Modern Languages and Cultures 

MLang Hons

UCAS codeR810
Entry year2025
A level requirementsAAB
DurationFull time 4 years

3rd for French 

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2025)

3

3rd for Iberian Languages

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2025)

4

4th for Italian

The Complete University Guide (2025)

Why Lancaster?

Go from undergraduate to master's level in just four years to boost your profile as a higher level language graduate
Choose to deep dive into one or two languages
Challenge yourself as a linguist and explore the political, historical and cultural context of your chosen language/s
Learn from trained linguists carrying out high-profile research across some fascinating fields, as diverse as German culture and albinism in Africa
Stand out to employers with a higher level language degree – a badge of excellence in both language ability and intercultural understanding 

Sharpen your reading, writing and speaking ability in one or two languages. Spend your second year studying abroad and fast-track your advancement as you experience a different culture. In just four years you’ll have a postgraduate language degree and advanced skills that will get you noticed.

Study at a partner university

To join this course, you’ll need to have previously studied one or two languages. Once you join us, we’ll closely monitor your performance to ensure you’re ready for the challenge of a placement year abroad and completing a postgraduate qualification in just four years.

You’ll kickstart your studies at Lancaster exploring areas such as advanced grammar and translation, then advance into your second year in Europe. Our partner universities in France, Germany and Spain are familiar with this programme and make sure you cover all the vital Year 2 subjects while you’re away. If you’re studying two languages, you’ll split the year between the two countries.

Resilient and ready for success

After returning to Lancaster, you’ll complete a range of modules, including your undergraduate dissertation. In your final year, you’ll be working at postgraduate level with a fresh choice of topics followed by your postgraduate dissertation. Your dissertation topics provide the chance to dive deep into a subject of your choice. Perhaps you have a favourite piece of work you want to translate with a critical eye? Or maybe you want to dive into research about different dialects?

By the end of the course, you’ll be extremely resilient on a personal and professional level. Although the course is intense, we’ll provide all the support you need, from preparation sessions for your international placement year to workshops that will get you ready for a career as a language graduate. We also offer resilience training as we recognise the importance of the mental wellbeing of our students.

Beginners Languages

In addition to studying one or two languages at advanced level as a major or joint major degree, you have the option to take one beginners level language as a minor subject in your first year. After the first year, you will continue to study your major language/s at an advanced level.

With our beginners language courses, you have the opportunity to develop your skills from scratch to AS level standard in just one year. This is intensive but rewarding, and adds another dimension to your knowledge of modern languages.

Languages and Cultures at Lancaster University

Study up to three languages of your choice and be supported to take an International Placement Year in Europe or beyond. Our students explain what you could experience studying Languages and Cultures at Lancaster University.

Careers

Integrated Master's are a fantastic opportunity to achieve a postgraduate qualification in four years, which will stand out on your CV.

By the time you graduate, you’ll have a brilliant combination of interpersonal, intercultural, and transferable skills that can be applied to a range of rewarding career paths. This course is also a great stepping-stone to doctoral research.

Our languages graduates have gone on to specialist careers in translation, international business, international finance, and teaching. They have also chosen to enter a range of other professions, such as: 

Accountancy
IT
Civil Service
Events management
Journalism
Sales and marketing
Publishing

Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring that you gain a highly reputable degree. We are also dedicated to ensuring that you graduate with relevant life and work-based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award, which offers you the opportunity to complete activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development.

Visit our Employability section for full details.

Entry requirements

Grade Requirements

A Level AAB

Required Subjects A level in one or two of the languages to be studied. Please visit the Languages & Cultureswebpages for further details.

IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements webpages.

Other Qualifications

International Baccalaureate 35 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects, including one or two of the languages to be studied. Please contact the Admissions Team for further details.

BTEC Accepted alongside A levels in one or two of the languages to be studied. Please contact the Admissions Team for further details.

We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualification. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions webpages.

Contact Admissions Team + 44 (0) 1524 592028 or via ugadmissions@Lancaster.ac.uk

International foundation programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Contextual admissions

Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.

Course structure

Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and some which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.