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Modern Languages and English

  • BA (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time including placement abroad
  • 21 September 2026
  • Undergraduate
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More about Royal Holloway, University of London

Course options

2026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

This Joint Honours course you will deepen your understanding of English literature, and give you the opportunity to gain fluency in the language of your choice - French, German, Italian or Spanish.

Whether you start at beginners’, advanced or native-speaker level, you will study the core language components for the language you have chosen, gaining skills in writing, reading, speaking and listening. All our teaching is led by native speakers.

The remainder of your modern languages study will give you an opportunity to explore the literature, art, culture and history of the language area you are studying, from seventeenth-century French theatre to representations of childhood and youth in German culture, and from Italian fashion and design to visual arts from all the corners of the Spanish-speaking world. As a modern linguist, you will develop excellent communication and research skills, and combine lingusitic proficiency with cross-cultural perspectives.

In your third year you will have the opportunity to spend a year working, teaching or studying abroad, where you will immerse yourself in another language and culture, truly broadening your horizons in the process.

From Beowulf to the Booker Prize, English offers you the opportunity to study the full historical range of literature in English as well as the latest developments in the field, and even to pursue your own creative writing.

You can discover the earliest works in English, deepen your knowledge of Shakespeare, find out what is great about Renaissance literature, darken your view of the 18th century, and unpack the Victorians. The course's structure allows you to develop a sound understanding of key periods, genres, authors, and ideas as well as choosing from a huge range of options. You can study Modernism, Postmodernism and American literature, explore literary criticism, develop your own creative writing, and analyse the latest developments in global literatures in English.

In the event of a no-deal Brexit, we will commit to providing 2019 and 2020 entry students with a subsidy equivalent to current Erasmus+ funding (where this would have previously been funded by the Erasmus+ scheme). To find out more visit the Erasmus+ page.

Subject options

This course offers the following subject options:

  • French
  • German
  • Italian
  • Spanish

Modules

Please refer to our website for information :
https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/undergraduate/languages-literatures-and-cultures/modern-languages-and-english/

Assessment method

Your course will be assessed by a combination of examinations and in-course assignments in the form of essays or presentations

This course is available in Clearing. If you have submitted an application, you can add this course. If you haven’t sent us an application yet, you can do this until 24th September 2026.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BA (Hons) • Full-time including placement abroad • 4 Years

Start dates

  • 21 September 2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
RQ93
Institution code:
R72
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

Royal Holloway, University of London has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
RQ93
Institution code:
R72
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

A level
ABB - BBB

Required subjects: A-level grade B in an essay based subject.

Grade B at A-Level in the appropriate language for the advanced level language pathway. For the beginner pathway there is no language requirement but only one language can be studied at beginner level.
Where an applicant is taking the EPQ alongside A-levels, the EPQ will be taken into consideration and result in lower A-level grades being required.

Socio-economic factors which may have impacted an applicant’s education will be taken into consideration and alternative offers may be made to these applicants.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DDD

BTEC must be in a relevant subject, including distinction in all essay units plus grade A in GCSE English Literature. An A-level grade B in the appropriate language is needed if the advanced level language pathway is required. There is no language requirement for beginners level.

Access to HE Diploma
D: 27 credits M: 18 credits

Distinction to be achieved in all Level 3 English studies units. Grade B at A level in the appropriate language for the advanced level language pathway. For the beginners language pathway there is no language requirement but only one language can be studied at beginners level.

Scottish Higher
AABBB

Including B in an essay based subject and a B in the appropriate language if the advanced level language pathway is required. There is no language requirement for beginners level.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DD

BTEC must be in a related subject, plus grade B in an essay based subject. Grade B at A level in the appropriate language is also required for the advanced level language pathway. For the beginners language pathway there is no language requirement but only one language can be studied at beginners level.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
D

Plus A-levels grades B, B including in an essay based subject. Grade B at A level in the appropriate language for the advanced level language pathway. For the beginners language pathway there is no language requirement but only one language can be studied at beginners level.

Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF)
DDD

BTEC must be in a relevant subject, including distinction in all essay units plus grade A in GCSE English Literature. An A-level grade B in the appropriate language is needed if the advanced level language pathway is required. There is no language requirement for beginners level.

Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF)
D*D

BTEC must be in a related subject, plus grade B in an essay based subject. Grade B at A level in the appropriate language is also required for the advanced level language pathway. For the beginners language pathway there is no language requirement but only one language can be studied at beginners level.

Scottish Advanced Higher
ABB - BBB

Including B in an essay based subject and a B in the appropriate language if the advanced level language pathway is required. There is no language requirement for beginners level.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
32 points

6,5,5 at Higher Level OR 32 points overall, including an HL 5 in an essay based subject and HL5 in the appropriate language if the advanced pathway is required

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)

Requirements are as for A Levels where one non subject specified A Level can be replaced by the same grade in the Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
H2, H2, H3, H3, H3

Including H3 in an essay based subject and the H3 in the appropriate language if the advanced level language pathway is required. There is no language requirement for beginner level.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

Applicants with the Cambridge Pre-U are strongly encouraged to apply to Royal Holloway. Offers will be made on the basis of equivalent A-Level grades as can be found on the Royal Holloway website.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

We require English and Mathematics at grade 4/C.

Combinations of qualifications will be considered on an individual basis, please contact us on admissions.enquiries@rhul.ac.uk to discuss your situation

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

At Royal Holloway, we know every student approaches university with different experiences and backgrounds. We look at each application individually, and different factors can affect the exact offer a student receives. For instance, our contextual offer scheme means students from disadvantaged socio-economic background can receive a different offer. For full details please see our website.

Learn more on the Royal Holloway, University of London website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

*The tuition fee for Home (UK) undergraduates is controlled by Government regulations. This figure is the fee for the academic year 2026/27 and is shown as a guide.

**This figure is the fee for EU and international students starting a degree in the academic year 2026/27 and is shown as a guide.

Royal Holloway reserves the right to increase tuition fees annually for all students. For further information see fees and funding (https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/fees-and-funding).

*** These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2026/27 academic year and are included as a guide. Refers to specific individual items of £50 or more, and excludes accommodation, commuting, food, books/other learning materials and printing costs.

Sponsorship information

https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studyhere/undergraduate/feesandfunding/bursariesandscholarships/home.aspx

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