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BSc in International Relations, German & Spanish


PLEASE NOTE:  This course is for 2011 applicants only.  We would recommend that applicants for 2012 look at our new International Politics and Languages (IPL) course.  For further information, please contact the LSS Admissions team via lss_ugadmissions@aston.ac.uk

Key facts

4 years full-time with integrated year abroad.

UCAS Code: LRF9

Typical offers: 

A Levels: BBB - ABB from 3 A-levels (or 2 A-levels and 2 AS levels.)  General Studies accepted.

A-level German and Spanish grade B required.  Applicants with AS level in one of German/Spanish considered on an individual basis.

IB: 31-33 points in the IB diploma including TOK/Bonus points.   Standard level Maths and English 5 and higher level German and Spanish 5-6 required.

BTEC, Access & other: You will normally be required to pass the Access certificate, with 25% additional Level 3 credits than are required to pass the Access course.  A-level grade B in German and Spanish or equivalent.

BTEC: National Diploma DDM – DMM.   A-level grade B in German and Spanish or equivalent.

Other UK/International qualifications: please contact us for further advice.

Specific subject requirements: GCSE: English Grade C, Maths Grade C

A-level German and Spanish grade B required.  Applicants with AS level in one of German/Spanish considered on an individual basis.

 

Tuition fees: £9,000 (£1,000 during placement year) for UK/EU students. (2012).  More on fees

Applicants receiving offers are invited to an open day.

Key benefits

Ranked 3rd in the UK for job prospects and 9th  overall for languages (Guardian University Guide 2010)

Internationally recognised research, backed by the Aston Centre for Europe (ACE)

Develop expertise on the politics and International Relations that are fast reshaping Europe both in the EU and beyond its borders

Contemporary and applied focus, with a high level of teaching delivered in German and Spanish

Fully integrated year abroad, including placements at the European Parliament in Brussels, and international companies across Europe

Excellent student support: Languages at Aston had the 6th highest rating of all UK University European Languages programmes for overall satisfaction in the 2007 National Student Survey

Course outline

Students having tutorial on ABS floor of main building
If you want a truly international career, which relies on foreign language skills as well as an understanding of the international arena, our International Relations: German and Spanish degree will be ideal for you.


The course combines modules in German and Spanish language, media, politics, cultural studies and linguistics, with International Relations topics such as the international state system, ethics and international politics and the globalisation of the international political economy. 

There is a fully integrated Year Abroad with extensive preparation and support offered by our dedicated international placements team.

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Subject guide & modules

Year 1

  • Introduction to International Relations
  • Modern Europe and the World
  • Spanish Language Skills I and II
  • Spanish History I
  • German Language
  • German History and Society
  • Spanish History II 
     

Year 2

  • International Relations: Theories and Issues
  • Introduction to Security Studies
  • Contemporary Germany
  • German Language Skills
  • Spanish Language Skills I & II
  • Contemporary Spain I
  • Contemporary Spain II 

Year 3 - Year abroad

Choose from a Work Placement, Exchange at a Partner University or a Teaching Assistantship.  See the ‘Placement Year’ section above for further details.

Final Year

  • German Written Language Skills I and II
  • German Diplomarbeit
  • Choice of: German Cultural History I OR Introduction to Yiddish
  • Spanish Research Dissertation and Oral
  • Spanish Language Skills I and II
  • International Relations research Dissertation and Oral.

Learning, teaching & assessment

You will take part in interactive seminars, presentations and group work, and will also attend lectures and tutorials.  There are also opportunities for individual research and guided study.  We teach many of our courses in German and Spanish, which means that our students are at a real advantage when it comes to gaining maximum benefit and experience from the year abroad.

You will be allocated a personal tutor who can provide you with help and advice.

Assessment is through a combination of written and oral exams, coursework, essays, presentations and an extended dissertation during your final year.

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Year abroad

The Aston year abroad offers a great deal of flexibility – with the option of studying, working, undertaking a teaching assistantship or combining several of these options!

At Aston we have a high percentage of students doing an industrial work placement in their year abroad. Recent work placements include IBM, SAP, Nobert Zänker (Translation), Volkswagen and Openhouse.  If you would like to study at an exchange university abroad we currently have links with prestigious institutions in Barcelona, Valencia and Granada, Leipzig, Paderborn, and Viadrina (Frankfurt an der Oder.).  Recent students have also undertaken Teaching Assistantships in Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Germany, Austria or German speaking Switzerland.

Whichever option you choose, experienced staff in the International Placements Office will assist you in finding placements and in every aspect of preparation for the year abroad.

Find out more about the year abroad at Aston

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Career prospects

Aston’s Modern Language courses are ranked 3rd in the UK (out of over 90 universities) for job prospects (Guardian University Guide 2009) and joint 1st for % of graduates employed (www.unistats.co.uk.) 

Our graduates enter careers in UK and international business/marketing, the languages and communications professions, education, European institutions and research.  
Recent Aston Graduate First Destinations included:
  • Graduate Trainee Managers for British Airways, Aldi Stores, John Lewis Partnership and Selfridges
  • Journalist for Tatler Magazine
  • Smoby (French Toy Company) – Account Manager 
  • Michelin – Senior Administrator 
  • Public Relations Officers for a number of companies
  • European Union/European Parliament Officers/Assistants
  • PGCE Secondary Teaching Qualification – French and German Teachers 
  • Marketing Assistant at Beiersdorf (makers of NIVEA amongst other products) 
  • German/English/French Translators at companies such as Volkswagen and freelance work
  • Bilingual Marketing Assistant at 3Com (an international Internet and Telecomms company) 
  • Trainee Accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers 
  • Further study and PhD Research in the areas of International Politics, European Cultural Studies, Linguistics and Translation/Interpreting
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Personal development

As well as gaining near-native fluency in German and Spanish, this course helps you to develop team working skills, presentation and communication skills.  Your IT skills will also benefit from use of our newly refurbished e-learning language centre.

The Year Abroad will develop your initiative, confidence and independence, as well as improve your language skills.  In your final year you complete an individual research dissertation which improves your independent research skills and report writing skills. 

All students are encouraged to undertake Personal Development Planning (PDP.)

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Facilities & equipment

The School of Languages and Social Sciences has a dedicated e-learning centre for the exclusive use of its students.  The e-learning centre is supported by a dedicated team and has specialist software for language students including:

  • Sanako 1200 language lab

  • “Tell Me More” in French, German, Spanish (1000s of hours of self-study language learning material)

  • TRADOS (industry-standard translation tool)

  • Multilingual keyboard setup (French, German, Spanish, Chinese)

  • Coming soon - streamed satellite television (French, German, Spanish)

Extensive use is also made of our Virtual Learning Environment to help support your studies.

Our newly refurbished “Cadbury Room” contains social seating areas, study stations and meeting tables as well as newspapers in French, German, and Spanish, which are updated daily. 

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Teaching staff



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Further information

School of Languages and Social Sciences Undergraduate Admissions
Tel: 0121 204 3700
Email: lss_ugadmissions@aston.ac.uk

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