European Studies and French & German

Bachelor's degree

In Birmingham

Price on request

Description

  • Type

    Bachelor's degree

  • Location

    Birmingham

  • Duration

    4 Years

Facilities

Location

Start date

Birmingham (West Midlands)
See map
Aston Triangle, B4 7ET

Start date

On request

About this course

Specific subject requirements: A-level French and German grade B required. Applicants with AS level in one of French/German considered on an individual basis.

GCSE: English Grade C, Maths Grade C

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Course programme

Course outline

The expansion of the European Union has led to a increasing demand for top-quality Graduates with practical, near-native language skills and in-depth knowledge of other countries and their business and communication cultures. As one of our European Studies: French and German Graduates you will match these criteria fully.

Taught within our School of Languages and Social Sciences, our European Studies: French and German degree is designed as an integrated degree so that the language knowledge gained will help you to further understand Europe. The course combines modules in French and German language, media, politics, cultural studies and linguistics, with a focus on European politics, political theory and modern European history.

There is a fully integrated Year Abroad with extensive preparation and support offered by our dedicated international placements team.

Learning, teaching & assessment


You will take part in interactive seminars, presentations and group work as well as attending lectures and tutorials. There are also opportunities for individual research and guided study. All of our courses from the French and German school are taught in the target language, which means that our students are at a real advantage when it comes to gaining maximum benefit and experience from the year abroad.

You will be allocated a personal tutor who can provide you with help and advice.

Assessment is through a combination of written and oral exams, coursework, essays, presentations and an extended dissertation during your final year.

Placement year / year abroad

Placement year The Aston year abroad offers a great deal of flexibility – with the option of studying, working, undertaking a teaching assistantship or combining several of this options!

At Aston we have a high percentage of students doing an industrial work placement in their year abroad. Recent work placements include Air France, IBM, SanofiAventis, Nobert Zänker (Translation), TNS, CNG (Translation company), Sofres, Total France, Spincontrol and World Vision in Senegal. If you would like to study at an exchange university abroad we currently have links with prestigious institutions in Paris, Brussels, Ghent, Orleans, IEP in Lille, Leipzig, Paderborn, and Viadrina (Frankfurt an der Oder.) Recent students have also undertaken Teaching Assistantships in France, Quebec, French speaking Africa, Germany, Austria or German speaking Switzerland.

Whichever option you choose experienced staff in the International Placements Office will assist you in finding placements and in every aspect of preparation for the year abroad.

Career prospects

Aston’s Modern Language courses are ranked 3rd in the UK (out of over 90 universities) for job prospects (Guardian University Guide 2009) and joint 1st for % of graduates employed .

Our graduates enter careers in UK and international business/marketing, the languages and communications professions, education, European institutions and research.

Recent Aston Graduate First Destinations included:

  • Graduate Trainee Managers for British Airways, Aldi Stores, John Lewis Partnership and Selfridges
  • Journalist for Tatler Magazine
  • Smoby (French Toy Company) - Account Manager
  • Michelin - Senior Administrator
  • Public Relations Officers for a number of companies
  • European Union/European Parliament Officers/Assistants
  • PGCE Secondary Teaching Qualification - French and German Teachers
  • Marketing Assistant at Beiersdorf (makers of NIVEA amongst other products)
  • German/English/French Translators at companies such as Volkswagen and freelance work
  • Bilingual Marketing Assistant at 3Com (an international Internet and Telecomms company)
  • Trainee Accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers
  • Further study and PhD Research in the areas of International Politics, European Cultural Studies, Linguistics and Translation/Interpreting

Personal development

As well as gaining near-native fluency in French and German, this course helps you to develop team working skills, presentation and communication skills. Your IT skills will also benefit from use of our newly refurbished e-learning language centre.

The Year Abroad will develop your initiative, confidence and independence, as well as improving your language skills. In your final year you complete an individual research dissertation which improves your independent research skills and report writing skills.

All students are encouraged to undertake Personal Development Planning (PDP.)

European Studies and French & German

Price on request