BA Politics and Modern Languages & Cultures
About this course
BA in Politics and Modern Languages & Cultures, a Politics and International Relations and Modern Languages degree centred on political analysis and cultural studies. Core topics include Research Methods, Critical & Analytical Thinking, and Global & Comparative Perspective. Students examine political issues from different cultural perspectives while studying languages within their broader political contexts. The first year covers foundational concepts through compulsory modules such as Political Analysis 1: An Introduction to Research and Scholarship and Thinking Politically: Key Concepts, alongside language training options. The second year progresses with compulsory studies in Arts of Persuasion, Political Analysis 2: How to do empirical research, and Political Theory in Practice. Further stages involve advanced language proficiencies and targeted research projects where students explore specific topics in depth with academic supervision. Optional modules span various specialized areas of global politics, cultural history, and international relations.
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: 33, typically with 5 in a Higher Level modern foreign language; 32, typically with 5 in a Higher Level modern foreign language, and B in the extended essay
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Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 93%: 52 offers from 56 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 7 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 90%
- Learning opportunities: 81%
- Assessment and feedback: 67%
- Academic support: 92%
- Organisation and management: 67%
- Learning resources: 93%
- Student voice: 79%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 75%
- Left higher education: 25%
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: 70%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 10%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 14%
- Elementary occupations: 12%
- Administrative occupations: 12%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 11%
- Managers, directors and senior officials: 6%
- Find their work meaningful: 70%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 50%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 50%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 60 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 12%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 42%
- East Midlands: 7%
- West Midlands: 4%
- East of England: 5%
- London: 8%
- South East: 11%
- South West: 9%
- Scotland: 2%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Research Project 1
- French Proficient
- German Proficient
- Dutch Proficient
- Russian Proficient
- Czech Proficient
- Spanish Proficient
- Catalan Proficient
- Portuguese Proficient
- Global Careers in Languages
- Music and Performance
- Global Culture Wars
- The Ethics of Political Leadership
- Understanding Elections
- Social Approaches to Multilingualism
- Comparative Critique of Consumer Culture
- Political Psychology: The Personal Side of Politics
- War, Peace and Justice
- Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict
- Corporations in Global Politics: Possibilities, Tensions, and Ambiguities
- Tales of Cities. Mapping and Marketing the Urban as a Site of Encounter and Conflict
- Migration and its Representations Across Cultures
- Political Analysis 1: An Introduction to Research and Scholarship
- Thinking Politically: Key Concepts
- French Advanced
- French Beginner Intensive
- Understanding Modern French and Francophone Cultures
- German Advanced
- German Beginner Intensive
- Understanding German and Dutch Histories and Cultures
- Dutch Beginner
- Russian Advanced
- Russian Beginner Intensive
- Russian and Czech Cultures in the Age of Empire and beyond
- Czech Beginner
- Spanish Advanced
- Spanish Beginner Intensive
- Understanding Spanish, Catalan and Portuguese Histories and Cultures
- Catalan Beginner
- Portuguese Beginner
- Gender Politics
- British Politics
- Global Political Economy
- World Politics
- Western Political Thought
- Euro-Visions: Imagining and Questioning Europe
- Language at Work
- Resist! The Art of Protest in Berlin and Amsterdam
- You will also have the option to take a module from our Languages for All scheme. Examples of the languages included are
- Arts of Persuasion
- Political Analysis 2: How to do empirical research
- Political Theory in Practice
- French Higher Advanced
- French Intermediate Intensive
- German Higher Advanced
- German Intermediate Intensive
- Dutch Intermediate
- Russian Higher Advanced
- Russian Intermediate
- Czech Intermediate
- Spanish Higher Advanced
- Spanish Intermediate Intensive
- Catalan Intermediate
- Portuguese Intermediate
- 'That is not my (hi)story'. Shaping the future of our inherited past
- Languages of Gender and Sexuality
- Language and the Self
- Translation
- Revolutions and Revolutionary Trends
- Migration and World Politics
- Europe in Crisis
- Contemporary Security Challenges
- The Political Economy of Global Capitalism
- Africa in the World
- The Making of The Modern Middle East
- Oppression and Resistance
- You will also have the option to take a module from our Languages for All scheme. Examples of the languages included are
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Politics and Modern Languages & Cultures at University of Sheffield earn?
The median salary is £27,000 after 15 months, £24,500 after 3 years, £31,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £25,000 and £34,500. The £31,500 median after five years is £2,500 less than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA Politics and Modern Languages & Cultures at University of Sheffield do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Politics and Modern Languages & Cultures at University of Sheffield?
90% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Politics and Modern Languages & Cultures at University of Sheffield?
The typical offer is ABB at A level. The average entrant had 149 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Politics and Modern Languages & Cultures at University of Sheffield?
93% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 52 offers from 56 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Politics and Modern Languages & Cultures at University of Sheffield include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Politics and Modern Languages & Cultures at University of Sheffield?
75% of students continued into their second year, and 25% left higher education.