Bachelor of Arts - International Relations and Modern Languages (LRF9)

Politics and political events dominate domestic and international news, impacting lives day-to-day as well as shaping the future. Beginning with an overview of international relations in the students first year, from global political economy to studies of conflict of security.

At University of Essex, students can also study up to two of the languages offered: French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese, completing at least one language to Mastery level. Each of these languages is widely used in the business world, and can take students to a level of near-fluency. Many of the graduates go on to develop successful global careers with international firms looking for language specialists. Essex is a place where talented students become part of an academic community in which the majority of research is rated ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’, placing them firmly within the top 10 departments in the UK. They are also ranked among the top 40 departments on the planet according to the QS World [University] Rankings [2018] for politics and international studies. Companies and organizations in the UK and abroad are struggling to find university graduates who are fluent in at least one other language, apart from English. Being an Essex modern languages graduate places students in a very advantageous position. Students will be able to speak and write fluently, or to a very competent standard, in up to two languages. Each of the languages Essex teaches are widely used in the business world, and so many of the graduates are recruited by international firms looking for language specialists, and go on to develop successful global careers. Graduates become teachers, translators, administrators and journalists. Their valued language skills have enabled them to work in diverse fields including banking, entertainment, media, education and tourism, as well as for a host of UK and international companies. In particular, a degree in modern languages lends itself to a career in education, translation, interpretation, trade, PR, communications, immigration or diplomacy. For example, one of the recent graduates now teaches English for the British Council, whilst another works internationally with NATO.