Modern Foreign Languages (combined honours)

Studying a foreign language as part of a combined honours degree is an intellectual challenge that gives you access to another culture and way of life, and enhances your future job prospects. The MFL Department offers French language and Spanish language at all levels to complement study in Accounting, Business, Computing, Communication Studies Economics, English Literature, International Studies, Law, Marketing and Psychology. Please follow the links to the right of this page for details of these honours degrees. Alternatively you can choose to study a language as a free choice course or a voluntary option. See:

• Studying languages
• About our Department

Language teaching takes place in the historic Chandos Road Building with its language laboratories, audio library, computer-assisted learning, and satellite tv and audio-visual facilities. As with so much at Buckingham, teaching is above all personalised. The quality of the student:staff ratio allows you to make faster progress towards a real understanding and fluency in another language.

I studied International Studies and Spanish at Buckingham University; to learn another language can be invaluable whether professionally or for pleasure. Spanish is at the moment the fourth most spoken language in the world and growing in numbers, so I thought to be able to combine learning another language with my degree subjects would be perfect.

In my experience I have found that the university is committed to helping you achieve your potential and best possible grades and this is reflected in the dedicated hard work of the lecturers. The department offers you the chance to begin at a level that suits you if you have had previous experience of learning the language or to start from the beginning - like I did. The classes in Spanish are small numbers and this means you get the attention of the lecturers that you otherwise may lack from a larger university; lecturers also reassure you that they are always available to assist even outside of lesson times, which is especially helpful near exam time!

I have totally enjoyed my course at Buckingham University and would definitely recommend learning another language!

Student profile: Sarah Kerrison (International Studies with Spanish)

The only two factors necessary for learning any language are motivation and a good learning method. So the motivated amongst you are indeed lucky: Buckingham sports a wonderful language department with very friendly teachers. I was lucky enough to study both French and Spanish and, thanks to the efforts of my tutors, I achieved excellent results in both.

Why study a language as part of your degree? Two reasons. Firstly, knowledge of a foreign language gives you a clear advantage in an increasingly competitive and globalised job market. Second, and perhaps most crucially, it gives one a certain je ne sais quoi, a particular charm which can be most favourable when engaging in courtship rituals with your fellow lady or gentleman. Think James Bond.

Student profile: Viresh Jansari (International Studies with French)