As a joint honours student with Modern Languages you will gain fluency in the language of your choice - French, German, Italian or Spanish. Whether you start at beginners’, advanced or native-speaker levels, you will study core language components, gaining skills in writing, reading, speaking and listening, with language teaching led by native speakers.

The remainder of your modern languages study will give you an opportunity to explore the literature, art, culture and history of the language area you are studying, from seventeenth-century French theatre to representations of childhood and youth in German culture, and from Italian fashion and design to visual arts from across the Spanish-speaking world. As a modern linguist, you will develop excellent communication and research skills, and combine proficiency in multiple languages with cross-cultural perspectives.

In your third year you will have the opportunity to spend a year working, teaching or studying abroad, where you will immerse yourself in another language and culture, truly broadening your horizons in the process.

If you are captivated by classical literature and philosophy and are keen to understand more about ancient history and classical archaeology, Classical Studies is ideal.

Classical Studies offers a great deal of choice in subjects related to the ancient world, immersing you in lots of aspects of ancient Greece and Rome – its literature, history, philosophy and archaeology – even its languages; Greek and Latin can be studied at whatever level you’re at and for one, two or three years.

As a student of Classical Studies you will be part of our Classics Department, where the quality of research that informs our teaching and a friendly, individual approach which shapes the way we guide our students combine to create an unbeaten academic experience.

Choosing a joint honours degree which combines modern languages and classical studies gives you the best of both worlds through an increased skillset and access to a wide variety of employment opportunities.

Having spent a year abroad you will have developed the kind of sensitivity to different cultures that is highly prized in the workplace. This experience and the skills gained will make you highly employable and ready to pursue your chosen career, both in Britain or abroad.

Modern Language graduates have entered a wide range of careers including international management, consultancy, sales and marketing, media and publishing, banking, the arts, politics, teaching, travel and tourism, as well as translating and interpreting.

Recent employers include:

• Mazda Motors Europe
• The British Council
• Oxfam Head Office
• Merlin Entertainments Group
• Ralph Lauren

Studying for a Classics-based degree involves analysing the cultural, social and political context of the ancient world. Studying this intellectually demanding discipline you will help you develop a broad range of skills which are highly prized by employers, including: the ability to communicate views and present arguments clearly and coherently; the ability to critically digest, analyse and summarise content; time management and the discipline to meet deadlines; organisation and research skills; problem-solving skills and capability.

Being able to understand and process complex issues, to critically evaluate resources and construct coherent arguments both verbally and in writing is why many Royal Holloway classicists become employed in law, marketing, publishing, the media, government and finance.