, and culture.
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: ABB IB: 32 points
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What students say
Based on about 86 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 89%
- Learning opportunities: 84%
- Assessment and feedback: 80%
- Academic support: 93%
- Organisation and management: 89%
- Learning resources: 91%
- Student voice: 81%
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: 90%
- Left higher education: 10%
What graduates do next
Based on about 22 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 65%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 10%
- Unemployed: 10%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 22%
- Teaching Professionals: 14%
- Sales occupations: 10%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 8%
- Find their work meaningful: 45%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 75%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 35%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 50 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 20%
- North West: 5%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 10%
- East Midlands: 5%
- West Midlands: 5%
- London: 35%
- South East: 10%
- South West: 5%
- Northern Ireland: 5%
Who gets in
Based on about 30 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 90%
- A degree: 5%
- Other qualifications: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Contemporary Chinese Society: Issues and Challenges
- China and its Peripheries: Repression, (In)stability and Conflict in the 21st Century
- Chinese Independent Documentaries: Alternative Archive and Video Activism
- Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese I
- Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese II
- Level D (HE Further Advanced) Chinese I
- Level D (HE Further Advanced) Chinese II
- Classic French Cinema
- Paris: Aspects of History and Culture
- Linguistic Variation in French
- Level C (HE Advanced) French
- Occupation and Resistance: Literary and Cinematic Responses to the Second World War in France
- From Experimental to Explicit: Translating Women's Writing in French
- Global France: Intercultural Relations in French Literature and Film
- Social Justice in French and Francophone Culture
- Level D (HE Further Advanced): French for Professional and Academic Purposes
- Berlin: culture and society from the Weimar to the Berlin Republic
- Radicalism, Revolt and Revolution in German Thought
- Level C (HE Advanced) German
- A Comparative History of German and English: phonology, morphology, syntax and lexicon
- Society, Media, Identities in contemporary Germany and Austria
- Level D (HE Further Advanced): German for Professional and Academic Purposes
- Contemporary Japanese Popular Culture
- Literary and cultural expressions in contemporary Japan
- Level C (HE Advanced) Japanese I
- Level C (HE Advanced) Japanese II
- Level D (HE Further Advanced) Japanese I
- Level D (HE Further Advanced) Japanese II
- Cultura y poder en América latina: debates desde la antropología
- Comparative History of Hispano-America and Brazil: From Independence to the Mexican Revolution (1789/1810-1917)
- Inter-American Relations from the Spanish-American War (1898) to the end of the Cold War (1989/1991)
- Language Endangerment and Revitalisation in Latin America
- Latin American Art
- Cultura y Política en Colombia
- Career Development for final year students
- Writing for Foreign Policy Makers: Research Project in Foreign Policy Analysis
- Final Year Dissertation
- Final Year Project: Semester 1
- Final Year Project: Semester 2
- Who and why votes for far right? Using data for political analysis
- Politics of Immigration
- Politics of Citizenship
- Gender and Sexuality Politics in the Middle East
- Power and Policy: Understanding Impact
- Identidades Pós-Coloniais Luso-Afro-Brasileiras
- Level C (HE Advanced) Portuguese
- Cities in East Asian Cinema: Culture, History and Identity
- Advocating and Teaching Languages in Schools
- Italian language and culture II
- Memory and Storytelling Across Borders
- Dissertation/T&I Project
- Language Diversity in the Hispanic World
- Food, Football and Fiction: Constructing Catalan Cultural Identity
- Level C (HE Advanced) Spanish
- Catalan II
- Cultura Popular en España y Cuba
- Spanish and Romance word analysis
- Level D (HE Further Advanced): Spanish for Professional and Academic Purposes
- Level D (HE Further Advanced): Spanish Translation and Interpreting
- Key Concepts in International Politics
- Power and Inequality: How to Study Global Politics ... and Change the World
- Academic Study and Research Skills
- Introduction to Chinese Culture and Society
- Level A (HE Entry Level) Chinese I
- Level A (HE Entry Level) Chinese II
- Level B (HE Intermediate) Chinese I
- Level B (HE Intermediate) Chinese II
- France and the Francophone World
- Level A (HE Entry Level) French I
- Level A (HE Entry Level) French II
- Level B.1 (HE Intermediate) French
- Level B.2 (HE Intermediate) French
- Interconnected World
- Introduction to German history, culture and society
- Level A (HE Entry Level) German I
- Level A (HE Entry Level) German II
- Level B.1 (HE Intermediate) German
- Level B.2 (HE Intermediate) German
- Introduction to Japanese History and Culture
- Level A (HE Entry Level) Japanese I
- Level A (HE Entry Level) Japanese II
- Level B (HE Intermediate) Japanese) I
- Level B (HE Intermediate) Japanese II
- Introduction to Latin America
- Order and Disorder: The Shaping of the 21st Century
- State, People and Politics: Comparative Politics in a Globalised World
- Level A (HE Entry Level) Portuguese I
- Level A (HE Entry Level) Portuguese II
- Introduction to Linguistics
- Introduction to International Film
- Introduction to Cultural Studies
- Language and Cross Cultural Communication
- Introduction to History, Culture and Society of the Iberian Peninsula
- Level A (HE Entry Level) Spanish I
- Level A (HE Entry Level) Spanish II
- Level B.1 (HE Intermediate) Spanish
- Level B.2 (HE Intermediate) Spanish
- Becoming a Political Researcher
- Year Abroad Preparation
- Contemporary Chinese Society: Issues and Challenges
- Level B (HE Intermediate) Chinese I
- Level B (HE Intermediate) Chinese II
- Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese I
- Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese II
- France and the Francophone World
- Level B.1 (HE Intermediate) French
- Classic French Cinema
- Paris: Aspects of History and Culture
- Linguistic Variation in French
- Level C (HE Advanced) French
- Political Geography
- Introduction to German history, culture and society
- Level B.1 (HE Intermediate) German
- Berlin: culture and society from the Weimar to the Berlin Republic
- Radicalism, Revolt and Revolution in German Thought
- Dutch I
- Level C (HE Advanced) German
- Contemporary Japanese Popular Culture
- Level B (HE Intermediate) Japanese) I
- Level B (HE Intermediate) Japanese II
- Level C (HE Advanced) Japanese I
- Level C (HE Advanced) Japanese II
- Introduction to Latin America
- Cultura y poder en América latina: debates desde la antropología
- Comparative History of Hispano-America and Brazil: From Independence to the Mexican Revolution (1789/1810-1917)
- Translation for Singing
- Politics of the Middle East
- The Politics and Policy of the European Union
- Power and Poverty in the Global Economy
- Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: Social Issues in Contemporary Political Philosophy
- Sex, Gender and Power
- The Politics of Race
- International Organizations and Diplomacy
- Cultures and Societies of the Portuguese-Speaking World
- Level B (HE Intermediate) Portuguese
- Introduction to Linguistics
- Introduction to International Film
- Introduction to Cultural Studies
- Cities in East Asian Cinema: Culture, History and Identity
- Italian language and culture I
- Reading in Translation
- Introduction to History, Culture and Society of the Iberian Peninsula
- Level B.1 (HE Intermediate) Spanish
- Catalan I
- Language Diversity in the Hispanic World
- Food, Football and Fiction: Constructing Catalan Cultural Identity
- Level C (HE Advanced) Spanish
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Modern Languages and International Relations at Newcastle University earn?
The median salary is £27,000 after 15 months, £27,000 after 3 years, £38,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £29,500 and £61,000. The £38,000 median after five years is £4,000 more than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA Modern Languages and International Relations at Newcastle University do next?
80% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Modern Languages and International Relations at Newcastle University?
89% 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 and International Relations at Newcastle University?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 133 UCAS points.
Does BA Modern Languages and International Relations at Newcastle University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Modern Languages and International Relations at Newcastle University?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.