Studying languages at universities in the UK

Applying to College
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<p>So I've been looking into British universities recently, and I'm very interested in applying (next year) to LSE, St. Andrews, and Oxford (in addition to Edinburgh and Aberystwyth). I am majoring in International Relations and all pf the above have good IR programs. However, I have some questions about university in Britain:</p>

<p>1.) If I'm majoring in IR, is it possible to also study foreign languages (as electives)? This is really important to me, and I noticed on the LSE website, for example, there was a possibility of taking Russian, French, and Spanish in addition to your major. However, I already speak French and Spanish, and want to take more than just Russian. </p>

<p>2.) Can you even study a foreign language at St. Andrews if your major isn't in modern languages?</p>

<p>3.) Is it possible to double-major at UK universities? </p>

<p>And finally...</p>

<p>4.) Are there any other notable infrastructural differences between US and UK universities that I should be aware of? </p>

<p>P.S. Sorry if this is slightly incoherent... one of those extremely late nights (or early mornings, I should say)...</p>

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<p>1.) If I’m majoring in IR, is it possible to also study foreign languages (as electives)?</p>

<p>Depends on the university and course, but yes it’s possible. I’m not sure about Oxford; you may be restricted to only taking language classes in their language centre in your spare time. At LSE you can incorporate language study into your actual degree programme (see here: [Modern</a> Foreign Language Degree Courses - MFL Degree Course Programmes - Foreign Language Programmes - Language Centre - Home](<a href=“http://www2.lse.ac.uk/language/ModernForeignLanguages/Degree/MFLDegreeHome.aspx]Modern”>http://www2.lse.ac.uk/language/ModernForeignLanguages/Degree/MFLDegreeHome.aspx))</p>

<p>2.) Can you even study a foreign language at St. Andrews if your major isn’t in modern languages?</p>

<p>You can combine a modern language with International Relations at St Andrews, or you can study a language for the first two years as one of your electives (this is also possible at Edinburgh).</p>

<p>3.) Is it possible to double-major at UK universities?</p>

<p>Yes, but not everywhere will offer your desired course. Interestingly Edinburgh reportedly allow students to combine subjects that aren’t listed as joint honours degrees on their website, as long as the student has taken the requisite courses in the first two years and there is no timetable clash.</p>

<p>4.) Are there any other notable infrastructural differences between US and UK universities that I should be aware of?</p>

<p>N/A</p>

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<p>Thanks very much for your response! I have one more question though concerning Oxford: are there any restrictions as to the number of languages you can take (through the language centre) in your spare time? It seems like most of these universities only offer the possibility to take one language in addition to IR, but I really think lingual studies is just as important for this major (like if you want to be a diplomat). There are a few schools in Geneva I’m interested in, and one in Germany, that all require/allow undergraduates to take two languages in addition to their coursework. I prefer British schools to these, but language studies will be a deciding factor for me.</p>

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<p>You can pm cupcake for more info.</p>

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<p>You can if you want but I know less about the specific than Dionysus58 has posted above.</p>

<p>Basically in the UK you sign up for a particular “course” or subject to study and that’s it, no changing. So if the combination of subjects is not a course that is offered, that is tough luck for you (as Dionysus58 just said). So “double majors” (often called “combined honours” in the UK) do exist, but at any particular university there will be a set number of combinations from which you can pick.</p>

<p>Scottish universities tend to be a bit more flexible which basically means you can take more than one subject in the first couple of years, followed by specialising. However, this is IN NO WAY the same as a US liberal arts college where you can basically choose to study any subject which takes your fancy even if you have zero knowledge in the subject. The main thing is there will be prerequisites. For example, to study French, Scottish students will almost certainly be expected to have Higher French (they school leaving exam in Scotland) and English students would have to have A-level French, probably at a high grade. Therefore I doubt a US student without a high level of French skills (eg AP level 4 or 5) would be admitted to such a class. In the second year the pre-requisite would be to have taken the first year course etc . So you cannot go to Scotland and expect to be able to take any combination of subjects you like. You need to look at the websites of the unis and find out the entrance requirements for the specific courses you are interested in. Email them and ask if you can’t find this information. For less common languages you might be able to start from scratch. I suspect Russian is probably one of these. </p>

<p>See for example the entry requirements for every French course at St Andrews - and this is not including the faculty entrance requirements.</p>

<p>[University</a> of St Andrews: Admissions requirements 2011/2: French](<a href=“http://portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/admission_subjects/subjects.py?subject=French]University”>http://portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/admission_subjects/subjects.py?subject=French)</p>

<p>If you do study a language as part of a combined honours degree in the UK you will almost certainly have to take a compulsory year abroad in a country where that language is spoken. My sister did this. She did History and French combined honours at Lancaster uni, and did a year abroad in France. She lives in France now where she is an English teacher. </p>

<p>

Not as far as I know, but I only did Russian. Though if the classes are very full you might have to wait for a space. Quite a lot of people drop out in the first couple of weeks. The big limiting factor will be your amount of space time, or rather lack of it. Bear in mind that the language centre courses count for nothing towards you degree, and you may find you would like some small inkling of a social life where you are not studying. So I honestly wouldn’t advise you to sign up for more than one language at least until after you first term. It is a good way to make friends studying different subjects to you, but you won’t have any time to spend with these friends if you are doing so much extra studying on top of your actual degree. </p>

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<p>Infrastructure as in organisation or buildings? Most obvious thing I can think of is most students “live out” after their first year “in halls” (dorms). This means renting a private house with friends. This can greatly increase your costs as you have to pay rent for the whole year, not just term time. In Oxford that is TWICE A MUCH. </p>

<p>Also - no room mates with rare exceptions. UK students are HORRIFIED that US students have to share a bedroom with a stranger. It is considered really weird. You will get your own room (and possibly own bathroom too).</p>

<p>Arts students get very little teaching contact time in the UK. Sometimes as little as 8-10 hours a week. You are supposed to get on with the work and reading list yourself (and this might well take up a LOT of time). If you don’t turn up or don’t hand in work, no-one will hassle you. You will just fail. You are expected to be a grown up.</p>

<p>Most common application differences are
-You apply through UCAS ([UCAS</a> - Home](<a href=“http://www.ucas.com%5DUCAS”>http://www.ucas.com))
-You can apply to a maximum of 5 unis in one year
-You can’t apply to Oxford and Cambridge in the same year (unless your are an organ scholar)
-Oxbridge application deadline is 15th October of the preceding year.
-Deadline for everywhere for UK students is January sometimes, and for internationals much later. But since the vast majority of courses have rolling admissions, and early application is to your advantage.<br>
-ECs are irrelevant for the purposes of admission in the UK.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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