At King’s we offer you a lively and intellectually stimulating home in the heart of London where you will be taught by leading experts. Our Department of English prides itself not only on the range and diversity of the modules we offer - from medieval literature to modern poetry and women’s writing - but also on the diversity of our approaches, from contemporary literary theory to close textual examination and historical scholarship. In Modern Languages, you will attain a high level of proficiency in speaking, writing and reading the language of your degree, whilst developing your knowledge and critical understanding of its culture and society. Students can take this course either with an A-level (or equivalent) in the degree language, or as a beginner, following a specially-designed language course (known as ‘ab initio’ – ‘from the start’), and our cultural curriculum is innovative and diverse, covering a range of modules in literature, from the medieval period to the contemporary, cultural studies, film studies, politics and history. You will spend the third year of your four-year degree studying, teaching or working in a French-, German-, Portuguese- or Spanish-speaking country, putting your language learning into practice. For more about the department of English and the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, follow the departmental contact links.

Key benefits

• One of the oldest English departments in the country, with an enduring international reputation for the quality of its teaching and research.
• Our language departments are ranked 5th in the UK (QS University Rankings 2024) and offer our graduates excellent career prospects.
• Central location offers access to Shakespeare’s Globe, the British Library, and a variety of cinemas, galleries, theatres, specialist libraries and resources, including the Goethe-Institut and Austrian Cultural Forum, the Institut français, Canning House, Camões Centre for Portuguese Language and Culture, and the Instituto Cervantes, as well as events organised by embassies and other related cultural institutions.
• Graduates develop transferable analytical and communications skills making them highly desirable to employers across a range of sectors.
• Broad range of specialist modules in French, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies, from medieval to contemporary literature as well as politics, history, cultural studies, and film. You can study French, German, Spanish or Portuguese language either post A-level (or equivalent) or with no previous knowledge of the language (ab initio).
• The Year abroad in a French-, German-, Portuguese- or Spanish-speaking country offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in culture and society and attain language fluency. We have exchanges with a wide variety of partner universities across Europe, in Martinique and Quebec, and in Middle and South American countries such as Mexico, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil.
• You can study French, German, Spanish or Portuguese language either post A-level (or equivalent) or with no previous knowledge of the language (ab initio).

“Studying at King’s has allowed me to explore my subjects in so much more depth. Not only does the course provide a wide array of topics, such as history, philosophy and cinema, but there are countless opportunities available outside of the course, such as writing for the French and German magazines, or participating in the German play. ”

Christina, Modern Languages with a Year Abroad BAShow more