BA (Hons) Philosophy and Modern Languages & Cultures

This degree allows you to explore the connections between language and philosophical thought, and how philosophical ideas have shaped many of the cultures of modern Europe. You’ll study either one or two modern foreign languages (choosing from French, German, Russian, Spanish, Dutch, Czech, Italian, Catalan, Luxembourgish or Portugese) and will combine the practicalities of learning those languages with modules that examine their history, literature and culture.* Through your Philosophy modules, you’ll explore key philosophical areas - ethics, philosophy of mind, theory of knowledge, political philosophy, metaphysics and logic - as well as major figures in the history of philosophy such as Plato, Aristotle, Descartes and Hegel. You’ll also tackle real-world issues, examining topics like global justice, climate change and feminism through a philosophical lens.You will be learning from academics who are experts in their field, in departments that are innovators in terms of their research and public engagement. We offer incredible opportunities for our students, both at home and abroad. In your third year, you will spend time studying or working overseas, immersing yourself in the culture of one of two countries and honing your language skills by living alongside native speakers. Closer to home, you’ll have the chance to make an impact through community projects like the award-winning Philosophy in the City, which introduces school children to philosophical ideas they can apply to everyday life, or by volunteering as a language ambassador and inspiring young people to continue their language learning. Our graduates are articulate, creative communicators who know how to structure an argument, and how to analyse one. We have alumni working all over the world in a diverse range of careers, including international development, teaching, law, translating and interpreting, journalism, the civil service, charities, museums, publishing, international sales and business. *If you choose to study just one language, you will choose from French, German, Spanish or Russian. Italian is available as a second language option only, and we do not offer a year abroad in Italy. Luxembourgish is available to study from second year.