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It depends what kind of degree you want to do. For example, I wanted very little literature as I can't stand the stuff so chose Bath, whereas i guess if you like literature then the usual Oxford, Cambridge etc applies.
The languages you want to study also affect where the best Unis are... SOAS for oriental langs etc.
Also, consider where their ERASMUS links are for the third year... you don't want to be stuck in the middle on nowhere in an unknown Uni for a year!
What language/s are you thinking of studying?
Reply 2
I definately want to do French, that's my first choice. With that, I would like to start Italian from scratch in my first year. Also, if possible, I'd like to take up Spanish in my second year. Basically, the European Languages. I'd want to spend my third year in France and Italy (1st choice - France)
Reply 3
Durhams good for modern languages too xx
Reply 4
Durham's a good choice, you'll be able to do the languages you want and when you want, but they're stronger for French and German than Spanish.
UCL is excellent for languages, and they offer a wide range of languages as well including various Eastern European languages. Edinburgh is another uni to consider for lanuages as it's very good, especially for languages.
Also in Cambridge you can actually avoid literature completely if you want, whereas in Oxford the emphasis is on Literature.
Warwick is also very good for French and Italian, and it's reputation as a whole is also good. You could look into Royal Holloway as well, which is part of the university of London (but situated just outside of London).
Basically I suggest UCL, Durham, Edinburgh, Warwick and Bristol/Sheffield/Bath (and Cambridge if you want). HOWEVER you need to check out all these unis before you apply, as you might not like it and will have then wasted a space on your UCAS form.
i think it's difficult to 'list' the best universities for a language degree, since it entirely depends on what sort of thing you are looking for when studying for one.

e.g. if you hate literature, and want to concentrate entirely on the language side of things, then somewhere like York is good. (although The University of York as a whole, you wouldn't say it's one of the best)

If, like me, you are looking at Linguistics, then Lancaster is supposed to be one of the best in the country. (although i didn't apply there since i don't really like Lancaster!)

apart from that, i'd say the best ones are: Oxbridge/Durham/Edinburgh/St.Andrews (especially French)

but i suppose a lot of it depends on where you can imagine yourself for 3/4 years too, and how far away from home you want to go. e.g. I applied to St.Andrews, because it's supposed to be one the top for French, but i wouldn't want to go there now, since it's too far away from home and it's too small.

I am choosing Manchester as my first choice, since it's close to home and isn't as expensive as London. And Manchester is one of the top universities in the country too, and it's a nice vibrant city with the famous 'Curry mile'! I put KCL as my insurance, because i think i would eventually adapt to London life, and a few of my friends are also going there.
Reply 6
SOAS has to be mentioned, simply because it does so many languages, and it does have a reputation, though it's only at all relevant if you want to do non-European languages.
Reply 7
Objectively, I'd say only go for Oxford if you really like literature. I'm sure language skills are focused on more at other places; here, there's an assumption that we're all good enough to just pick up a lot through all the reading, and it doesn't always work like that. (There is obviously a lot of language work too, but it's true that the emphasis is on literature.)

On the other hand, if you do like literature, it's probably the best place to study languages in the country.
Reply 8
UCL's literature all the way. i realised this when i went for my interview on wednesday... :frown:
Reply 9
mr jim
UCL's literature all the way. i realised this when i went for my interview on wednesday... :frown:

Oh no, you're kidding!:frown:
I don't mind literature, but I don't want to have to read any for an interview:rolleyes: Plus back when I had a mock Cambridge interview, they said I needed to read loads in Spanish! I can't read Spanish, it takes me so long because I NEED to know every single word I find:frown:
Poo:frown:
Reply 10
paddy357
Oh no, you're kidding!:frown:
I don't mind literature, but I don't want to have to read any for an interview:rolleyes: Plus back when I had a mock Cambridge interview, they said I needed to read loads in Spanish! I can't read Spanish, it takes me so long because I NEED to know every single word I find:frown:
Poo:frown:


oh they don't give you anything to read for the interview, the interview's just you and them in a room for a bit talking. it probably wouldnt have seemed so scary if i'd actually prepared like i did for my cambs interview. just on the way down on the train i was reading the little brochures they sent me and every lecturer on the list taught something to do with literature, and two taught politics, then i kinda got a bit worried, lol.
Reply 11
I didn't realise that. I like literature and of course I expect to do a fair bit but if it's too much then it's too much. I asked to change course at UCL anyway luckily bc that doesn't appealing. I wonder how much lit exactly Durham has...
Reply 12
mr jim
oh they don't give you anything to read for the interview, the interview's just you and them in a room for a bit talking. it probably wouldnt have seemed so scary if i'd actually prepared like i did for my cambs interview. just on the way down on the train i was reading the little brochures they sent me and every lecturer on the list taught something to do with literature, and two taught politics, then i kinda got a bit worried, lol.

Well at you do have an offer from Cambridge, so it's not like you had much pressure on you I guess. Oh, politics, I keep meaning to take an interest in that but to be honest I'd rather do literature:rolleyes:
There are universities that give you things to read:eek:
What was your Durham interview like?
paddy357
Oh no, you're kidding!:frown:
Plus back when I had a mock Cambridge interview, they said I needed to read loads in Spanish! I can't read Spanish, it takes me so long because I NEED to know every single word I find:frown:
Poo:frown:


When I had my Cambridge interview I was given a short piece to read (from La Sombra del Viento/Shadow of the Wind, I discovered a few weeks later when I started reading it :hmpf:) but I was told that I could ask for any vocab I didn't know as it wasn't a vocab test. It was the same for French.
But at Cambridge you can completely cut out the literature if you want so they're not so focussed on that.
Reply 14
paddy357
Well at you do have an offer from Cambridge, so it's not like you had much pressure on you I guess. Oh, politics, I keep meaning to take an interest in that but to be honest I'd rather do literature:rolleyes:
There are universities that give you things to read:eek:
What was your Durham interview like?


yeah i got something to read at cambs before my second interview, it was quite interesting tho, and they do like you to talk about books even tho the course there isnt strict literature.
and i didnt have an interview at durham, they just loved me straight away :wink: :p:
Reply 15
mr jim
yeah i got something to read at cambs before my second interview, it was quite interesting tho, and they do like you to talk about books even tho the course there isnt strict literature.
and i didnt have an interview at durham, they just loved me straight away :wink: :p:

Hope they love me straight away *crosses fingers* :biggrin:
Reply 16
mr jim
UCL's literature all the way. i realised this when i went for my interview on wednesday... :frown:


haha i was there on wednesday too and found myself in the same predicament.
and yeah, it would have been fine had i prepared for the interview but none of what i'd seen/read was at all fresh in my mind (i think my king's interview lulled me into a false sense of security)
as i only really applied to UCL to fill up a space on my UCAS form in the first place i wasn't too concerned about impressing them so it's not surprising that i don't feel i did.
...am not expecting any form of acceptance from them!
Reply 17
1708
haha i was there on wednesday too and found myself in the same predicament.

really? were you there for french with the massive group in the ickle room?

1708
as i only really applied to UCL to fill up a space on my UCAS form in the first place i wasn't too concerned about impressing them so it's not surprising that i don't feel i did.


:p: total ditto on that lol
lingolicious
When I had my Cambridge interview I was given a short piece to read.

Me too, I had one for both of my interviews. One was Baudelaire and the Spanish one was a really strange futuristic piece!
Reply 19
my piece was french, was this guy going on about this woman in a photo he's got who he's madly in love with but he's never met. was all poeticlike. i fancy reading the rest of the book now achully, hehe