Skip to main content

Culture and Language (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese)

(Certificate of Higher Education)

Come meet us Contact us
Location:
Birkbeck Campus, Central London
Status:
Approved
Duration:
Two years part-time
Awarding body:
University of London

Course Overview

This part-time introductory course enables you to study a language - French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Korean or Mandarin Chinese- to intermediate or advanced level, while also exploring the culture, history and society of the countries associated with it. 

If you work in an international or multicultural setting, by the end of our Culture and Language Certificate of Higher Education you will feel much more confident about your linguistic ability and your understanding of the cultures associated with the language of your choice. 

For French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish there are three pathways, so you can start at beginner, intermediate or upper intermediate level, depending on your existing knowledge and experience. You will be able to start Korean and Mandarin Chinese at beginner level only.  

More Highlights

  • Our academics in this subject area bring together research and teaching in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Spanish, making them an outstanding multidisciplinary team.
  • Birkbeck is at the heart of a multicultural city and you will join students from around the globe to study under world-class researchers. 
  • You will be studying close to some of the world’s most renowned museums and galleries, and we also have our own state-of-the-art cinema and exhibition spaces, all housed in a historic building that was a former home to key members of the Bloomsbury Group, including the author Virginia Woolf and the artist Vanessa Bell.
  • Ours is a community of scholars with shared interests in interdisciplinary topics and cross-cultural research. Our affiliated research centres, the Centre for French, Francophone and Comparative Studies (CFFCS) and the Centre for Iberian and Latin American Visual Studies (CILAVS), provide an important platform for this exchange. We also co-convene the Eighteenth-Century Research Group.

Teaching and Modules

Teaching

For French, German, Italian and Spanish pathways, a combination of lectures, individual and group work, open discussion and presentations.

For the Japanese, Korean and Chinese pathways, task-driven language activities including individual, pair and group work, and study of historical and cultural texts in various media; seminar presentations and essay writing; and group work.

How will I be assessed?

French, German, Italian and Spanish modules are assessed via in-class tests, oral presentations, essays and other written tasks.

Japanese, Korean and Chinese modules are assessed via coursework, a final examination and attendance.

Entry Requirements

All modules are taught at university level, so you should be able to read, write and speak English fluently.

What are the visa requirements?

Please note that Birkbeck does not sponsor Student visas for Certificate of Higher Education courses.

This means that if you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency or a valid visa here, then you can only study a Certificate of Higher Education on a Standard Visitor visa for courses of less than six months’ duration.

For full information, read our visa information for international students page.

Fees

Fees are payable per module and vary depending on the course. Please view the Modules and teaching section and then click on the title of individual modules to see the fees for each module. The overall cost of the certificate will depend on the modules you choose.

Please note: Modular CertHE study is not eligible for student loan funding for study commencing January 2027 onwards.

Careers and employability

Graduates can pursue careers in international organisations and businesses, education, research or editing. Possible professions include:

  • translator
  • magazine/newspaper journalist
  • editorial assistant
  • primary/secondary school teacher.

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

How to Apply

This is a modular enrolment certificate, so you will need to register onto individual modules (rather than onto the course itself). Please view the Modules and Teaching section and then click on the title of individual modules to see class dates and times and to register.