Modern Languages and English Literature

The BA in Modern Languages and English Literature with a Year in Industry at Swansea University is an exciting and challenging course, which opens a range of career possibilities by helping you to develop transferable skills that employers value.

You will study French, German or Spanish and centuries of English Literature, helping you to become part of a global community and opening doors to a wide range of careers.

As well as studying your language of choice, course content stretches from national and global literatures including Renaissance writings, Gothic and genre fiction, 19th century literature, modernity and contemporary fiction, gender and culture, creative and professional writing to language, culture, history, cinema, literature fiction, translation and language teaching.

Based on our stunning Singleton Park campus, in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula;

Modern Languages at Swansea is ranked:
• 1st in the UK for Teaching Satisfaction (Guardian University Guide 2025)
• 1st for Learning Opportunities (NSS 2024) (a)
• 2nd for Teaching (NSS 2024) (b)
• 2nd for Student Voice (NSS 2024) (c)
• 5th in the UK Overall (Guardian University Guide 2025)

*a - Based on the average positivity score across questions 5 to 9 in the NSS 2024 when ranked against universities featured in the Times Good University Guide.
*b - Based on the average positivity score across questions 1 to 4 in the NSS 2024 when ranked against universities featured in the Times Good University Guide.
*c - Based on the average positivity score across questions 22 to 25 in the NSS 2024 when ranked against universities featured in the Times Good University Guide.

English Literature at Swansea is ranked:
• Ranked 11th in UK for Research Impact (REF 2021)
• Top 25 in the UK for Student Satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2025)
• Top 25 in the UK for Student Experience (Times Good University Guide 2025)
• Top 25 in the UK for Teaching Quality (Times Good University Guide 2025)
• Top 101-150 in the World (QS World Rankings 2024), and
• 97% of graduates are in employment &/or study, or doing other activities, such as travelling, 15 months after leaving Swansea University (HESA 2023)

Our lecturers and professors are internationally recognised writers, linguists, and translators whose work has been widely published, broadcast and performed. You will learn from research experts who specialise in subjects such as film, gender studies, literature, theatre studies and translation.

Your early studies will introduce you to topics ranging from medieval literature to contemporary gender studies. These will be complemented by appropriate language modules – either advanced (post-A level) or at beginners level, as well as cultural modules relating to the French, German or Spanish, with further options in teaching and pedagogy, translation, or additional languages such as Catalan, Italian, and Portuguese.

As you progress through your degree, you will be able to hone in on your interests with increasingly specialist modules in the larger subject areas of English Literature and language studies.

We offer a variety of assessment methods within our programmes. In addition to traditional examinations and essays, examples of alternative assessment include:
• Presentations
• Group Work
• Oral Examinations

Throughout your undergraduate Modern Languages and English Literature degree, you will develop excellent research and analytical skills and learn to present your ideas effectively both verbally and in writing.