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Undergraduate Study

BA International Business and Modern Languages - 2026 entry

Please note: The below is for 2026 entry. Click here for 2025 entry.
UCAS code NN16
Duration 3 years
Entry year 2026
Campus Streatham Campus
Discipline Business and Management
Contact

Web: Enquire online
Phone: +44 (0)1326 371801

Typical offer

View full entry requirements

A-Level: AAB
IB: 34/665
BTEC: DDD

Contextual offers

A-Level: BBB
IB: 30/555
BTEC: DDM

Overview

  • Equip yourself with business acumen, commercial understanding, intercultural skills, and linguistic ability in your chosen language
  • Open up your career prospects to the global business community
  • Opportunity to learn Chinese (Mandarin), French, Spanish or German from beginners. French, Spanish and German can also be taken from advanced/post-A-Level.
  • Tailor the direction of your studies by choosing any of our wide range of business and management modules, which are taught by our triple-accredited Business School.
  • Option to spend your 3rd year abroad to give you an immersive language experience.
  • Students often get involved in activities outside class such as language societies, tandem partnerships, and liaison work in schools and the community.

View 2025 Entry

Request a prospectus

Open Days and visiting us

How to apply

Contact

Web: Enquire online

Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72

Top 150 icon

Top 150 in world subject rankings for Modern Languages and Cultures

QS World University Subject Rankings 2025

Top 10 icon

Top 10 for Business and Management

9th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 and The Complete University Guide 2025

Rosette with tick in icon

Triple accredited Business School

AMBA, AACSB, EQUIS

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Option to spend a year abroad studying at a partner university

Top 150 icon

Top 150 in world subject rankings for Modern Languages and Cultures

QS World University Subject Rankings 2025

Top 10 icon

Top 10 for Business and Management

9th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 and The Complete University Guide 2025

Rosette with tick in icon

Triple accredited Business School

AMBA, AACSB, EQUIS

Earth icon

Option to spend a year abroad studying at a partner university

Entry requirements (typical offer)

Qualification Typical offer Required subjects
A-Level AAB Dependent on subjects chosen (see below).
IB 34/665 Dependent on subjects chosen (see below).
BTEC DDD Dependent on subjects chosen (see below).
GCSE C or 4
B or 5
Grade C or 4 in English Language, and
Grade B or 5 in Mathematics
Access to HE 30 L3 credits at Distinction Grade and 15 L3 credits at Merit Grade. Dependent on level chosen the required L3 credits in Modern Foreign Language subject area.
T-Level Distinction Dependent on subjects chosen (see below).
Contextual Offer
* Please note: The contextual offer shown is an example based on offers made to students starting in 2025, and is for guidance only. We will confirm the contextual offer for 2026 entry later this year.* Please note: The contextual offer shown is an example based on offers made to students starting in 2024, and is for guidance only. We will confirm the contextual offer for 2025 entry later this year.

A-Level: BBB
IB: 30/555
BTEC: DDM

Specific subject requirements must still be achieved where stated above. Find out more about contextual offers.

Other accepted qualifications

View other accepted qualifications

English language requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B1. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

NB General Studies is not included in any offer.

Grades advertised on each programme webpage are the typical level at which our offers are made and provide information on any specific subjects an applicant will need to have studied in order to be considered for a place on the programme. However, if we receive a large number of applications for the programme we may not be able to make an offer to all those who are predicted to achieve/have achieved grades which are in line with our typical offer. For more information on how applications are assessed and when decisions are released, please see: After you apply

Language requirements

  • No previous language qualifications are required.
  • You may only choose one language.
  • French, German, and Spanish can be studied either from A-Level or beginner’s level, with both cohorts reaching degree level in the final year.
  • Chinese can normally only be studied from beginner’s level, not from A-Level; students of this language reach degree level in final year.

Languages and levels available for Combined Honours courses

I want to study a new language at beginner level alongside my other subject

Modern Languages requirements No previous language qualifications required. We strongly recommend that students who want to start a language degree with no previous linguistic experience should contact us.
Advanced level languages available n/a
Beginners level languages available Chinese (Mandarin); French; German; Spanish

I want to study my A level (or equivalent) language at advanced level alongside my other subject

Modern Languages requirements A level grade B or IB HL5 or SL6 (or equivalent) in the language chosen at advanced level
Advanced level languages available French; German; Spanish
Beginners level languages available n/a

Completing your UCAS form

In the section named ‘further details’ on your UCAS application form please indicate in the ‘choices’ field the language and route you wish to study using the abbreviations below, separated by a space:

French Fren
Chinese (Mandarin) Chin
German Germ
Spanish Span

 

Read more

Course content

The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

You may take option modules as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module.

Stage 1: 45 credits of compulsory Business School modules, 45 credits of compulsory modules in Modern Languages, 15 credits of optional Business School modules, 15 credits of optional modules consisting of content related to your chosen language.

a) select 30 credits of compulsory modules in your chosen language

b) select 15 credits of optional Business modules (http://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/programmes/undergraduate/modules/)

Please note that certain modules may only be available to students on Single Honours programmes, or to students who have taken a particular language module. This information will be given in the pre-requisites or co-requisites section of the relevant module descriptor.

Compulsory modules

CodeModule Credits
BEM1027 The International Business Context 15
BEM1023 Discovering Management 30
SML1208 Language, Culture, International Relations 15
Modern Languages Stage 1 Compulsory Language Modules [See note b above]
MLF1001 French Language 30
MLF1052 French Language for Beginners 30
MLG1001 German Language 30
MLG1052 German Language for Beginners 30
MLI1001 Italian Language 30
MLI1052 Italian Language for Beginners 30
MLM1052 Beginners Chinese 30
MLP1052 Portuguese Language for Beginners 30
MLR1001 Contemporary Russian Written and Oral 30
MLR1030 Russian Language for Beginners 30
MLS1001 Spanish Language 30
MLS1056 Spanish Language for Beginners 30

Optional modules

Business School Optional Modules: BEA, BEE, BEM

CodeModule Credits
UEBS S1 BA International Business and Modern Languages Opt 22-23 [See note c above]
BEA1013 Introduction to Accounting 15
BEE1021 Personal Finance Management 15
BEM1018 Business and Society 15
BEM1019 Fundamentals of Marketing 15
BEM1020 Innovation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution 15
BEM1021 Leadership and Teams 15
BEM1022 Introduction to Leadership Studies 15
MLX S1 Chinese Option Modules 2023-4 [See note d above]
MLM1010 China of the Senses: Approaching Chinese Culture and Environments 15
MLM1013 A Brief History of Modern China (1861-Present) 15
MLX S1 French Option Modules 2023-4 [See note d above]
MLF1017 The Making of Modern France 15
MLF1103 The French Language, Present and Past 15
MLF1105 An Introduction to French Thought 15
MLF1121 French Visual History 15
MLF1018 The Devil is in the Detail: An Introduction to the Short Story in French 15
MLX S1 German Option Modules 2023-4 [See note d above]
MLG1014 A Nation Remembers: Issues in German Cultural Memory 15
MLG1017 Turning Points in German History 1200 - 2000 15
MLG1021 Outside In: An Introduction to Outcasts and Outsiders in German-language Literature and Film 15
MLX S1 Italian Option Modules 2023-4 [See note d above]
MLI1016 Italy Inside Out: Popular Visual Narratives about Italy 15
MLI1121 A Thousand Faces: Cultures and History in 19th-Century Italy 15
MLX S1 Portuguese Option Modules 2023-4 [See note d above]
MLP1002 Introduction to the Lusophone World 15
MLX S1 Russian Option Modules 2023-4 [See note d above]
MLR1023 Russia: Empire and Identity 15
MLR1006 An Emotional Experience: Russian Literature and the Expression of Feeling 15
MLX S1 Spanish Option Modules 2023-4 [See note d above]
MLS1067 Ideology in the Hispanic World 15
SML1067 Ideology in the Hispanic World 15
MLS1068 An Introduction to the Literature and Film of Spain 15
MLS1064 An Introduction to the Hispanic World: Texts in Context 15
MLS1066 The Making of Modern Latin America: History Through Literature and Culture 15
MLS1164 A Journey of Discovery: Hispanic Global Culture 15
MLX S1 Neutral Option Modules 2023-4 [See note d above]
SML1207 Introduction to Film 15
SML1208 Language, Culture, International Relations 15
SML1002 Constructing Nature: Stories we Live By 15
SML1018 The Devil Is in the Detail: An Introduction to the Short Story in French 15

Stage 2: 45 credits of compulsory Business School modules, 45 credits of compulsory modules in Modern Languages, 15 credits of optional Business School modules, 15 credits of optional modules consisting of content related to your chosen language.

c) select 30 credits of compulsory modules in your chosen language

d) Select 15 credits of optional Business modules (http://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/programmes/undergraduate/modules/)

Compulsory modules

CodeModule Credits
BEM2048 International Business 15
BEM2047 Organisational Behaviour 30
SML2246 Intercultural Communication 15
Modern Languages Stage 2 Compulsory Language Modules [See note f above]
MLF2001 French Language, Written and Oral 30
MLF2152 Intermediate French 30
MLG2001 German Language, Written and Oral 30
MLG2052 Intermediate German 30
MLI2001 Italian Language, Written and Oral 30
MLI2051 Italian Language 30
MLM2052 Intermediate Chinese (One) 30
MLP2052 Intermediate Portuguese 30
MLR2001 Contemporary Russian Written and Oral I 30
MLR2030 Intermediate Russian 30
MLS2001 Spanish Language, Written and Oral 30
MLS2156 Spanish Language (ex-beginners) 30

Optional modules

Business School Optional Modules: BEA, BEE, BEM

CodeModule Credits
UEBS S2 BA International Business and Modern Languages Opt 22-23 [See note g above]
BEM2016 Consumer Behaviour 15
BEM2021 Human Resource Management 15
BEM2025 Marketing Communications: Strategies and Applications 15
BEM2032 Startup Entrepreneurship 15
BEM2033 Brands and Branding 15
BEM2034 Digital Technologies and the Future of Work 15
BEM2035 Leading in International Contexts 15
BEM2036 Thinking Entrepreneurially 15
BEM2037 Leadership: Challenges and Practice 15
MLX S2 Chinese Option Modules 2023-4 [See note h above]
MLM2002 Politics of Contemporary China 15
MLM2003 Chinoiserie and Europeenerie: Artistic and cultural exchanges between China and Europe 15
MLX S2 French Option Modules 2023-4 [See note h above]
MLF2076 Subversive Texts: Baudelaire and Rachilde 15
MLF2005 Classical myth in French and francophone cinema 15
MLF2069 East is East? Cross-Cultural Encounters in Medieval French Literature 15
SML2209 Music in Medieval Europe 15
MLF2070 Violence and Virtue: Early Modern French Theatre 15
MLF2074 Translating Exile: Contemporary Francophone Women Writers 15
MLF2029 Varieties of French 15
MLF2056 Provoking Thoughts - French Literature and Philosophy from the Renaissance to the 20th Century 15
MLX S2 German Option Modules 2023-4 [See note h above]
MLG2003 Youth and Age: Generations in German Fiction and Film 15
MLG2019 Gender, Race and Migration in 20th and 21st-century German Literature 15
MLG2018 Berlin - Culture, History and Politics 15
MLX S2 Italian Option Modules 2023-4 [See note h above]
AHV2208 Ideal Cities? Urban Cultures of Renaissance Italy 15
MLI2019 Italian(s) in the World 15
MLI2018 Love (and Marriage?) in Contemporary Italian Film Comedy 15
MLX S2 Portuguese Option Modules 2023-4 [See note h above]
SML2004 Contemporary Latin American Cinema 15
SML2002 Cultural Connections in Southern Africa: Literature and Film 15
MLP2002 Portuguese as a Global Language 15
MLX S2 Russian Option Modules 2023-4 [See note h above]
MLR2021 Understanding Russia 15
MLR2024 Exploring Revolution: The Making of Soviet Society and Culture in the 1920s 15
MLX S2 Spanish Option Modules 2023-4 [See note h above]
MLS2070 Catalonia Is Not Spain? Modern Catalan Culture in Context 15
MLS2158 "What is Love? And Do I Need It?" An Introduction to Spanish Renaissance Love Poetry 15
MLS2072 Place and Identity in Contemporary Venezuelan Culture 15
SML2004 Contemporary Latin American Cinema 15
MLS2061 The Latin American Short Story 15
MLS2045 Federico Garcia Lorca: Theatre and Poetry 15
MLS2073 Literary Non-Fiction in Argentina: When Writing Meets the Real 15
MLX S2 Neutral Option Modules 2023-4 [See note h above]
HUM2005 Tales of Freedom, Necessity and Providence 15
SML2246 Intercultural Communication 15
SML2244 Multilingualism in Society 15
SML2003 Research Skills in Languages and Cultures 15

This degree offers you the opportunity to spend a year studying or working abroad.

If you choose this option your placement year will take place in your third year, before returning to complete your degree at Exeter in your fourth and final year of study.

You can apply directly to this option, or you can apply to the standard 3 year course and transfer onto one of these options in the first term of your first year.

More about placement options

No information has been returned for this stage. Please check back again later.

120 credits of compulsory modules

e) You must take one of these modules:

Compulsory modules

CodeModule Credits
BUS3000D Year Abroad (Study) 120
BUS3000E Year Abroad (Work Placement) 120
BUS3000F Study and Work Placement 120

Course variants

The BA International Business and Modern Languages degree offers you the opportunity to spend a year studying abroad.

If you choose this option your placement year will take place in your third year, before returning to complete your degree at Exeter in your fourth and final year of study.

You can apply directly to this option, or you can apply to the standard BA International Business and Modern Languages course and transfer onto this option in the first term of your first year.

UCAS code: NN15

Our four-year ‘with Year Abroad’ degree offers you the possibility of spending your third year abroad, studying with one of our many partner universities.

Why study abroad?

Living and studying in a different country is an exciting experience that broadens your academic and cultural horizons, as well as giving you the opportunity to widen your circle of friends. Students who have studied abroad demonstrate initiative, independence, motivation and, depending on where they stay, may also have gained a working knowledge of another language – all key qualities that employers are looking for in today’s competitive employment environment.

Where can I study abroad?

We have partnership arrangements with many prestigious institutions across the globe. Exactly where you can apply to study will depend on the subjects you are studying at Exeter. For a full list please visit the Study Abroad website.

Does it count towards my degree?

Credit for academic work during your year abroad is arranged by agreement between the University of Exeter and the host institution. These marks are then translated back into your degree at Exeter. If you are studying abroad for a semester or full year, your time abroad will count toward your final degree. Please refer to your College Study Abroad co-ordinator for further details.

How does it affect my tuition fee and funding?

For the year that you spend studying abroad you will pay a significantly reduced tuition fee to Exeter, but nothing to your host university – for more information visit our fees pages. You will continue to receive a maintenance loan if you are eligible for this whilst on your Study Abroad year.

Fees

Please note: The fees for students starting in 2026 have yet to be set. The fees provided below are the fees for students starting in 2025 and are for guidance only. We will post the fees for 2026 entry shortly.

Tuition fees for 2025 entry

UK students: £9,535 per year
International students: £24,700 per year

Scholarships

The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students applying to study with us in the 2025/26 academic year, such as our Exeter Excellence Scholarships*.

Financial support is also available for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, lower income households and other under-represented groups to help them access, succeed and progress through higher education.

* Terms and conditions apply. See online for details.

Find out more about tuition fees and scholarships

Learning and teaching

How will I learn?

You will learn through a mix of:

  • Lectures of one or two hours once a week for each module. These give you the information central to the module and help you understand complex ideas.
  • Seminars and tutorials every week or every other week for each module. They cover in-depth discussions of topics introduced in lectures.
  • Total timetabled study hours (lectures, seminars, tutorials) for your whole degree are on average between 11 and 14 hours per week. In addition you are expected to complete an average of 20-25 hours of independent or group study per week.

 

How will I be assessed?

Modules are assessed through a mixture of:

  • Group work
  • Coursework
  • Project work
  • Examinations

The weighting of these components varies according the module. Coursework is typically between 2,500 and 6,000 words in length, and exams are usually held at the end of the module in January and May/June.

Where will I study?

You will be based at the purpose built University of Exeter Business School located on the Streatham Campus in Exeter, Devon.

Optional modules outside of this course

Each year, if you have optional modules available, you can take up to 30 credits in a subject outside of your course. This can increase your employability and widen your intellectual horizons.

Proficiency in a second subject

If you complete 60 credits of modules in specified subjects, you may have the words 'with proficiency in’ added to your degree title when you graduate.

Find out more about proficiency options

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Your future

The BA International Business and Modern Languages is a unique programme that enables you to tailor your degree to your own strengths and employability aspirations by acquiring core specific knowledge and skills as well as selecting new subjects during your learning journey.

It is a natural fit for students wanting to give themselves an advantage in the global commercial world, and provides you with a potent combination of intercultural skills, business acumen, relevant commercial knowledge, and linguistic ability to really stand out from other graduates without this complementary combination of abilities.

We anticipate that most graduates will move on to business-oriented careers – management, marketing, finance, etc – but that they will pursue these careers across the globe for a much broader range of international companies than usual.

Skills developed during this collaborative degree – including the optional year abroad – include analytical problem solving, written and verbal fluency, managing and analysing information, cultural awareness, research, team working, and critical thinking, all of which are essential to modern global business.

The University of Exeter Business School provides a range of careers and employability support for Undergraduate students. Visit the Business School Career Zone webpage for more information.

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