Please note the course details apply to 2025 entry. Details for 2026 entry for our undergraduate courses will be published from September 2025.
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 Philosophy and Modern Languages BA includes an exceptionally wide range of modules in both Philosophy and Modern Languages, covering language, literature, film, history, critical and philosophical thought, and political and social theory. In Philosophy we have particular strengths in philosophy of mind, philosophy of science and ancient philosophy. We are also able to teach subjects like Indian philosophy and medieval philosophy, which are offered by very few other universities in the UK. 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.
“Now, in my final year, I can go from studying French-Canadian film to reading medieval literature, or from exploring the philosophy of race to understanding the ethics of climate change… There really is nothing you can’t do!”
Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.
Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.
On this programme, you will have the opportunity to apply to study abroad, supported by the Study Abroad Tutor in your department and King’s Global Mobility Office. Together with partner organisations around the world, you will be supported in navigating your international, educational journey, developing new skills and competences and learning to apply different perspectives to your chosen discipline.
Students will be supported through innovative digital education tools to discover meaningful work experience for themselves, including internships, insight programmes, which you can undertake alongside your studies.
King's College London and Affiliates
King's is regulated by the Office for Students
Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels.
Notes: If you are taking linear A Levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process.
BBB Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels. Notes: If you are taking linear A Levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process.
35 points overall or an aggregate score of 17 from three Higher Levels.
Notes: The total point score of 35 includes TOK/EE.
32 points overall or an aggregate score of 15 from three Higher Levels. Note: The total point score of 32 includes TOK/EE.
Language & Ab Initio Pathways
Applicants do not need to specify their language preference on their application.
Successful offer-holders will be contacted early in the summer to complete an online form detailing their language pathway preferences. Eligibility for an applicant's preferred pathway and Post A-Level/Ab initio routes will be determined upon receipt of final results in the summer.
The different pathway requirements are listed below for reference.
| Pathway | Subject Requirements |
| BA Philosophy and Modern Languages (French) with a Year Abroad |
French |
| BA Philosophy and Modern Languages (French ab initio) with a Year Abroad |
No required subjects |
| BA Philosophy and Modern Languages (German) with a Year Abroad |
German |
| BA Philosophy and Modern Languages (German ab initio) with a Year Abroad |
No required subjects |
| BA Philosophy and Modern Languages (Portuguese) with a Year Abroad |
Portuguese |
| BA Philosophy and Modern Languages (Portuguese ab initio) with a Year Abroad |
No required subjects |
| BA Philosophy and Modern Languages (Spanish) with a Year Abroad |
Spanish |
| BA Philosophy and Modern Languages (Spanish ab initio) with a Year Abroad |
No required subjects |
Course specific subject requirements are indicated in subject requirements above
English language band: B
Please note that nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries (as defined by UKVI) who have successfully completed high school in the respective country, are not required to complete an English language test. For information on our English requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.
Year Abroad
The year abroad is a compulsory component of our undergraduate language programmes and all students are expected to take part in it. However, students can be exempted at the department’s discretion due to mitigating circumstances. Unfortunately we are unable to guarantee exemption prior to enrollment, but applicants are able to contact the department for an initial consultation.
Contextual consideration
We make contextual offers for this programme, which can be found in the entry requirements. As part of the assessment process, we take into account contextual information to gain a more complete picture of each application. More information can be found on the Contextualised admissions website.
Deferrals
Applications can be submitted for deferred entry by choosing the appropriate year of entry on the UCAS application.
If your circumstances change and, therefore, you need to request a deferral after an offer has been made, then we can generally permit these for this programme. However, each deferral request will be considered on a case-by-case basis and we reserve the right to decline any post-offer deferral request. Requests should be submitted via a message on King’s Apply with an explanation of the reason for making the request.
Please note, second deferral requests will only be considered where the request is due to extreme unforeseen extenuating circumstances, for example, health reasons. We are unable to permit deferral requests that go beyond two years and you would need to apply again. This is with the exception of deferrals which are due to military/national service.
Foundation courses
Applicants studying Foundation Year programmes in the UK are welcome to apply for this programme. Foundation programmes from other universities and further education providers in the UK are considered on a case-by-case basis. Whether or not we can consider a particular foundation year as suitable for study at King's depends on the content of the syllabus and modules studied. In the past we have accepted foundation programmes from a number of other institutions.
We are unable to accept Foundation programmes that are integrated as part of a main degree at another institution. These may be called Year 0 or Integrated Foundations. We are also unable to accept non-UK Foundation courses.
Once you have submitted an application, the Admissions Office may contact you via King's Apply to ask for further details on your qualification, such as a list of modules and course specifications.
The King's International Foundation Programme has guaranteed pathways available for progression onto our King's undergraduate degree programmes, and information can be found on the website.
Graduates
Our general entry requirements are based on A-level or equivalent. However, where an applicant is completing/has completed a degree, we are able to consider the degree study as part of the assessment of the application.
Generally, we would consider a minimum of a UK Bachelor degree with a 2:1 grade profile (or overseas equivalent) as meeting the entry requirements for our undergraduate degrees. However, those who have achieved/are predicted a high 2:1 or a First may be considered more competitive.
Once you have submitted an application, the Admissions Office may contact you via King's Apply to ask for further details on your degree study.
Personal Statement
Your personal statement is one of the many factors in the overall assessment of your application, and is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the university and inform us of your commitment to the programme and how the programme fits into your career plans, as well as any work experience or extracurricular activities you have done.
Resits
We are able to consider applicants who have retaken or are retaking their qualifications.
Transfers
Transfers into this programme are not permitted.
If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, we can help with our Foundation year courses.
If you have an offer from King's, but English isn't your first language, we have courses to help you.
Modules are taught by leading academics through a combination of lectures, small seminars or tutorials, and expert one-to-one supervision. Language classes target oral and written competency, specific skills such as translation, and involve in-depth work with different kinds of media, literary and academic texts. Teaching is in both English and the language studied, according to the subject area. Our teaching style is interactive; you will participate informally in small group discussions, in seminars or online discussion platforms, and formally through seminar presentations and oral assessments.
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations. Forms of assessment may typically include coursework and assessed essays; language assignments (written, oral, aural); individual or group-based presentations; year abroad project work; examinations; and dissertation. You will also have a variety of formative assessments (not for credit) throughout your programme .
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.
Courses are divided into modules. Each year you will normally take modules totalling 120 credits.
This is a four-year degree course in which you will take a combination of required and optional modules to total 360 credits.
You are required to do the following modules
PHILOSOPHY
Students will take a total of 60 credits of modules from the Philosophy Department.
You are required to take one module from each of the following groups plus one further module from any of the groups:
Group A
Group B
Group C
MODERN LANGUAGES
Students will take a total of 60 credits of modules from the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures.
French Pathway
You are required to take ONE of the following language modules, depending on linguistic competence in French:
AND TWO of the following literature modules, depending on linguistic competence in French:
German Pathway
You are required to take ONE of the following language modules, depending on linguistic competence in German:
AND TWO of the following literature modules, depending on linguistic competence in German:
Portuguese Pathway
You are required to take ONE of the following language modules, depending on linguistic competence in Portuguese:
AND the following modules:
Spanish pathway
You are required to take ONE of the following language modules, depending on linguistic competence in Spanish:
AND the following modules:
Please note: It may not be possible to run the intermediate streams for German and Portuguese in any given year due to numbers of students. Please contact dllc@kcl.ac.uk if you have further questions.
There are no optional modules for this year.
King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.
Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.
By encouraging critical reflection on both the past and the present contexts of the French-, German-, Portuguese- or Spanish-speaking worlds, and the skills of criticism, interpretation and reasoning that are also fundamental to philosophy, the programme broadens students’ knowledge base and strengthens their interdisciplinary profile, challenging narrow, monocultural assumptions, thus preparing students for the challenges of multicultural and global realities.
Studies of graduate employability repeatedly stress the career value of language degrees, which provide graduates with international experience and enhance cultural awareness, helping them to develop flexibility, resilience and resourcefulness. Employers value foreign language ability, not just as a specialist skill, but as a personal quality that develops relationship-building, teamwork, and the capacity to move easily in international contexts. Typical destinations of graduates from this degree include international business, the press and media, IT and technology, marketing and public relations, public administration, international development, law, finance, teaching and lecturing, interpreting, and translating.
The UK tuition fee for the 2025-26 academic year is currently £9,535 per year. This is based on the UK Government's cap.
The International tuition fee for the 2025-2026 academic year is £27,100 per year.
Please note that the International tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.
All International applicants to Undergraduate programmes are required to pay a deposit of £2000 against their first year's tuition fee. This deposit is payable when you firmly accept an unconditional offer to study with us, and will be offset against your tuition fees when you join King's.
If you choose the study abroad option with one of King’s partner universities, you will not be charged tuition fees by the host university (although some partners do charge a small administration fee for applying). King’s will continue to invoice for a proportion of King's tuition fees. You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required by the country to which you are travelling. Please see the Study Abroad web pages for details of the relevant partner universities and detailed information on the fees that apply under the Course Essentials tab.
In addition to the costs above, you can also expect to pay for: · books if you choose to buy your own copies · clothing for optional course related events and competitions · library fees and fines · personal photocopies · printing course handouts · society membership fees · stationery · graduation costs · travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.
Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.
Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.
On this programme, you will have the opportunity to apply to study abroad, supported by the Study Abroad Tutor in your department and King’s Global Mobility Office. Together with partner organisations around the world, you will be supported in navigating your international, educational journey, developing new skills and competences and learning to apply different perspectives to your chosen discipline.
Students will be supported through innovative digital education tools to discover meaningful work experience for themselves, including internships, insight programmes, which you can undertake alongside your studies.
King's College London and Affiliates
King's is regulated by the Office for Students
Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels.
Notes: If you are taking linear A Levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process.
BBB Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels. Notes: If you are taking linear A Levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process.
35 points overall or an aggregate score of 17 from three Higher Levels.
Notes: The total point score of 35 includes TOK/EE.
32 points overall or an aggregate score of 15 from three Higher Levels. Note: The total point score of 32 includes TOK/EE.
Language & Ab Initio Pathways
Applicants do not need to specify their language preference on their application.
Successful offer-holders will be contacted early in the summer to complete an online form detailing their language pathway preferences. Eligibility for an applicant's preferred pathway and Post A-Level/Ab initio routes will be determined upon receipt of final results in the summer.
The different pathway requirements are listed below for reference.
| Pathway | Subject Requirements |
| BA Philosophy and Modern Languages (French) with a Year Abroad |
French |
| BA Philosophy and Modern Languages (French ab initio) with a Year Abroad |
No required subjects |
| BA Philosophy and Modern Languages (German) with a Year Abroad |
German |
| BA Philosophy and Modern Languages (German ab initio) with a Year Abroad |
No required subjects |
| BA Philosophy and Modern Languages (Portuguese) with a Year Abroad |
Portuguese |
| BA Philosophy and Modern Languages (Portuguese ab initio) with a Year Abroad |
No required subjects |
| BA Philosophy and Modern Languages (Spanish) with a Year Abroad |
Spanish |
| BA Philosophy and Modern Languages (Spanish ab initio) with a Year Abroad |
No required subjects |
Course specific subject requirements are indicated in subject requirements above
English language band: B
Please note that nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries (as defined by UKVI) who have successfully completed high school in the respective country, are not required to complete an English language test. For information on our English requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.
Year Abroad
The year abroad is a compulsory component of our undergraduate language programmes and all students are expected to take part in it. However, students can be exempted at the department’s discretion due to mitigating circumstances. Unfortunately we are unable to guarantee exemption prior to enrollment, but applicants are able to contact the department for an initial consultation.
Contextual consideration
We make contextual offers for this programme, which can be found in the entry requirements. As part of the assessment process, we take into account contextual information to gain a more complete picture of each application. More information can be found on the Contextualised admissions website.
Deferrals
Applications can be submitted for deferred entry by choosing the appropriate year of entry on the UCAS application.
If your circumstances change and, therefore, you need to request a deferral after an offer has been made, then we can generally permit these for this programme. However, each deferral request will be considered on a case-by-case basis and we reserve the right to decline any post-offer deferral request. Requests should be submitted via a message on King’s Apply with an explanation of the reason for making the request.
Please note, second deferral requests will only be considered where the request is due to extreme unforeseen extenuating circumstances, for example, health reasons. We are unable to permit deferral requests that go beyond two years and you would need to apply again. This is with the exception of deferrals which are due to military/national service.
Foundation courses
Applicants studying Foundation Year programmes in the UK are welcome to apply for this programme. Foundation programmes from other universities and further education providers in the UK are considered on a case-by-case basis. Whether or not we can consider a particular foundation year as suitable for study at King's depends on the content of the syllabus and modules studied. In the past we have accepted foundation programmes from a number of other institutions.
We are unable to accept Foundation programmes that are integrated as part of a main degree at another institution. These may be called Year 0 or Integrated Foundations. We are also unable to accept non-UK Foundation courses.
Once you have submitted an application, the Admissions Office may contact you via King's Apply to ask for further details on your qualification, such as a list of modules and course specifications.
The King's International Foundation Programme has guaranteed pathways available for progression onto our King's undergraduate degree programmes, and information can be found on the website.
Graduates
Our general entry requirements are based on A-level or equivalent. However, where an applicant is completing/has completed a degree, we are able to consider the degree study as part of the assessment of the application.
Generally, we would consider a minimum of a UK Bachelor degree with a 2:1 grade profile (or overseas equivalent) as meeting the entry requirements for our undergraduate degrees. However, those who have achieved/are predicted a high 2:1 or a First may be considered more competitive.
Once you have submitted an application, the Admissions Office may contact you via King's Apply to ask for further details on your degree study.
Personal Statement
Your personal statement is one of the many factors in the overall assessment of your application, and is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the university and inform us of your commitment to the programme and how the programme fits into your career plans, as well as any work experience or extracurricular activities you have done.
Resits
We are able to consider applicants who have retaken or are retaking their qualifications.
Transfers
Transfers into this programme are not permitted.
If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, we can help with our Foundation year courses.
If you have an offer from King's, but English isn't your first language, we have courses to help you.
Modules are taught by leading academics through a combination of lectures, small seminars or tutorials, and expert one-to-one supervision. Language classes target oral and written competency, specific skills such as translation, and involve in-depth work with different kinds of media, literary and academic texts. Teaching is in both English and the language studied, according to the subject area. Our teaching style is interactive; you will participate informally in small group discussions, in seminars or online discussion platforms, and formally through seminar presentations and oral assessments.
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations. Forms of assessment may typically include coursework and assessed essays; language assignments (written, oral, aural); individual or group-based presentations; year abroad project work; examinations; and dissertation. You will also have a variety of formative assessments (not for credit) throughout your programme .
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.
Courses are divided into modules. Each year you will normally take modules totalling 120 credits.
This is a four-year degree course in which you will take a combination of required and optional modules to total 360 credits.
You are required to do the following modules
PHILOSOPHY
Students will take a total of 60 credits of modules from the Philosophy Department.
You are required to take one module from each of the following groups plus one further module from any of the groups:
Group A
Group B
Group C
MODERN LANGUAGES
Students will take a total of 60 credits of modules from the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures.
French Pathway
You are required to take ONE of the following language modules, depending on linguistic competence in French:
AND TWO of the following literature modules, depending on linguistic competence in French:
German Pathway
You are required to take ONE of the following language modules, depending on linguistic competence in German:
AND TWO of the following literature modules, depending on linguistic competence in German:
Portuguese Pathway
You are required to take ONE of the following language modules, depending on linguistic competence in Portuguese:
AND the following modules:
Spanish pathway
You are required to take ONE of the following language modules, depending on linguistic competence in Spanish:
AND the following modules:
Please note: It may not be possible to run the intermediate streams for German and Portuguese in any given year due to numbers of students. Please contact dllc@kcl.ac.uk if you have further questions.
There are no optional modules for this year.
King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.
Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.
By encouraging critical reflection on both the past and the present contexts of the French-, German-, Portuguese- or Spanish-speaking worlds, and the skills of criticism, interpretation and reasoning that are also fundamental to philosophy, the programme broadens students’ knowledge base and strengthens their interdisciplinary profile, challenging narrow, monocultural assumptions, thus preparing students for the challenges of multicultural and global realities.
Studies of graduate employability repeatedly stress the career value of language degrees, which provide graduates with international experience and enhance cultural awareness, helping them to develop flexibility, resilience and resourcefulness. Employers value foreign language ability, not just as a specialist skill, but as a personal quality that develops relationship-building, teamwork, and the capacity to move easily in international contexts. Typical destinations of graduates from this degree include international business, the press and media, IT and technology, marketing and public relations, public administration, international development, law, finance, teaching and lecturing, interpreting, and translating.
The UK tuition fee for the 2025-26 academic year is currently £9,535 per year. This is based on the UK Government's cap.
The International tuition fee for the 2025-2026 academic year is £27,100 per year.
Please note that the International tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.
All International applicants to Undergraduate programmes are required to pay a deposit of £2000 against their first year's tuition fee. This deposit is payable when you firmly accept an unconditional offer to study with us, and will be offset against your tuition fees when you join King's.
If you choose the study abroad option with one of King’s partner universities, you will not be charged tuition fees by the host university (although some partners do charge a small administration fee for applying). King’s will continue to invoice for a proportion of King's tuition fees. You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required by the country to which you are travelling. Please see the Study Abroad web pages for details of the relevant partner universities and detailed information on the fees that apply under the Course Essentials tab.
In addition to the costs above, you can also expect to pay for: · books if you choose to buy your own copies · clothing for optional course related events and competitions · library fees and fines · personal photocopies · printing course handouts · society membership fees · stationery · graduation costs · travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.
Chat with current students and King's staff to find out about the courses we offer, life at King's and ask any questions you may have.
Take a look at our comfortable, safe residences to suit your budget, located close to King's teaching campuses.
Art, food, music, shopping – you'll never find yourself with nothing to do in the world's most vibrant city.
Information about living in London, including events, budgeting and expenses, travel and safety.
During your time at King's College London, a range of academic and personal support and guidance is available to you.
