Overview
What are the challenges facing the world today? How can nations work together to tackle contemporary issues? How do language barriers hinder relationships between states? Is globalisation an opportunity or a threat?
Global Studies and Modern Languages at Essex explores the complex modern world in which we live. You will examine how the problems and developments of today are profoundly international in character. Globalisation has led to a shrinking of borders as travel has increased and information technology has developed rapidly. Yet, the borders constituted by language communities continue to exert a strong influence on the character of the globalised world and effective inter-language communication remains as essential as ever.
This course allows you to choose modules from many academic disciplines, including history, sociology, philosophy and politics, in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the complex problems in the modern world. Within these you will examine issues such as:
- nature and the environment
- migration
- international development
- war and areas of political strain
- information technology
Language is fundamental to our thought, our relationships, and our civilisations. Alongside your Global Studies modules, you will also become fluent in your choice of one or more modern languages. You will spend your third year abroad immersing yourself in another culture and enhancing your language skills.
By studying within our Interdisciplinary Studies Centre (ISC), you will have access to expertise in modern languages, literature, film, history of art, history, politics and sociology, and more, with contributions from experienced staff from around the University.
Our Department of Language and Linguistics is ranked 11th in the UK in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021
Study abroad
Your education extends beyond the university campus. We support you in expanding your education through offering the opportunity to spend a year or a term studying abroad at one of our partner universities. The four-year version of our degree allows you to spend the third year abroad or employed on a placement abroad.
Studying abroad allows you to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised.
If you spend a full year abroad you’ll only pay 15% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year. You won’t pay any tuition fees to your host university
Our expert staff
Our staff within the Interdisciplinary Studies Centre teach in departments across the University, and specialise in a wide range of topics including history, law, literature, film, politics, and sociology.
We are a team of internationally recognised writers and lecturers with expertise across the arts, humanities and social sciences. As well as being one of the UK’s leading universities for social science, and the highest ranking institution for political science, our staff research topics that stretch across the globe – we are working on issues in Latin America, North America, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
Our language and linguistics staff are internationally renowned. Their books dominate the reading lists at other universities. All our language teachers are native or bilingual speakers, we maintain excellent student-staff ratios, and we integrate language learning with linguistics wherever there is synergy.
In addition to helping you acquire practical foreign language skills, our staff share their expertise with you in the areas of professional translation, interpreting and subtitling, film and art, business, and culture.
Specialist facilities
- Our Essex Collection of Art from Latin America (ESCALA) is the largest of its kind in Europe
- Our Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence provides a forum for pan-European research
- Our Albert Sloman Library’s collections of Latin American, Russian and Eastern European materials are of national significance
- Access to two multimedia language teaching labs which are equipped with state-of-the-art Melissi Digital Classroom software, and fitted with computers integrating audio-visual projectors and large screens
- A new 20-position Interpreting Lab
- Extra-curricular activities are available through student societies
- Our Languages for All programme offers you the opportunity to study an additional language alongside your course at no extra cost
Your future
Our graduates are well-placed to address the complex issues which confront the modern world. You can gain a diverse set of skills as well as a wide-ranging knowledge of the world’s most current and significant problems.
Our course provides you with an excellent basis for going on to a career in media, education, politics, the Civil Service, international organisations such as the UN and NATO or non-governmental organisations, and many other fields. Additionally, companies and organisations in the UK and abroad are struggling to find university graduates who are fluent in at least one other language, apart from English – making you even more employable as a graduate fluent in your chosen language.
Our Centre’s <=”” a=””> have gone on to work in a wide range of desirable roles including an events co-ordinator for Age UK, a business provision manager for BT, an accountant in London, and an account executive for Bluesky PR.
<=”” a=””><=”” a=””> We also work with the university’s Student Development Team to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.
Why we’re great
- You become fluent in one or more optional modern language.
- You spend your third year studying abroad in a partner institution.
- You are taught by a team of international experts in a range of subjects at Essex and abroad.
Structure
Course structure
We offer a flexible course structure with a mixture of core/compulsory modules, and optional modules chosen from lists.
Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The course content is therefore reviewed on an annual basis to ensure our courses remain up-to-date so modules listed are subject to change.
Teaching and learning disclaimer
Following the impact of the pandemic, we made changes to our teaching and assessment to ensure our current students could continue with their studies uninterrupted and safely. These changes included courses being taught through blended delivery, normally including some face-to-face teaching, online provision, or a combination of both across the year.
The teaching and assessment methods listed show what is currently approved for 2022 entry; changes may be necessary if, by the beginning of this course, we need to adapt the way we’re delivering them due to the external environment, and to allow you to continue to receive the best education possible safely and seamlessly.
Year abroad
On your year abroad, you have the opportunity to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised.
Teaching
- Taught through lectures plus classes of about twenty students
- You take a one-hour lecture and a one-hour class for each of your modules every week
- Other teaching methods will depend on your individual combination of subjects
Assessment
- Assessed through a combination of written coursework and end-of-year examinations
- Other assessment methods will depend on your individual combination of subjects
