Immerse yourself in languages through the study of society and cultures.
Year of entry: 2023/24
R3R4
Y50
4 years full-time
AAB (full entry requirements)
September 2023 (semester dates)
out of the Russell Group universities included in the latest National Student Survey (2022)
Complete University Guide 2023
Complete University Guide 2023
Learn Italian and Spanish languages, uncover the science behind communication, and spend a year abroad immersing yourself into the rich cultures and heritage of Italian-speaking or Spanish-speaking countries.
At York, we have a unique approach to studying languages. From the start, you'll be taught and assessed in Italian and Spanish by expert staff, many of whom are native-speakers, so you'll develop your fluency and communication skills rapidly.
Combine an in-depth study of languages with analysis of cultural and social phenomena. Learn key skills in intercultural communication, such as observing, discovering, comparing, planning and creating across many different cultural contexts. Our transcultural and decolonised approach to language learning allows for deeper reflection on the values, attitudes, and practices of different cultures. York is one of the highest-ranked centres for research in linguistics in the UK, and the strength and diversity of our research is reflected in our teaching.
Spending a year abroad will give you confidence in your Italian and Spanish, and allow you to have valuable first hand experiences of transcultural encounters.
At York, you'll benefit from being able to take TEFL modules in-house, as part of your degree. You can count the work you complete in your TEFL modules towards a CertTESOL qualification. This teacher training programme (also offered in-house) can qualify you to teach English to non-native speakers, including on your year abroad.
At York we have an amazing choice of societies that you can get involved in. In my second year, I joined the Latin American Society and attended their end of term party. We learned some bachata and salsa moves and it was a real laugh!Caitlin, BA French and Spanish (with a year abroad)
During your degree, you'll study modules in Italian, Spanish, and Linguistics.
Your language modules will explore the society and culture of Italian- and Spanish-speaking societies and you'll be taught almost exclusively in Italian and Spanish. These modules will help you to develop the cultural and linguistic knowledge you'll need to become a high-level communicator in each language.
Your linguistics modules will help you understand the nature of language itself: how it is structured, how it has evolved, and how we use and understand it within our society. These modules will enable you to think critically and approach your studies from an analytical point of view.
Throughout your programme, you can tailor your degree to your interests. You can:
Study Italian or Spanish from scratch
You can choose to study either Italian or Spanish ab initio, meaning you don't need to have any knowledge of the language before you arrive. You'll study with other ab initio students during your first year, and will focus on improving your language skills, before joining the post-A level students during your second year.
There are opportunities to spend time in industry as part of this course.
Post-A level core modules:
Ab initio core modules:
You will also study one option module.
The options available to you will be confirmed later in the year. For further information please get in touch.
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
You will also study four option modules, including at least one option in Spanish and one option in Italian. Examples may include:
Your studies will focus on issues of cultures and society in the Italian- and Spanish-speaking worlds. You will develop skills in critical analysis of sources and communicate your findings using Italian and Spanish in different registers. You'll tackle questions such as:
The options available to you will be confirmed later in the year. For further information please get in touch.
You can divide the year abroad between two locations (an Italian-speaking country and a Spanish-speaking country), or you can choose to spend the whole year in one location. We assist you in setting up overseas university study, teaching or work placements, and offer guidance on all aspects of the year. You can even get a CertTESOL qualification to teach English to non-native speakers before you go. See our current year abroad pages for more information.
You'll complete two assignments while on your year abroad. These are assessed on a pass/fail basis and do not contribute to your final degree grade.
You'll study core language modules in your final year. These are designed to consolidate your critical skills through in-depth research and analysis. By this stage in your degree, you'll be able to demonstrate oral and written fluency, as well as accurate language use in its social and cultural contexts.
You will also study four option modules, including at least one option in Spanish and one option in Italian. Examples may include:
Language modules:
Linguistics modules:
The options available to you will be confirmed later in the year. For further information please get in touch.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
At York, we are unique in teaching all of our core language modules in their language of study. Our students develop fluency and confidence quickly, benefiting wholly from this approach.
Observe different transcultural practices and values first-hand, and gain valuable experience speaking in your language of study.
Take our in-house CertTESOL teaching qualification before you go abroad.
The thing that really sets Languages at York apart from other universities is that they teach the languages in the language. Of course, if you really just can’t wrap your head around something, they will explain it in English if need be.Hannah, BA French and German (with a year abroad)
| UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £21,950 |
The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.
Set texts are available from the Library or online, but you may wish to buy your own copy for some modules. These typically cost between £10 and £30. For ab-initio languages you may need to buy books with a total cost of £50 to £60. Second hand books are often available more cheaply.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2023/24 throughout the year.
Find out more about funding specific to .
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
Doing two languages can keep you quite busy but there is still plenty of time to explore other hobbies of yours. Here at York, we have societies for many different languages. Some of the exciting socials you can look forward to include movie nights, cooking classes and quizzes!Lucy, BA Italian and Spanish (with a year abroad)
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
We offer you extra study support in several ways. Our Peer Assisted Learning programme gives you the opportunity to work with other students.
Our focus at York is on effective communication in Italian and Spanish. That is why:
Core linguistics modules are taught through lectures, accompanied by sessions in smaller groups. With more advanced linguistics modules, you'll have interactive classroom activities, such as group presentations or practical sessions, in addition to lectures. In final-year linguistics modules, most teaching is in smaller groups.
In first and second year of the degree, you will typically spend 1-3 hours per week in lectures, 11 hours per week in seminars, and 2 hours per week in workshops. Contact hours in the final year vary depending on individual module choices.
In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during term time. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.
We have our own e-Lab for teaching. Here, you'll have access to a variety of resources, including specialist linguistics software and online language-learning materials.
You will be based in the Language and Linguistic Science buildings on Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
You'll be assessed in a variety of ways, including essays, projects, written, oral and listening exams. Assessments include formative work which will help you practice or develop skills, but will not count towards your final degree mark.
Instructors provide you with feedback in a variety of forms, for example: written feedback, in-class discussion of common problems, model answers, one-on-one discussion of research projects, or online responses to questions posted on the module discussion board.
Your year abroad is assessed. All students must complete two assessments in their language of study. If you are studying at a university, you must attend courses and sit the exams. If you are on a work or teaching placement, you must satisfactorily complete the duties set out in the placement agreement. However, your marks on the year abroad assessments do not contribute towards your overall degree mark.
We can make reasonable adjustments to assessment procedures for students with disabilities. However, if you have dyslexia please note that it is not possible to make adjustments in the marking of work written in a closed language exam. This is because accurate spelling is one of the assessment objectives for language exams. Closed exams make up only a proportion of the assessment types used for languages. There are other assessment types such as coursework and oral presentations which are also used. As a student with dyslexia you could apply for extra time in closed exams, if this would be of assistance. See the University's disability support pages for further details.
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| A levels | AAB including at least one of Italian or Spanish |
| Access to Higher Education Diploma | Obtain Access to HE Diploma with 36 credits at Distinction and 9 credits at Merit or higher. An A level or equivalent qualification in either Italian or Spanish will be required. |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DDD. An A level or equivalent qualification in either Italian or Spanish will be required. |
| Cambridge Pre-U | D3, D3, M2 including at least one of Italian or Spanish |
| European Baccalaureate | 80% overall average including 80% in at least one of Italian or Spanish |
| International Baccalaureate | 35 points including 6 in at least one of Italian or Spanish at Higher Level |
| T levels | We are currently not accepting T Levels for this course unless an additional A Level (or equivalent qualification) in either Italian or Spanish has been taken. |
| Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers | Scottish Highers - BBBB Advanced Highers - B in Italian or Spanish We may also be able to consider three Advanced Highers or a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, where an applicant does not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone. Please contact us to discuss your qualifications. |
| International foundation programme | Foundation Certificate from our International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
You can study both of your languages on the post-A level route. Alternatively, you can study one of your languages ab initio (from scratch, or with a qualification at AS Level or below).
To study one language ab initio, you must have an A level (or equivalent) in your other language. If you don't have a formal qualification but do have additional language experience (for example, if you took a GCSE or AS level and then spent considerable time in a country where the language is spoken), we may conduct an informal interview to assess whether you can join the post-A level route.
Our language programmes are designed to develop fluency. For this reason we do not normally offer places to native or near-native speakers who wish to study their own language.
Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.
| Criteria | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Widening participation | If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to three A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Black Access Programme, Next Step York, Realising Opportunities, YESS, YorWay to York. More about widening participation. |
| Contextual offers | If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers. |
| EPQ | If you achieve C or higher at EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
| Core Maths | If you achieve B or higher in Core Maths, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
| MOOCs | If you successfully complete our online course Accents, attitudes and identity, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about MOOCs. |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component |
| C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency | 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in each component |
| GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) | Grade C / Grade 4 |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert International ESOL | B2 Communicator with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| PTE Academic/PTE Academic Online | 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Get in touch if you have any questions
We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to premium.
Explore campus and city life and hear what our current students have to say about living here.
Lively, full of culture and beautiful, York is regularly voted one of the best places to live and visit in the UK.
Find out more about York. Chat to staff and students and take the tour, on campus or online.
