Languages

Top of the list is the 4,000 overseas students who come to Brookes every year, making for a truly cosmopolitan experience – and you're bound to meet native speakers of your chosen language. Oxford is a real mixing pot of people from all over the world, drawn here by the unique academic and cultural life of the city.

A year abroad is a key part of your degree, and you'll start planning that in your first year. We have close ties with universities, schools and a wide range of other organisations and businesses in Europe and Japan, so together we'll make sure you find your perfect placement. Our students tell us that their year abroad is a great experience, immersing themselves in a different culture and taking their language skills to a new level.

Unusually, our French placement is in the second year which helps you get much more from the final two years of your degree; and the Japanese placement is in Year 3 giving you longer to master the language. Whichever language you choose, you'll gain a broad range of knowledge and understanding of present-day society, thought and culture and you'll develop a range of skills – communication, analytical, study and interpersonal skills – which are valued by employers and which will provide a foundation for whatever career you choose.

At Brookes we're keen on expanding language opportunities. As well as French and Japanese degrees, we also offer Spanish as a minor field and open modules in Mandarin and Italian. You can combine a language with another subject – English, History, Film Studies, International Relations and Business Management are just some of the popular combinations, or you can combine two languages, for example French with Spanish.

Our French teaching is almost entirely in French, and mostly by native speakers. Our Japanese course has a unique Tandem Language Learning module where two students with different native languages, English and Japanese, work together to improve their language skills and get right inside the culture of each other's countries.

As well as the usual lectures and seminars we use the latest web course tools and digital language laboratory teaching to maximise your exposure to your chosen language.

With Brookes Virtual we have gone further than most other universities by developing a complete virtual learning environment. You can access course material specially written for the internet, build websites as part of your coursework, host materials for group presentations and take part in customised online learning activities like quizzes and self-assessment exercises.

At the other end of the spectrum, some of our Japanese teaching is carried out in a traditional Japanese room, complete to the last detail with tatami mats, decorative shoji (paper windows) and fusuma (sliding doors). As well as teaching, the room is used for Japanese arts such as the tea ceremony and ikebana.

Our linguists work in international organisations, business, the media, law and public relations and many continue with postgraduate study and enter teaching. The experience and confidence you gain in your year abroad will also be highly attractive to employers and a combined honours degree can help you stand out from the crowd.

• French Studies - BA (Hons) / BSc (Hons)
• Japanese Studies - BA (Hons) BA (Hons) / BSc (Hons)
• Spanish, Minor Field - BA (Hons) / BSc (Hons)

• French Studies - BA (Hons) / BSc (Hons)
• Japanese Studies - BA (Hons) BA (Hons) / BSc (Hons)
• Spanish, Minor Field - BA (Hons) / BSc (Hons)