| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2025-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
This four-year program combines music and modern languages, preparing graduates for diverse careers. It emphasizes global citizenship, cultural diversity, transferable skills, and resilience through immersive foreign language experiences. Students gain opportunities for fully funded instrumental tuition and a year abroad in a foreign language-speaking country.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
Objectives:
- Become a "global citizen" with critical thinking and creativity.
- Understand and appreciate cultural diversity.
- Develop transferable skills.
- Foster resilience and independence in immersive foreign language contexts.
- Gain opportunities for fully funded instrumental (or vocal) tuition on your principal study instrument.
Program Description:
This 4-year program integrates music and modern languages, designed to prepare graduates for a variety of career paths. It combines creative and practical skills with language studies to equip you with the knowledge and resources to succeed in today's diverse and demanding world.
Key focuses:
- French, Spanish, or Chinese languages
- Upper Elementary or Elementary pathway
- Creative and practical musicianship studies
- Year abroad immersion in a foreign language
- Optional credit-bearing work placement
- Blend of language learning and digital technologies
Outline:
Program Content and Structure:
- Year 1: Focus on foundational skills and knowledge.
- 60 credits in music modules and 60 credits in language and cultural modules.
- Year 2: Advanced language skills and cultural awareness.
- 2 30-credit modules in modern languages and 3 20-credit modules in music.
- Year 3: Year abroad in a foreign language-speaking country.
- Study or work abroad options available.
- Year 4: Refine linguistic, critical thinking, and research skills.
- 60 credits in music and one 30-credit Advanced language module plus one 30-credit optional module from the language side.
Individual Modules:
Year 1:
- Language modules: Spanish, French, or Mandarin Chinese, at Elementary or Upper Elementary level.
- Cultural modules: Introduction to Hispanic Studies, Introduction to Chinese Studies, or Introduction to French and Francophone Studies.
- Music modules: Composition, Music as Culture, Practical Portfolio, Techniques in Jazz and Popular Music, Writing About Music, Music Theory and Analysis, Case Studies in Music History.
Year 2:
- Language modules: Spanish, French, or Mandarin Chinese, at Intermediate or Upper-Intermediate level.
- Cultural modules: Hispanidad in the World, The World and Language of Business, China in the World, Introduction to Specialised Translation, Global France: French and Francophone Cultures.
- Music modules: From Palaces to Proms, The Business of Music, Orchestration, Composition, Reading Film Sound, Music in France Since 1900, Studio Techniques, Ethnomusicology, Analysing 20th Century Music, Practical Portfolio, Practical Musicianship.
Year 3:
- Study abroad modules: Modern Languages Study Abroad Placement (Autumn/Spring), Modern Languages Work Abroad Placement (Autumn/Spring).
Year 4:
- Language modules: Advanced Spanish, Advanced Mandarin Chinese, Advanced French, Final Year Dissertation (including options in Spanish, French, and English/Welsh).
- Cultural modules: The Falklands War in Argentine Culture, Revolutionaries & Nationalists in Spain, Specialised Chinese, Sinophone Cultures, Global Narratives of Colonialism, Slavery & Their Legacies, European Cinema: Thinking the Real of Fiction, Student Teaching Module, Culture, Political Protest & Dissent in the 1960s, Women in 19th Century Music.
- Music modules: Challenging Tradition, Ensemble, Jazz, Culture and Politics, Studio Techniques, Nineteenth Century Italian Opera, Beethoven: Style, Form and Culture, From Parchment to Print, Practical Portfolio, Practical Musicianship, Dissertation, Composition, Project in Ethnomusicology.
Assessment:
- Range of assessments including essays, exams, quizzes, oral exams, presentations, music performances, and dissertations.
- Focus on developing critical thinking skills, creativity, and evidence-based arguments in both English and the languages studied.
- Individual feedback provided on all assessed work.
Teaching:
- Diverse teaching methods including lectures, seminars, language classes, and workshops.
- Lecture content provides overview of key concepts and frameworks.
- Seminars are interactive and discuss, analyze, and present ideas.
- Language teaching focuses on active learning and student participation.
- Instrumental tuition is fully funded on your principal study instrument in the School of Music.
- Class preparation and independent study are key to learning.
- Personal Tutors provide academic guidance and support.
- Year Abroad Coordinators provide guidance during overseas experience.
- Dedicated online learning environment with shared materials and resources.
- Libraries and resource centers provide extensive resources.
Careers:
- Graduates pursue careers in finance, international sport, business consultancy, education, health, media, politics, diplomacy, interpreting, translation, law, teaching, and more.
- On-Campus Internships available during summer vacation.
- BA Music and a Modern Language program includes placement learning as an integral element.
Other:
- Home, island, or overseas fee status with tuition fees varying accordingly.
- Opportunity to participate in Modern Foreign Language (MFL) Mentoring project.
- Choose to be a Student Language Ambassador (SLA) for public speaking and promoting language learning.
The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in the second and subsequent years of a course as permitted by law or Welsh Government policy. Where applicable we will notify you of any change in tuition fee by the end of June in the academic year before the one in which the fee will increase. Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland Learn more about the undergraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. Additional costs You may also want to buy copies of other texts, either because they are important for your modules or because you find them particularly interesting. Many students also choose to invest in personal copies of unabridged bilingual dictionaries and reference grammars. Accommodation We have a range of residences to suit your needs and budget. Living costs We're based in one of the UK's most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.
