The information on this page is accurate for students entering the programme from September 2026.
For students who entered the programme before September 2026, you can find the details of your programme: BA Modern Languages and International Relations (Chinese)
The BA in Modern Languages and International Relations will give you the opportunity to understand how states interact and co-operate in an increasingly globalised and interdependent world. At the same time, you will develop the language skills and cultural competence that will enable you to engage with and understand the interaction between different peoples and societies.
Studying for a Joint Honours degree allows you to gain an in-depth knowledge of two subjects, through first-class teaching and including a period of residence abroad.
This particular programme offers you the chance to learn about how states interact with each other, as well as the impacts and contributions of organisations such as the UN. You will combine core modules on key topics such as security and the concepts, theories and research methods of international relations with a range of optional modules. You can explore topics that interest them, from the politics of aid to the complexities of Middle Eastern politics and the rise of extreme right parties in Europe. This will be complemented by the study of a cultural and linguistic context outside the United Kingdom. You will gain an additional perspective on the United Kingdom’s position on the world stage by both the academic study of another culture and by the experience of living and working/studying elsewhere. This will enrich your understanding of the global context.
Having begun your studies with anything from beginner to post-A-level competence in their language of choice, you will graduate with the ability to communicate and defend their views clearly in this language, either orally or in writing. In addition, you will have strong research and organisational skills and be confident working independently or in a team. You will also have a strong understanding of cultural diversity, allowing you to work effectively with people whose backgrounds differ from your own. In the third and final year, you undertake a dissertation on an in-depth and specialised topic with advice from tutors.
The programme gives you a diverse skillset, useful for career development in a broad range of fields and professions, including journalism, research, advocacy, the civil service, and roles in local and national government. Other language-based careers such as translating or interpreting or training in these, will also be open to you.
(For students entering from September 2026 onwards)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
At Level 1, students must study 120 credits. Students are required to take 40 credits in International Relations (IR) and 60 credits in Chinese as well as the Cornerstone module MODL1100.
Students will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST1110 | Modern China: History and Culture | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| MODL1100 | Politics, Culture and Society | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| PIED1110 | Comparative Politics | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
| PIED1511 | International Politics | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | PFP |
Students with no prior knowledge of Chinese will be required to study the following modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST1030 | Beginners Chinese | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| EAST1035 | Post-Beginners Chinese | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
Students with prior knowledge of Chinese will, subject to a placement test, be required to study the following modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST1460 | Intermediate Chinese (1) | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| EAST1461 | Intermediate Chinese (2) | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
(For students entering from September 2026 onwards)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
At Level 2, students must study 120 credits. Overall, students must take at least 100 credits across their two subjects. Students are required to take 40 credits in IR and a minimum of 60 credits in Chinese. The remaining 20 credits may be taken as discovery modules or as further options with Chinese.
Students will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST2030 | Chinese Language Skills – 2A | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| EAST2031 | Chinese Language Skills – 2B | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
| PIED2501 | Theories of International Relations | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | PFP |
| PIED2559 | Global Security Challenges | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
Students are required to study a minimum of 20 credits and may study up to 40 credits of the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST2006 | China Since 1979 | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| EAST2126 | Classical Chinese | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| EAST2148 | Trauma Narratives in the Contemporary Sinophone World | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| EAST2360 | Chinese Cinema | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| EAST2711 | Civil Society and the Non-Profit Sector in Contemporary China | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| EAST2716 | Nature and Technology in Japan: Cultural Images | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| EAST2717 | Society, Culture and Environment in Early Modern China | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Students may study up to 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MODL2003 | Global Queer Politics and Cultures | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| MODL2006 | Social Class across Cultures | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep 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) | |
| MODL2090 | Languages in Action: from Theory to Practice | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| MODL2250 | Digital Communications Across Cultures | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Students may choose to take up to 20 credits of discovery modules.
(For students entering from September 2026 onwards)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Students will be required to study the following compulsory modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MODL9500 | LCS Year Abroad | 120 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
(For students entering from September 2026 onwards)
[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 Chinese and a minimum of 40 credits in IR.
Overall, students must take at least 100 credits across their two subjects.
The remaining 20 credits may be taken as discovery modules or as further options with Chinese. 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 IR OR Chinese).
All students will be required to study the following compulsory module:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST3275 | Chinese 3: Advanced Skills | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
All students are required to take ONE of the following Final Year Project (FYP) modules.
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MODL3050 | Final Year Project | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| PIED3775 | POLIS Final Year Project | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
Students who take their FYP in Chinese (MODL3050) are required to take 40 credits from the following lists of optional modules (from Basket 1 and Basket 2). Students can take only ONE module per Basket.
Students who take their FYP in International Relations (PIED3775) may take 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIED3158 | British Foreign Policy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED3343 | Gender, Violence and Security | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED3402 | American Foreign Policy | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PIED3565 | Terrorism: Concepts, Debates, Cases | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED3810 | Video Games: Politics, Society and Culture | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it
Basket 2:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIED3261 | Violence and Reconciliation in Africa | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED3325 | Europe in the World | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PIED3408 | Nuclear Weapons and Global Politics | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PIED3590 | The Global Politics of Climate Change | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PIED3650 | Global Political Economy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it
Students who take their FYP in IR (PIED3775) are required to take a minimum of 20 credits and may take up to 40 credits from the following list of optional modules (from EITHER Basket 1 OR Basket 2). Students can take only ONE module per Basket.
Students who take their FYP in Chinese (MODL3050) may take up to 20 credits from the following list of optional modules (from EITHER Basket 3 OR Basket 4).
BASKET 3: CHINESE OPTIONAL MODULES
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST3015 | Religion in China | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| EAST3020 | Civil Society and the Non-Profit Sector in Contemporary China | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| EAST3120 | Classical Chinese | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| EAST3148 | Trauma Narratives in the Contemporary Sinophone World | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| EAST3541 | Specialised Chinese Readings in Context | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it
BASKET 4: TRANSNATIONAL CULTURE AND SOCIETY OPTIONAL MODULES
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOAH3230 | Transnational Feminism and Creative Practice | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| MODL3130 | Languages in Action: from Theory to Practice | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| 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) | |
| 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) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Students may choose to take 20 credits of discovery modules.
Last updated: 07/05/2026 16:55:57
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