Modern Languages, Translation and Interpreting BA Honours

Clearing - How to apply

What is Clearing?

Each year, universities may have spaces left on their courses after the application window has closed in June.

UCAS Clearing is your opportunity to snap up one of these places, even if you didn't apply to the university prior to the June deadline.

It also gives you a second chance to go to university if you didn't get the grades you needed for your firm and insurance offers.

How do I get in touch?

Our Clearing entry requirements may differ from those advertised; contacting our friendly advisers is the best way to find out if you’re eligible for a place.

You can get in touch through live chat or our hotlines. Call us on 0800 073 5050, or if you’re an international student calling from outside the UK, call: +44 191 222 5000.

Not available in Clearing

This course is not available in Clearing 2024.

This means there are no spaces available for Clearing 2024. If you can't find vacancies in your original course or subject area, try exploring other subjects in a related field.

Search our courses in Clearing

Course overview

This Modern Languages, Translation and Interpreting BA Honours degree focuses on developing your language skills in two languages to near-native fluency. You can choose from French, German, Portuguese and Spanish, as well as Chinese or Japanese. You'll also be equipped with specialist and in-demand skills such as translating and interpreting.

You will have the option of spending the third year of your degree abroad, so you can develop your language skills among native speakers and experience a different culture.

Alternatively, you'll have the options to undertake a Careers Placement Year in the UK or to complete your degree in 3 years without either a Year Abroad or a Careers Placement Year.

Regardless of what you choose to do, you will confirm this with us in Stage 2.

Your knowledge and skills in translation and interpreting also ensure you leave Newcastle University as a sought-after graduate with attributes highly prized by employers.

You'll become a confident linguist, ready to embark on your career as a global citizen.

Find out more about our undergraduate programmes on the School of Modern Languages website

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Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions  
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Quality and ranking

Professional accreditation and recognition

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.

Modules and learning

Modules

The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage. 

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions

This degree allows you to study two languages and specialise in translation and interpreting.

You'll study two languages in Stage 1. However, you'll have the option to drop one of your languages from Stage 2, if you want to focus on one language with translation and interpreting.

There are two routes through the degree.

If you have A Level (or equivalent) in two of French, German and Spanish, then you follow pathways in Translation and Interpreting in both languages.

If you have A Level (or equivalent) in one of French, German or Spanish, then you follow a Translation and Interpreting pathway in that language. You also study another language from beginners’ level (from Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese or Spanish).

You also have a selection of optional modules to choose from exploring the culture of your chosen countries.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Academic Study and Research Skills	0
Interpreting Theory and Practice 1	20
Translation Theory and Practice 1	20

Optional Modules	Credits
Level A (HE Entry Level) Chinese I	20
Level A (HE Entry Level) Chinese II	20
France and the Francophone World	20
Level A (HE Entry Level) French I	20
Level A (HE Entry Level) French II	20
Level B (HE Intermediate) French	20
Introduction to German history, culture and society	20
Level A (HE Entry Level) German I	20
Level A (HE Entry Level) German II	20
Level B (HE Intermediate) German	20
Level A (HE Entry Level) Japanese I	20
Level A (HE Entry Level) Japanese II	20
Introducción a América Latina	20
Level A (HE Entry Level) Portuguese I	20
Level A (HE Entry Level) Portuguese II	20
Introduction to Literature	20
Introduction to Linguistics	20
Introduction to International Film	20
Introduction to Cultural Studies	20
Introduction to History, Culture and Society of the Iberian Peninsula	20
Level A (HE Entry Level) Spanish I	20
Level A (HE Entry Level) Spanish II	20
Level B (HE Intermediate) Spanish	20

Stage 2 develops your understanding of both translation and interpreting practice as well as developing your language skills further. You will build on the foundations laid in your first year and will be able to explore new topics.

You'll again choose modules to continue exploring and comparing the countries where your chosen language(s) are spoken.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to study beginners’ modules in:

• Catalan or Italian if you study French or Spanish
• Dutch if you study German

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Year Abroad Preparation	0
Interpreting Theory and Practice 2	20
Translation Theory and Practice 2	20

Optional Modules	Credits
Level B (HE Intermediate) Chinese	40
France and the Francophone World	20
Level B (HE Intermediate) French (Ex-Level A)	20
Classic French Cinema	20
Paris: Aspects of History and Culture	20
Linguistic Variation in France	20
The French Caribbean – Literature, Language and Society	20
Level C (HE Advanced) French	20
Introduction to German history, culture and society	20
Level B (HE Intermediate) German (Ex-Level A)	20
Berlin: culture, literature and film from the Weimar Republic to the Berlin Republic	20
Dutch I	20
Level C (HE Advanced) German	20
Level B (HE Intermediate) Japanese	40
Introducción a América Latina	20
Comparative History of Hispano-America and Brazil: From Independence to the Mexican Revolution (1789/1810-1917)	20
Cultures and Societies of the Portuguese-Speaking World	20
Level B (HE Intermediate) Portuguese	20
Introduction to Literature	20
Introduction to Linguistics	20
Introduction to International Film	20
Introduction to Cultural Studies	20
Italian language and culture 1	20
Reading in Translation	20
Introduction to History, Culture and Society of the Iberian Peninsula	20
Level B (HE Intermediate) Spanish (Ex-Level A)	20
World Spanish	20
Catalan I	20
Representaciones de Revolución, Dictadura y Democracia en España y América Latina	20
Food, Football and Fiction: Constructing Catalan Cultural Identity	20
Level C (HE Advanced) Spanish	20

Year abroad

Studying abroad is a great way to immerse yourself in local cultures, meet new people and improve your language skills.

Our year abroad is optional, meaning you can choose to study abroad in your third year (making your degree four years) or you can opt out (which will make your degree three years). You do not have to choose right away and you can talk through your options with your Degree Programme Director once you arrive at Newcastle.

The way you spend your year abroad is up to you. You can:

• work as a British Council teaching assistant in a school (UK nationals only)
• study at a partner university
• undertake an approved work placement

The year abroad is highly flexible and students can choose to either spend their year abroad in one country or divide it between two countries. You can also study at a partner university in one semester and undertake a work placement in another.

Careers placement year

Work experience can enhance your career prospects beyond university. All modern language students not taking a year abroad have the opportunity to undertake a Careers Placement Year in the UK. This will be in the third year of your study and will make your degree four years long in total.

With a placement year you can choose to do:

• one placement lasting 9-12 months
• two placements which last at least 4.5 months each

Again, you don't need to decide now if you'd like to choose a Placement Year and you'll have the chance to talk to staff about your options.

In final year, you'll study further translation and interpreting modules. This gives you the opportunity to gain professional skills and an awareness of the issues in translation and interpreting.

Your language studies build on the levels you developed in Stage 2 or during your Year Abroad and you also develop more professional skills and will study language for professional and academic purposes.

As in Stages 1 and 2, you choose optional modules to further develop your knowledge of the countries where your chosen language(s) are spoken.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Interpreting Theory and Practice 3	20
Translation Theory and Practice 3	20

Optional Modules	Credits
Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese	40
Classic French Cinema	20
Paris: Aspects of History and Culture	20
Linguistic Variation in France	20
The French Caribbean – Literature, Language and Society	20
Level C (HE Advanced) French	20
Occupation and Resistance: Literary and Cinematic Responses to the Second World War in France	20
Images d'Algerie	20
Historical Perspectives on the French Language	20
From Experimental to Explicit: Translating Women's Writing in French	20
Social Justice in French and Francophone Culture	20
Level D (HE Further Advanced): French for Professional and Academic Purposes	20
Berlin: culture, literature and film from the Weimar Republic to the Berlin Republic	20
Level C (HE Advanced) German	20
Dutch II	20
A Comparative History of German and English: phonology, morphology, syntax and lexicon.	20
Berlin: culture, literature and film from the Weimar Republic to the Berlin Republic	20
Place, belonging and identity in the German-speaking Alps	20
Level D (HE Further Advanced): German for Professional and Academic Purposes	20
Level C (HE Advanced) Japanese	40
Comparative History of Hispano-America and Brazil: From Independence to the Mexican Revolution (1789/1810-1917)	20
Inter-American Relations from the Spanish-American War (1898) to the end of the Cold War (1989/1991)	20
Language Endangerment and Revitalisation in Latin America	20
Latin American Art: Indigenous Contemporary Art and Activism	20
Cultura y Política en Colombia	20
Translation for Singing	20
Level C (HE Advanced) Portuguese	20
Reading in Translation	20
Advocating and Teaching Languages in Schools	20
Italian language and culture II	20
Dissertation/T&I Project	20
World Spanish	20
Representaciones de Revolución, Dictadura y Democracia en España y América Latina	20
Food, Football and Fiction: Constructing Catalan Cultural Identity	20
Level C (HE Advanced) Spanish	20
Catalan II	20
Cultura Popular en España y Cuba	20
Spanish and Romance word analysis	20
Youth Cultures in Spain, Portugal & Latin America	20
Level D (HE Further Advanced): Spanish for Professional and Academic Purposes	20

Information about these graphs

We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They are based on the modules chosen by our students in 2023-24.

Teaching time is made up of:

• scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present.
• structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods

The majority of language modules are taught in small groups by native speakers. You also work in standard or PC-equipped seminar rooms and undertake self-study in our Language Resource Centre. Our cultural modules are informed by the latest research.

Find out more about the Language Resource Centre

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

• 

  Assessments

• 

  Assignments – written or fieldwork

• 

  Coursework

• 

  Dissertation or research project

• 

  Dossier

• 

  Essays

• 

  Examinations – practical or online

• 

  Group work

• 

  Portfolio submission

• 

  Practical sessions

• 

  Presentations

• 

  Reflective report/journal

• 

  Reports

• 

  Seminar tasks/exercises

Skills and experience

Research skills

You have the option of writing a dissertation in your final year, which allows you to explore and discuss a topic of interest in great detail, while developing research skills.

Opportunities

Optional Year Abroad

This Modern Languages degree includes an optional Year Abroad, meaning the degree can be 3 or 4 years.

Students studying a European language can:

• study at one of our partner universities
• undertake a work or voluntary placement
• undertake a combination of both (ensuring they do not overlap)

You usually divide the year between the countries relating to your chosen languages, although it may be possible to spend the entire year in one country.

If you’re studying Chinese or Japanese, you’ll spend either a semester or the full academic year studying at one of our partner institutions in China or Japan. If you also study European languages you can split your time and do one of the options above for your European language.

Support for Year Abroad

You will receive lots of help to prepare for your Year Abroad, including:

• briefings covering practicalities like insurance, student safety and country-specific information
• support in finding a work placement
• a Tandem Learning Scheme, to practise conversation in your foreign language and make in-country contacts, before you travel
• a training course for British Council language assistants

There are also events in your second year where you can meet students who have already done their year abroad and students from our partner universities in Europe, Latin America, China and Japan.

You'll be in contact with our Year Abroad team during your time abroad, and will communicate with your personal tutor. You'll also write compulsory blog posts, reflecting on your linguistic, personal and professional development.

Optional Careers Placement Year

Work experience can enhance your career prospects beyond university. If you choose not to take a year abroad, you can undertake a Careers Placement Year in the UK. This will be in the third year of your study and will make your degree four years long in total. 

With a placement year you can choose to do:

• one placement lasting 9-12 months
• two placements which last at least 4.5 months each

You don't need to decide right away if you'd like to choose a Placement Year and you'll have the chance to talk to staff about your options once you arrive.

Facilities and environment

Facilities

As a Modern Languages student, you'll be based at our city centre campus. We've been teaching languages in Newcastle for more than 100 years.

You will have access to PC-equipped rooms and the award-winning Language Resource Centre, with self-study resources for over 50 languages.

You'll also have access to:

• specialist language learning software
• films
• live foreign-language TV channels
• online or on-campus tandem schemes

Support

You'll have the support of an academic member of staff as a personal tutor throughout your degree to help with academic and personal issues.

Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you have when starting university.

Your future

Studying for our degree in Modern Languages, Translation and Interpreting will open the door to a wide variety of career paths, while adding the specific skills of translation and interpreting to your portfolio.

You may decide to embark directly upon a career in translation and interpreting, or you could follow in the tracks of some graduates, and find work in areas as diverse as tourism, marketing, management, the civil service, advertising and the media, teaching and banking.

Alternatively, if you want to study translation and interpreting further, our degree is excellent preparation for a postgraduate professional qualification.

The degree aims to provide a firm foundation for a career as a freelance translator or interpreter for agencies and commercial clients in the private or public sectors, and work in international organisations.

Make a difference

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Careers support

The School of Modern Languages works with the University’s Careers Service to run an annual Employability Week, including an opportunity to network with recent graduates.

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Tuition fees and scholarships

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

The 2025 home fees have not yet been confirmed (see ‘Home Fee Students’ information below).

Qualification: BA Honours
Home students full time 4 years	Tuition fees (per year) Not set
International students full time 4 years	Tuition fees (per year) 23800

Home Fee Students

Home students starting in 2024 entry
£9,250 is the maximum fee that we are currently permitted to charge for home fee-paying students. This is set by the UK government.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Home students starting in 2025 entry
The 2025 home fees have not yet been confirmed. In November 2024 the government increased the maximum fee level to £9,535 for 2025/26. We expect to confirm our Undergraduate Home fees for 2025/26 in December 2024.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

International Fee Students

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our undergraduate scholarship page for more information.

Year abroad and additional costs

For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year. 

Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.

Scholarships

Find out more about:

• scholarships for UK, EU and international students
• Student Loans and Government financial support for UK and EU students

How to apply

Apply through UCAS

To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:

• the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
• the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
• the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college

If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.

Apply through UCAS

Apply through an agent

International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.

Visit our International pages