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Welcome to the School of Modern Languages and Cultures

You can study Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hispanic Studies, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Visual Arts and Film with us at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Our undergraduate courses allow you to study one or more languages, or take a language alongside history, English or many other subjects. Studying here is transformative for your employment prospects.

We rank in the top 40 language departments globally.

Our Centre for Foreign Language Study offers language teaching to Durham students on other degree programmes and to the public.

 

Find out more about us
2nd for Italian Studies Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
3rd for Russian Studies
3rd for Russian Studies Complete University Guide 2027
4th for Iberian Languages
4th for Iberian Languages Complete University Guide 2026
5th for French Studies Complete University Guide 2026

Ready for Your Year Abroad Adventure?

From Italy, Spain, all the way to Jordan, China, and Japan: Hear what our students have to say about their exciting time abroad.
Watch My Year Abroad videos
My year abroad heroes
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Scholarships in Modern Languages

Are you considering starting your undergraduate study with us in 2025? Thanks to generous gifts from our alumnae, we have scholarships to offer to talented students from low-income backgrounds.

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What's New?

  • Durham student takes Catalan studies beyond the classroom

    A summer language programme in Girona and Andorra gave Durham student Akriti Simha an opportunity to put their Catalan skills into practice alongside learners from across the world, with the experience culminating in a radio interview in Andorra.
    Ràdio SER Principat d’Andorra
  • From MLAC PhD to Routledge monograph: Vladimir Liparteliani publishes new book

    A recent Durham PhD has quickly developed into a scholarly publication. Vladimir Liparteliani’s research on Russian and Western influence in Georgia has now appeared as a new Routledge monograph, extending his doctoral work into a study of soft power, nation-building and Georgian national identity.
    Soft power competition  book cover
  • New MLAC publication explores the cinema of Ventura Pons

    A new special issue of Studies in Spanish and Latin American Cinemas explores the work and legacy of Catalan filmmaker Ventura Pons, bringing together perspectives on his cinema, cultural memory and representation. Edited by Durham’s Santiago Fouz-Hernández, the issue is now available from Intellect.
    Studies in Spanish and Latin American Cinemas (21.3)

From MLAC PhD to Routledge monograph: Vladimir Liparteliani publishes new book

A recent Durham PhD has quickly developed into a scholarly publication. Vladimir Liparteliani’s research on Russian and Western influence in Georgia has now appeared as a new Routledge monograph, extending his doctoral work into a study of soft power, nation-building and Georgian national identity.
Soft power competition  book cover

New MLAC publication explores the cinema of Ventura Pons

A new special issue of Studies in Spanish and Latin American Cinemas explores the work and legacy of Catalan filmmaker Ventura Pons, bringing together perspectives on his cinema, cultural memory and representation. Edited by Durham’s Santiago Fouz-Hernández, the issue is now available from Intellect.
Studies in Spanish and Latin American Cinemas (21.3)

Our research

The School's research community is organised through a number of interdisciplinary Research Groups and is home to some 60 postgraduate students pursuing research degrees.
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Cable car station, Innsbruck, Austria
QS World University Rankings 2027

QS World University Rankings 2027: Durham ranks 85th, up 9 places

Our global reputation for employability reflects the quality and real-world relevance of our education and research. Ranked 85th overall, we are also among the world’s top 50 for Employer Reputation and placed joint 24th for Sustainability.

Learn more about the QS World University Rankings

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Find out more about our undergraduate and postgraduate opportunities at The School of Modern Languages and Cultures.

School of Modern Languages & Cultures

Durham University
Elvet Riverside
New Elvet
Durham, DH1 3JT

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