Why study with us?

Our degree programmes allow you to combine up to three languages, at different levels of ability.

We offer French, German, Italian, and Spanish as core languages at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.

In addition to our core languages, you can integrate Arabic, British Sign Language, Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, Modern Greek, and Russian into your course at the beginner level. Learn more about our additional languages.

We are proud to be one of the few universities in the country to offer British Sign Language as part of a degree.

The flexibility of our courses allows you to choose your own pathway. You can adapt your degree to fit your interests with our range of cultural modules. Many of our modules are unique to Reading because they reflect the research specialisms of our expert teaching staff.

In these modules, you will deepen your knowledge and refine your language skills while exploring the cultures and histories associated with the languages you're studying.

You will study languages in practice, exploring how they are woven into inspirational literature, art, and film, while also understanding how history and politics have shaped the cultures of the countries where they are spoken.

Topics for study include:

• postcolonial writing
• revolutionary cultures
• music
• performance
• philosophy
• conflict studies
• publishing
• linguistics
• translation
• migration.

For more examples of the modules we offer, please see our BA Modern Languages page. 

96% of graduates from Languages and Cultures are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation (based on our analysis of HESA data © HESA 2024, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021/22; includes first degree Languages and Cultures responders).

We aim to make our graduates stand out from the crowd, so during your studies we provide:

• the opportunity to develop a range of transferable skills including effective written and oral communication, critical thinking and teamworking skills
• support from a dedicated careers adviser
• regular events with professionals showcasing careers where languages and humanities graduates are particularly valued. Recent events have focused on translation, publishing, advertising, journalism and marketing
• professional skills training and work placement opportunities embedded in our courses
• CV surgeries and support to apply for jobs abroad.

Students on their year abroad have completed work placements with prestigious employers including Publicis Advertising and PR, Nintendo Europe, Oxford University Press, Airbus Helicopters, BMW Group and Deutsche Bank.

"Studying at Reading really boosted my confidence in learning German. After not doing as well as I’d hoped in my A levels, I was nervous about how I’d manage at university. However, the small class sizes and supportive lecturers created a safe learning environment where I felt encouraged to actively participate, learn from my mistakes and improve my skills. 

"The highlight, though, was definitely my year abroad. Although it felt daunting at first, the opportunity to fully immerse myself in the language and culture was an unforgettable experience. Now, I am fortunate enough to be back in Düsseldorf, working in the same city where I spent my year abroad.

With the support of my boyfriend’s family I was able to obtain the Job Seeker’s visa for people with higher education, which was the process pre-Chancenkarte. And then once I found a skilled job, which aligned with my studies and experience, I was given a residence permit with the right to work in that job."

Isabella Speed, Operations Manager at OMD Düsseldorf, Germany