BA Modern Languages (Japanese and Spanish)

Programme overview

Entry requirements

Entry Requirements are available on the Course Search entry

Programme specification

The information on this page is accurate for students entering the programme in 2023/2024 or before. For students entering the programme from September 2024 or after, you can find the details of your programme: BA Modern Languages (Japanese and Spanish)(For students entering from September 2024 onwards)

On this programme, students will become highly competent in their two chosen languages while acquiring an understanding of, analysing, interpreting and engaging with the cultures and societies where these languages are spoken.

A compulsory period of residence abroad will provide students with the unique opportunity to develop language skills in a rich and varied context of use, while engaging with other cultures and societies, thereby fostering intercultural awareness and pluricultural competence, self-reliance and flexibility.

This dual-language programme offers opportunities for students at all levels to engage with the connections and contrasts between the languages they study (e.g. through ‘MODL’ modules that span multiple language areas), enabling them to deepen their critical understanding of their chosen languages. There might also be an opportunity to take discovery modules, which include modules in an additional language for students wishing to expand their linguistic repertoire.

At Level 1, students will study core language modules that are tailored to their ability alongside modules which will introduce them to the cultures and societies of the languages they are studying. They will also receive training in crucial academic skills such as critical analysis, argumentation, research and academic writing.

At Level 2 and 3 students will continue to develop their communicative proficiency and their linguistic and intercultural awareness through core language modules. They will also choose from a range of optional modules exploring various aspects of the cultures, history, politics, and social and economic structures of the countries of the languages of study. They will analyse and critically interpret a wide diversity of cultural forms, products and practice, and will learn to mediate, analyse and compare ideas and events that cross national, cultural or linguistic boundaries.

Throughout the programme, students will develop valuable interpretative, analytical and digital skills, as well as becoming confident researchers. Students will demonstrate these qualities when they undertake a Final Year Project on a topic of their choice in one of the language subjects they study.

Year 1

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
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At Level 1, students must study 120 credits. Overall, students must take 100 credits across their two subjects. Students are required to take 60 credits in Japanese and a minimum of 40 credits in Spanish.

The remaining 20 credits may be taken as a MODL module, which can count towards either of their two subjects (Japanese AND Spanish), a further option with Spanish, or discovery modules.

Compulsory Modules

All students will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST1252	Modern Japan	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
SPPO1010	Practical Language Skills in Spanish 1	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP
SPPO1420	Researching Spanish and Latin American Studies	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Optional Modules

Students with no prior knowledge of Japanese will be required to study the following modules :

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST1210	Basic Japanese Language (1)	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST1220	Basic Japanese Language (2)	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)	PFP

Students with prior knowledge of Japanese will, subject to a placement test, be required to study the following modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST1280	Intermediate Japanese (1)	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST1281	Intermediate Japanese (2)	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)	PFP

All students may study up to 20 credits from the following lists of optional modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
SPPO1045	The Historical Development of Spain and Hispanic America	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
SPPO1080	Portuguese Language for Beginners 1A	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
SPPO1145	Catalan Language and Culture I	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
SPPO1160	Introduction to the Cultural Production of Spain and Spanish America	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

All students may study up to 20 credits from the following lists of optional modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MODL1050	Introduction to Audio-Visual Culture	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL1060	Language: Structure and Sound	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MODL1070	World Histories	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL1090	Intercultural Competence: Theory and Application	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL1100	Politics, Culture and Society	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL1150	Worlds of Literature	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL1401	Discourse, Culture and Identity	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Discovery Modules

All students may choose to take up to 20 credits of discovery modules.

Year 2

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
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Compulsory Modules

Students will be required to study the following compulsory residence abroad module.  

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MODL9500	LCS Year Abroad	120	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP

Year 3

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
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At Level 2, students must study 120 credits. Overall, students must take 100 credits across their two subjects. Students are required to take 60 credits in Japanese and a minimum of 40 credits in Spanish.

Compulsory Modules

Students will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST2719	Japanese 2: Pre-Advanced Communication Skills 1	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2720	Japanese 2: Pre-Advanced Communication Skills 2	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)	PFP
SPPO2010	Practical Language Skills in Spanish 2	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP

Optional Modules

Students will be required to study 20 credits from the following optional modules: 

Nature and Technology in Japanese Literature and Film - 20 credits
Japanese Cinema - 20 credits
Death and Religion in Japan - 20 credits

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST2007	Japan's International Relations	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2025	Global Korea in Context: Sociocultural and Political Dynamics	20	Not running in 202526
EAST2480	Japanese Development Assistance in a Globalising World	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2714	Death in Japanese Society and Culture	20	Not running in 202526
EAST2715	Japanese Cinema in the World	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2716	Nature and Technology in Japan: Cultural Images	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Students are required to study a minimum of 20 credits and may study up to 40 credits from the following list of optional modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
SPPO2100	Issues in Hispanic Cinema	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
SPPO2110	Literature and the Arts in the Spanish-speaking World	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
SPPO2510	Latin America since Independence (c1800 - c1930)	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
SPPO2680	Modern Spain (1868-1975)	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Students may study up to 20 credits from the following list of optional modules (from EITHER Basket 1 OR Basket 2):

Basket 1

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
SPPO2580	Translation Theory and Practice in a Spanish - English Context	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
SPPO2595	Catalan Language and Culture II	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
SPPO2650	The Spanish regional Melting Pot: the old same History?	20	Not running in 202526

Basket 2

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MODL2001	Linguists into Schools	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL2003	Global Queer Politics and Cultures	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL2015	Black Europe	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL2070	Reception, Transmission and Translation: The Global Circulation of Literature	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL2075	Global Environmental Humanities	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL2250	Digital Communications Across Cultures	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Discovery Modules

Students may choose to take 20 credits of discovery modules.

Year 4

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

At Level 3, students must study 120 credits. Students are required to take a minimum of 40 credits in Japanese and a minimum of 40 credits in Spanish. Overall, students must take 100 credits across their two subjects.

All students must take 40 credits as a Final Year Project (FYP) module, which can be taken in - and count towards - either of their two subjects (EITHER Japanese OR Spanish).

The remaining 20 credits may be taken as a MODL module, which can count towards either of their two subjects (Japanese AND Spanish), a further option with Japanese OR Spanish, or discovery modules.   

Compulsory Modules

All students will be required to study the following compulsory modules: 

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST3285	Japanese 3: Advanced Communication Skills	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP
MODL3050	Final Year Project	40	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP
SPPO3010	Practical Language Skills in Spanish 3	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP

Optional Modules

Students who take their FYP in Spanish are required to take a minimum of 20 credits and may take up to 40 credits from the following lists of optional modules (from Basket 1 AND Basket 2).

Students who take their FYP in Japanese may take up to 20 credits from the following lists of optional modules (from EITHER Basket 1 OR Basket 2). 

Basket 1:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST3018	Death in Japanese Society and Culture	20	Not running in 202526
EAST3156	Nature and Technology in Japan: Cultural Images	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST3271	East Asia's Regional Political Economy	20	Not running in 202526
EAST3286	Advanced Japanese in Context: Culture and Identity	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3287	Advanced Japanese in Context 5: Japanese Diplomacy and Foreign Policy in Historical Context	20	Not running in 202526
EAST3525	Globalising China and the Developing World	20	Not running in 202526
EAST3580	Advanced Japanese in Translation	20	Not running in 202526

Basket 2:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST3016	East Asian Performing Arts	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST3017	Japan-Korea Relations in the Shadow of Empire	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST3252	Modern Japanese History	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3350	Japanese Cinema in the World	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3707	Buddhism: A Lived Tradition	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Students who take their FYP in Japanese are required to take a minimum of 20 credits and may take up to 40 credits from the following lists of optional modules (from Basket 1 AND Basket 2).

Students who take their FYP in Spanish may take up to 20 credits from the following lists of optional modules (from EITHER Basket 1 OR Basket 2).

Basket 1:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
SPPO3062	Spanish in an Economic and Business Context	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
SPPO3071	Contemporary Spain: Politics, Culture and Society After Franco	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
SPPO3800	Icons and Stars: Celebrity and Revolution in Spain and Latin America	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
SPPO3900	Race and Representation in the Spanish-speaking world	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Basket 2:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
SPPO3420	Spanish-English Translation	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
SPPO3535	Catalan Language and Culture III	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

All students may study 20 credits from the following optional modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MODL3200	Representing the Holocaust: Transgression and the Taboo	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MODL3410	Contemporary World Literature	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL3600	Material Cultures and Cultures of Consumption	20	Not running in 202526
MODL3610	Adventures of the Imagination: Crime and the Fantastic Across Continents	20	Not running in 202526
MODL3620	Decolonial Approaches	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MODL3630	Social Movements across Cultures	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL3650	Minoritised Languages, Dialects and Cultures from Past to Present	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL3800	Linguists into Schools	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Last updated: 24/07/2025 15:44:29

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