BA (Hons) Modern Languages and Music Bachelor's degree at the University of Birmingham
BA (Hons) Modern Languages and Music at University of Birmingham. Over four years, based at the Edgbaston campus, the course is structured to let you develop genuine competence in your chosen language(s) alongside musical knowledge and skills, with the pairing designed so that each discipline informs the…
About this course
Course details for prospective students on our BA Modern Languages and Music undergraduate degree programme at the University of Birmingham, UK. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Modern Languages and Music is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at the University of Birmingham, based in Edgbaston campus. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Others in language and area studies graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 70% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £26,500. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Modern Languages, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 30; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 94% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 20 modules
- Discover: Personal, Academic and Professional Development in Modern LanguagesCompulsory20 credits
- Techniques of Tonal Music 2Compulsory10 credits
- Techniques of Tonal Music 1Compulsory10 credits
- Music and its Cultures ICore20 credits
- Music and its Cultures IICore20 credits
- Composing with TechnologyCore10 credits
- Instrumental CompositionCore10 credits
- Introduction to Music and its Cultures ICore10 credits
- Introduction to Music and its Cultures IICore10 credits
- Exploring Identities in the French and Francophone worldCompulsory20 credits
- French Language 1 (Advanced)Compulsory20 credits
- French Language 1 (Beginners)Compulsory20 credits
- Nation, Democracy, Diversity in the German-speaking worldCompulsory20 credits
- German Language 1 (Advanced)Compulsory20 credits
- German Language 1 (Beginners)Compulsory20 credits
- Introduction to Hispanic CulturesCompulsory20 credits
- Spanish Language 1 (Advanced)Compulsory20 credits
- Spanish Language 1 (Beginners)Compulsory20 credits
- Environment, Sustainability and Development in the Portuguese-speaking worldCompulsory20 credits
- Portuguese Language 1 (Beginners): Boas-vindas!Compulsory20 credits
Year 2 16 modules
- Analysis of MusicCore20 credits
- Critical MusicologyCore20 credits
- French Lang 2 (Intermediate)Compulsory20 credits
- French Language 2 (Advanced)Compulsory20 credits
- German Language 2 (Advanced)Compulsory20 credits
- German Language 2 (Intermediate)Compulsory20 credits
- Spanish Language 2 (Advanced)Compulsory20 credits
- Spanish Language 2 (Intermediate)Compulsory20 credits
- Cultural Industries: Creativity in ChangeCompulsory20 credits
- Portuguese Language 2 (Intermediate): Vamos lá!Compulsory20 credits
- Beginners Catalan Language AOptional10 credits
- Beginners Catalan Language BOptional10 credits
- Intermediate Catalan Language AOptional10 credits
- Intermediate Catalan Language BOptional10 credits
- Artistic and Literary Representations of BarcelonaOptional20 credits
- Gender, New Media and Cultural IdentityOptional20 credits
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
The course is built around several strands that run through the four years. Core theory gives you the grounding in linguistic structures and musical fundamentals you need before specialising further. Research & methods introduces the skills for independent enquiry in both language study and music, useful for essays, analysis and eventual project work. Applied practice is where you put learning into action, whether that's using the language actively or engaging directly with musical performance, composition or analysis. As you progress, you'll choose from specialist options such as particular languages, periods, genres or areas of musical or linguistic focus, allowing you to shape the degree around what interests you most. An independent project towards the later years lets you pursue a topic in depth, drawing on both disciplines or focusing more heavily on one. Throughout, professional skills modules help you build transferable abilities, communication, research, organisation, that matter beyond the degree itself. The four-year structure gives room for language study to develop properly over time, rather than being compressed, and for musical study to progress in parallel.
Who it's for
This course suits someone who genuinely enjoys both language learning and music, and doesn't want to choose between them at eighteen. If you're the kind of person who finds satisfaction in the grammar and vocabulary of a new language but also can't quite let go of an instrument, ensemble or composition project, studying both together is likely to feel less like a compromise and more like the right fit. You'll need a degree of self-discipline, since language acquisition rewards steady, sustained effort, and musical development often needs regular independent practice or study alongside taught sessions. Curiosity about how language and music intersect, rhythm, expression, cultural context, will serve you well, as will a willingness to be a beginner again in some respects, particularly if you're picking up a language with limited prior experience. Most entrants come in having studied A-levels or equivalent, with UCAS tariff scores in the 128–143 range typical among those accepted, though this describes past entrants rather than a fixed requirement. If you're someone who thrives on variety within a demanding schedule, and enjoys working across disciplines rather than within a single narrow specialism, four years of combining these two subjects should suit your temperament well.
Careers & job market
Graduates from Modern Languages courses nationally show a reasonably strong record of progression: 85% are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and 70% of those in work are in roles classified as highly skilled or are continuing into further study. These figures relate to Modern Languages graduates across the UK rather than being specific to this university or this exact course, so they should be read as a general indication rather than a guarantee. National earnings data (Graduate Outcomes/LEO) for the field show starting salaries 15 months after graduation typically ranging between £24,000 and £33,500, rising to between £25,500 and £36,000 after three years, and between £32,725 and £46,200 after five years. Again, these are national figures across the field, not specific promises tied to this course or institution, and individual outcomes vary considerably depending on choices made during and after study. The combination of language skills and musical training may open routes into areas where both are valued, from language-based roles to those in creative and cultural sectors, though the exact destinations will depend on the specialisms and options chosen along the way. Nationally, 90% of students on comparable courses continue past their first year, suggesting reasonable levels of persistence once study is under way.
University & format
The University of Birmingham is a public, research-intensive institution and a member of the Russell Group, founded in 1900 and based at its Edgbaston campus, with a total student population of 30,832. It holds Silver for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 and is. This BA (Hons) Modern Languages and Music course (UCAS code R752) runs full-time over four years and is taught in English, leading to a Bachelor's degree awarded by a recognised UK degree-awarding body.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 95% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code R752). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at University of Birmingham →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Modern Languages graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £26,500 | £24,000 – £30,000 | 30 |
| 3 years after | £27,500 | £23,500 – £35,000 | 50 |
| 5 years after | £34,000 | £27,500 – £49,000 | 50 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 30; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in modern languages · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Modern Languages nationally
National figures for Modern Languages graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 30; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Modern Languages courses at the same study level.
Compared with 931 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
- Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 120; response rate: 60%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Is BA (Hons) Modern Languages and Music worth it?
It depends. BA (Hons) Modern Languages and Music adds about +£60,840 over the first ten years vs. going straight to a job, but on these earnings the payoff is slower than average.
Cumulative earnings vs. going straight to work at 18, counting tuition and 4 years of wages given up while studying. The line clears zero around year 17.7. This is a simplified gross-earnings comparison, not a forecast of cash loan repayments.
Model: this course’s own median graduate earnings (Graduate Outcomes / LEO) above the £24,000 non-graduate baseline (ONS), net of £9,790/yr over 4 years (published course home fee). Eligible England-domiciled students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan; repayments are 9% only on income above the threshold, with anything left written off after 40 years. That makes the cash flow different from conventional commercial debt. Opportunity cost assumes £18,000 gross earnings forgone in each study year; figures are nominal and exclude tax, living costs, investment returns and loan interest. A simplified estimate. Earnings and actual fees vary by graduate, provider, fee status and UK nation.
Job market & outlook
How Modern Languages graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Modern Languages graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Translation agencies
- International businesses
- Government (FCDO)
- Tourism & education
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Modern Languages graduates.
Head of Modern Languages, Inspire, Lead & Develop MFLSuffolk County Council11 To 18 (Secondary) QTS Programme - Modern Languages (French, Spanish or German)Diversity DashboardHead of Modern Languages - Inspire & Lead GCSE FrenchCoast and Vale Learning TrustHead Of Department of Modern LanguagesSheringham High SchoolHead of MFL: Lead & Grow our Modern Languages DepartmentWayman Learning TrustModern Foreign Languages Assistant (French) 18 hrs p/w (temporary position)The Cherwell SchoolIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
Published home tuition is £9,790/year for this course. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £26,500. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.0 out of 10: NSS 85.7% · in work or study 90% · continued 94%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Birmingham
Language and area studies across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Edgbaston campus
1,313 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Modern Languages right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to University of Birmingham from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by University of Birmingham; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check University of Birmingham’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with University of Birmingham and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Birmingham
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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