Language Studies 2012
"There are countless benefits for doing a professional training year, especially abroad."
Adam Jackowski
Our degrees give you the opportunity to combine your interest in foreign languages with a strong professional orientation. You will gain insights into different languages and their varied sociocultural contexts, and develop the linguistic and intercultural skills needed in a world of growing globalisation.
We put great emphasis on practical language use and provide you with the study skills that you require to become an independent language learner. We offer you the opportunity to spend a year abroad on study placement or on a paid work placement. Over many years we have developed a network of professional contacts in Europe and beyond. Our experienced placement team will assist you in choosing a placement that will help you make the most of this year, linguistically and culturally.
Factfile
| Minimum Entry Requirements | A level grades AAB All applicants should also adhere to the University's General Entrance Requirements. |
|---|---|
| Required Subjects | Grade B in the language at A level, or equivalent, is required. Please contact us for the requirements for ab initio Spanish. |
| English Language Requirements | An IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent for non-native-English-speaking applicants. Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre. |
| Other Suitable Qualifications | BTEC National Diploma - DDD-DDM A wide range of other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis. |
| Selection Process | Offers are usually made in terms of grades. We do not normally include General Studies in our offers. Exceptions are made depending on student profile. We invite suitable candidates to visit the University to find out more about the programme and to meet staff and students. |
Degrees
Degree Programmes
BA (Hons) Degrees
| Degree | UCAS code | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| * Programme includes a professional training year | ||
| BA (Hons) French and German | RR12 | 4* years |
| BA (Hons) French and Spanish | RR14 | 4* years |
| BA (Hons) German and Spanish | RR24 | 4* years |
| BA (Hons) French and Translation | RQ19 | 4* years |
| BA (Hons) German and Translation | RQ29 | 4* years |
| BA (Hons) Spanish and Translation | RQ49 | 4* years |
| BA (Hons) French and English for International Communication | RQ13 | 4* years |
| BA (Hons) German and English for International Communication | RQ23 | 4* years |
| BA (Hons) Spanish and English for International Communication | RQ43 | 4* years |
| BA (Hons) English Literature and French | QR3C | 4* years |
| BA (Hons) English Literature and German | QR32 | 4* years |
| BA (Hons) English Literature and Spanish | QR3K | 4* years |
BSc (Hons) Degrees
| Degree | UCAS code | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| * Programme includes a professional training year | ||
| BSc (Hons) Business Management and English for International Communication | NQ23 | 4* years |
| BSc (Hons) Business Management and French | NR21 | 4* years |
| BSc (Hons) Business Management and German | NR22 | 4* years |
| BSc (Hons) Business Management and Spanish | NR24 | 4* years |
Degrees
Degree Programmes
BA (Hons) Degrees
| Degree | UCAS code | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| * Programme includes a professional training year | ||
| BA (Hons) French and German | RR12 | 4* years |
| BA (Hons) French and Spanish | RR14 | 4* years |
| BA (Hons) German and Spanish | RR24 | 4* years |
| BA (Hons) French and Translation | RQ19 | 4* years |
| BA (Hons) German and Translation | RQ29 | 4* years |
| BA (Hons) Spanish and Translation | RQ49 | 4* years |
| BA (Hons) French and English for International Communication | RQ13 | 4* years |
| BA (Hons) German and English for International Communication | RQ23 | 4* years |
| BA (Hons) Spanish and English for International Communication | RQ43 | 4* years |
| BA (Hons) English Literature and French | QR3C | 4* years |
| BA (Hons) English Literature and German | QR32 | 4* years |
| BA (Hons) English Literature and Spanish | QR3K | 4* years |
BSc (Hons) Degrees
| Degree | UCAS code | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| * Programme includes a professional training year | ||
| BSc (Hons) Business Management and English for International Communication | NQ23 | 4* years |
| BSc (Hons) Business Management and French | NR21 | 4* years |
| BSc (Hons) Business Management and German | NR22 | 4* years |
| BSc (Hons) Business Management and Spanish | NR24 | 4* years |
Our Degrees
We believe that language learning should be about contemporary language as a means of communication and a means of access to other cultures and societies. Our programmes place great emphasis on the modern world of work and communication, focusing on language for business and other professional contexts.
We also recognise the need to understand how languages and societies have developed, and therefore we offer a range of modules designed to enhance knowledge and understanding of the history, politics, culture and society of the countries where our languages are spoken.
We teach in the target language from the outset and use state-of-the-art language-learning facilities. Our programmes are fully integrated and the different elements of your degree, including the placement period, complement each other. By the end of your degree, you will have developed the linguistic competence and confidence to excel in the professional world.
BA French and Spanish/French and German/German and Spanish
These joint degrees enable you to study two languages to a very high level. French and German can only be taken post A level; Spanish can be post A level or ab initio. The two languages have equal weighting throughout the programme, and you can expect to attain the same high level of proficiency in both, as well as gain great insight into the cultures and societies of the countries where these languages are spoken.
During your placement year, you can divide your time equally between the two languages. As on all other programmes, our placement team will work closely with you to ensure that the combination of placements will enable you to make the most of this year.
BA French/German/Spanish and Translation
These programmes offer the option of focusing on one foreign language and translation. The translation pathway will include applied translation which will give you plenty of practical translation experience and insight into working across languages. You will also study various aspects of translation and interpreting, including subtitling, interpreting and computer-assisted translation.
Ab initio Spanish is not available on this programme as you will need advanced language skills in order to do applied translation from the outset.
In your third year you will have the option of dividing your time between a study placement and professional placement, or spending all the time in one or more professional placements where you can use your language and translation skills.
BA French/German/Spanish and English for International Communication
These degrees are aimed at international students who have English as a second language and wish to excel in an international environment by combining the study of English with the study of another foreign language. The two languages have equal weighting throughout the programme, and you will attain a high level of proficiency in both and gain great insight into the cultures and societies of the countries where these languages are spoken.
In your third year, you will be given the opportunity to combine a work placement in an English-speaking environment with a study or work placement in one of the countries where the other language is spoken, thus providing you with the linguistic skills and experience that employers value.
BSc Business Management and French/German/Spanish
This programme combines the study of business management with the study of a foreign language. As in all our language programmes, you will develop your language skills in order to be able to communicate in a range of professional contexts, and enhance your knowledge and understanding of the relevant culture and society.
The business element of the degree is taught in English, by our School of Management, and covers key business principles and practice. The two elements of this degree programme complement each other and prepare you for your year abroad.
You will spend your third year on a placement in a country where the language is spoken. In most cases we will find you a placement in one or more of the many companies with which we have links, giving you a real insight into business practice in the relevant country. You may also opt to spend some or all of the year studying business in the country if you wish to further widen your knowledge base.
BSc Business Management and English for International Communication
Aimed at international students who have English as their second language, this degree combination gives you the opportunity and skills to excel in an English-speaking workplace. As well as developing your language skills to a high standard, you will have the choice of a variety of options to deepen your knowledge of English for professional, political, legal, economic and intercultural purposes.
You will learn how to communicate effectively in English across a range of professional cultures and contexts, and have the chance to put these skills into practice during a placement year in the UK or another English-speaking country.
BA English Literature and French/German/Spanish
These programmes combine the study of English Literature with the study of a foreign language. As in all our language programmes, you will be able to develop your language skills in order to be able to communicate in a range of professional contexts, and enhance your knowledge and understanding of the relevant culture and society.
The English literature element of the degree is taught in English, in an innovative and interdisciplinary way, and covers a range of literary themes, genres and theories. The foreign language component is taught almost exclusively in the target language and provides high-level language training as well as an understanding of the cultures and societies of the countries where the language is spoken. The two elements of this programme complement each other, and give you unique insights into language, literature and culture.
You will spend your third year on placement in a country where the language is spoken. Our professional training team will work with you to help you make the most of this year: you will have the opportunity to study English Literature in one of our partner institutions across Europe, work in one of the many companies with which we have links, or opt for a combination of work and study.
Other degrees you may be interested in:
Political Studies with/and Languages (German, French, Spanish or English for International Communication)
Programme
Programme Overview
All our four-year programmes give you the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge and an appreciation of the societies and cultures in which your target languages are spoken. Your third-year work or study placements will enable you to put your language skills into practice and experience a different way of life.
You will return with a linguistic and cultural maturity that will be further enhanced in your final year to prepare you for a successful career and a more confident approach in your future multilingual life.
At Level 1 you will study language modules developing the full range of language skills in an academic, professional and international context. If you have chosen ab initio Spanish, you will study the language intensively, using modern multimedia techniques. Depending on your programme choice, you will also attend introductory modules covering relevant aspects of translation, business management, culture and society, and history.
In addition to language- and culture-specific modules, all students take the module Skills for Language Specialists, taught in English. This allows a deeper understanding of essential themes in language study, and a better understanding of your own foreign language acquisition.
At Level 2 you will build on the language modules studied at Level 1, enhance your linguistic skills and deepen your understanding of the target countries’ cultures, and political and economic systems. All students take the module Introduction to Intercultural Communication. This module, taught in English with tutorials in the foreign languages, will enable you to understand many of the issues you will be facing whilst on placement, and provide you with the research skills to write your dissertation at Level 3.
There is also an optional non-language-specific module, Languages in Education, which offers an insight into the teaching profession while allowing you to participate in the National Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme.
At Level P you will be given the opportunity to practise and develop your linguistic, intercultural and transferable skills while working and/or studying abroad. Our placements are tailor-made and organised by the placement team to fit your needs. Where you go, and how many placements you will do, depends on your degree programme. Whether you do a study or work placement depends on your interests and skills.
The modules at Levels 1 and 2 prepare you for this experience, and the team will advise and support you in your choice of placement combination and throughout your period abroad.
At Level 3 you will combine the knowledge, skills and experience you have acquired during the previous levels and your placement. In your final year, you will specialise in a research topic of your choice and write a dissertation in your target language.
At this near-native level you will be able to choose from a range of options, covering topics such as the arts, business culture and professional communication, all of which are designed to cover varied academic and professional interests and to prepare you for your future career.
Programme Structure
Level 1
Language:
- Skills for Language Specialists
- Written and Spoken Language for Academic and Professional Contexts
- Cultures and Societies (of countries concerned)
- Intensive Language Learning (ab initio Spanish)
Translation:
- Introduction to Translation and Interpreting Studies
- Text Analysis for Translation and Interpreting
- Applied Translation (into English)
Business Management:
- Business Environment
- Introductory Accounting
- Operations Management
- Marketing Principles
Level 2
Language:
- Introduction to Intercultural Communication
- Advanced Written and Spoken Language for Academic and Professional Contexts
- Range of options, including: Politics and Economics (of countries concerned), Introduction to Sociolinguistics, Languages in Education
Translation:
- Introduction to Computer-assisted Translation
- Introduction to Audiovisual Translation
- Translation Quality Assurance
- Applied Translation (into and out of chosen languages)
Business Management:
- Business Finance
- Managing Organisations and Human Resources
- Range of options, including: Management Information Systems, Marketing Communications, Consumer Behaviour, Sustainable Tourism
Level 3
Language:
- Dissertation and Advanced Oral Skills
- Range of options for each language, including: Professional Communication, Languages in Business Contexts, Multicultural Societies, Arts and Culture
Translation:
- Interpreting (into and out of chosen languages)
- Applied Translation (advanced level)
- Translation of Persuasive Texts
Business Management:
- Business Strategy
- Project Management
- Range of options, including: Human Resource Management, Marketing, Events Management, e-business
Professional Training
The year abroad is an integral part of our programmes. You will spend the third year of your degree in the countries of the languages you study, working in a new exciting environment, studying at some of the most renowned continental universities, learning more about others and about yourself. You will normally spend about 46 weeks on placement. Placements can be arranged for one or two countries, depending on programme requirements and your interests.
The Department of Languages and Translation Studies has an experienced placement team that helps you to obtain the placements most suitable for your degree. Our placement coordinators have kept contacts with foreign companies for many years, and are establishing new ones every year. The choice of destinations is wide, with placement providers in France, Belgium, Madagascar, Austria, Germany, Spain and Peru.
Our Department has links with internationally renowned companies and institutions such as EDF (Paris), Eurosport (Paris), Deutsche Bank (Madrid), Volkswagen (Pamplona), Ernst & Young (Stuttgart) and the German Academic Exchange Service (Bonn and Berlin). If you opt for a study placement, you can choose from a number of universities with which the Department has bilateral Erasmus agreements. These include the universities in Lyon, Heidelberg, Freiburg, Barcelona and Madrid.
Preparation starts in the first year when you learn about the cultures and societies related to your chosen languages and practise CV writing and presentation techniques. In the second year, placement preparation intensifies, starting with an introduction to the Department’s placement system and procedures, followed by individual meetings with the placement coordinators of your chosen languages. In these meetings, you will identify the placements best suited to ensure your academic, professional and personal development.
In the case of work placements, your placement coordinator will help you with the application process, from CV writing and preparing for an interview through to signing the contract.
Throughout the second year, you will attend a series of workshops focusing on a specific aspect of your year abroad. The topics covered are skills development and on-placement online support, as well as intercultural communication, business culture, financial matters and accommodation, and other relevant aspects of daily life in a foreign country covered in country-specific workshops.
You will be invited to presentations given by final-year students returning from their placements to hear first-hand accounts and to find out more about what it is like to live in a particular country, town or city.
Once abroad, your placement coordinators will be available for you if you need help or advice. They will also visit you on your placements, normally three times during your whole year abroad. These visits serve to discuss your progress and to advise you on how to best prepare for your final year at university.
Upon successful completion of your year abroad, you will have improved your language skills and found out more about the people whose languages and cultures you study, and you will also have gained life experience, independence and self-confidence. This will help you to focus your studies and career planning, and you will have acquired the skills that employers value.
Students of Business Management and English for International Communication will spend their placement year working in the UK or another English-speaking country. The Department, together with the School of Management, will support students in finding placements, and whilst on placement.
Why Surrey?
Key reasons to study Language Studies 2012 at Surrey
- Academic excellence combined with a professional orientation
- A strong focus on global culture, society and communication
- Excellent preparation for a career in an increasingly international employment market
- A range of study and work placements throughout Europe and beyond
- Dedicated, international staff providing academic guidance and support
- Expertise in the latest technology including translation and interpreting software
- A state-of-the-art self-access learning resource centre and computer suite
Careers
Top for Jobs
Graduates over the last few years entered employment in organisations such as:
- BAE Systems
- Banque PSA Finance
- BMW
- BT
- Crédit Lyonnais
- Electricité de France
- German Embassy
- Goldman Sachs
- JP Morgan
- LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy)
- L’Oréal
- Rolls-Royce
- Siemens
Career Opportunities
Graduates of our Department do exceptionally well in the employment market as a result of their academic excellence and their experience abroad. Our students’ proficiency in languages, combined with their significant understanding of intercultural processes and sociopolitical contexts, gives them a distinct advantage in an increasingly competitive international employment market.
Our emphasis on transferable skills such as presentation techniques and research skills, and communication across linguistic and cultural boundaries, ensures that our graduate profile fits the expectations of prospective employers.
Language graduates from the University of Surrey have gone into a wide range of careers. Some examples of companies in which our graduates have found employment in recent years include: Electricité de France; Bouygues UK; Crédit Lyonnais; Eurosport; Goldman Sachs; BMW; Siemens; Mazda Motor Europe; BAE Systems; BT; Eurotexte (translation company); L’Oréal; LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy); JP Morgan.
Many students go on to further study across Europe. Some recent examples include: MSc in Development Studies at SOAS; ESCPEAP (Madrid/Berlin); MBA European Business, University of Reutlingen, Germany; MBA International Marketing, Sorbonne, Paris; MA European Studies, Cambridge/Sorbonne; PGCE/CAPES.
Our own Department offers a broad range of postgraduate degree programmes in Translation Studies. Graduates of our internationally recognised programmes are well prepared for the professional market as well as for further research. We are also delighted to announce that the MA Translation programme has just been selected to join the European Commission's European Masters Network (EMT).
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Teaching
We are keen to support you in becoming an independent language learner and confident communicator, and place great emphasis on the teaching of study skills. The teaching style is innovative and highly professional, in both lectures and seminars. You will be taught mostly in small groups, and almost always in the target language.
Tutors will encourage you to participate in discussions. Individual module tutors will happily discuss academic concerns and personal tutors are always ready to advise and assist you if any issues, personal or academic, should arise.
Assessment
We operate a modular system, and you are required to achieve 120 credits per level. You will normally be assessed throughout and at the end of each semester, which will enable you to track your progress. Most modules will be assessed through a combination of examination and coursework, which may involve essay writing, presentations, short language assignments and class tests.
The Global Graduate Award in Languages
This programme gives you the opportunity to study an additional foreign language alongside your degree programme. You can start a new language, brush up a half-forgotten one or continue a language you have learned previously. The programme is open to all Surrey students free of charge, and students from all departments across the University are brought together by their mutual interest in foreign languages and cultures.
All language modules are accredited for undergraduate students and award ten credits per module. While these credits do not count towards your degree they are recorded on your transcript as the ‘Global Graduate Award in Languages’. You may opt for a language module in each year of your undergraduate studies.
We offer nine languages at different levels: Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
The teaching is modern, communicative and rewarding. Special emphasis is placed on listening and speaking skills, and the programme materials are authentic and related to real-life contexts. We have a team of about 30 dedicated, well-qualified and experienced tutors, all of whom are native speakers or of native-speaker qualification.
This programme comprises one two-hour session per week for 19 weeks over two semesters.
Language Teaching and Learning Facilities
Our language teaching facilities include digital language labs, a multimedia lab, our own virtual learning environment and an e-portfolio system that will appeal to the most creative amongst you. Between classes, you can use our Language Resource Centre – a purpose-built suite of rooms designed for independent language learning. Here, you can work at your own speed and concentrate on aspects of the language that are most important to you. Practice and building confidence are crucial to successful language learning.
In the audiovisual room you can use DVDs, videos and audio material to sharpen your listening skills, watch live satellite TV from around the world or films recorded in eleven different languages, and read the international press. We also record daily news broadcasts in six languages and you can choose from a huge range of books and materials graded and colour-coded for easy access to your language and level.
Our computer lab has 20 fully networked PCs offering the latest in language learning technology. Apart from access to the Internet, we have specialist software to practise subtitling and audio description. You can also choose from interactive programmes in 18 different languages to practise listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation or study skills.