Modern languages undergraduate brochure

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Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures

School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures Undergraduate Studies School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures

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Royal Holloway is widely recognised on the world stage as one of the UK’s leading teaching and research universities. One of the larger colleges of the University of London, we are strong across the sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities. We were ranked 12th in the UK (102nd in the world) by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2014, which described us as ‘truly world class’.

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School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures

As a cosmopolitan community, with students from 130 countries, we focus on the support and development of the individual. Our friendly and safe campus, west of central London, provides a unique environment for university study. We have been voted one of the 16 most beautiful universities in the world (Daily Telegraph).

Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures Contents With our vibrant community of worldclass researchers, language specialists, undergraduate and postgraduate students, we offer or contribute to around 90 prestigious Single, Joint and Major/Minor BA (Honours) degrees involving French, German, Spanish and Italian language, as well as culture literature, cinema and visual art - within and across these language areas. We also offer a Comparative Literature and Culture programme which does not require foreign language skills, and a new Liberal Arts degree which provides breadth and flexibility across the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. All of our degrees are taught by top-flight academics, are modular, and develop the kind of critical, communication and leadership skills which employers value so highly. If you are determined to gain a competitive edge and are passionate about culture and language, join us!

Contact details

Head of Department Dr Jon Hughes jon.hughes@royalholloway.ac.uk

Why study Modern Languages?

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Modern Languages at Royal Holloway

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Degree options

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Degree structures

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French

8

German

9

Spanish

10

Italian

11

Comparative Literature and Culture

12

Liberal Arts

13

European Studies

14

Your year abroad: a competitive edge

15

Admissions and entry requirements

16

Your future career

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Other information

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Teaching staff and research interests

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Admissions enquiries Sarah Midson sarah.midson@royalholloway.ac.uk General enquiries T: +44 (0)1784 414310 F: +44 (0)1784 470180 @RHULModLangs

more information

This brochure is designed to complement Royal Holloway’s Undergraduate Prospectus and information on the department’s website at royalholloway.ac.uk/mllc It is also available as a PDF at royalholloway.ac.uk/studyhere

School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures

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Why study Modern Languages? “Anyone with a foreign language under their belt will have an immediate advantage in the job market because they can deliver their company an edge in the world market.�

Sir Digby Jones, Former Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry

Invest in your future A Modern Languages degree can offer much more than other Arts and Humanities degrees. In addition to spoken and written fluency in major foreign languages, modern linguists also develop excellent communication, analytical and research skills and combine foreign language proficiency with the ability to appreciate cross-cultural perspectives. You will achieve the acute awareness and understanding of cultural difference that gives Modern Language graduates a valuable critical edge in an increasingly globalised world.

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School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Modern Languages at Royal Holloway

Welcome to the School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures The wide-ranging skillset represented by a degree in Modern Languages provides our graduates with a real competitive edge in today’s jobs market. Our students develop the invaluable attributes of excellent communication, analytical and research skills, plus a highly sophisticated awareness of cultural difference, marking them out as potential high flyers in an increasingly globalised world. What’s more, our students benefit from an integrated year working or studying abroad; a period of intense immersion during which they cultivate the kind of impressive language proficiency and intellectual maturity that sets them apart from other UK graduates. This year is offered at much reduced fees and is typically funded by the Erasmus exchange scheme.

We are extremely proud of our international research reputation and the vibrant intellectual culture that informs and shapes our teaching.

We also publish world-class books and articles in prestigious journals, help curate art exhibitions, regularly win coveted research funding bids and prizes, advise governments and the media, judge translation prizes and contribute to radio and television programmes in the UK and beyond.

We are all passionately committed to sharing our professional expertise with our students. We very much look forward to welcoming you into our thriving and friendly community.

Dr Jon Hughes Head of School

We offer: • A friendly and tailor-made experience We attract students from all over the UK, Europe and beyond.

We are a friendly, diverse, yet close-knit community which treats everyone as individuals. You’ll have your own Personal Advisor to guide you through your studies, and to make the most of your potential. We include a range of teaching and assessment methods to suit different learning styles.

• A wide choice of programmes You’ll develop critical and communication skills, understanding and proficiency in one or more foreign languages, typically to native or near-native fluency. Most of our language degrees can be started from scratch or at more advanced level. We also offer programmes that explore European culture but are taught and studied in English, or even that take in academic disciplines from across the wider Faculty, such as Classics, Music or Politics.

Course units are carefully designed to enable you to develop your interests and skills from options spanning literature, film and art, from the medieval period right up to the present.

• Prize-winning research-led teaching Everyone you’ll study with is passionate about languages and culture. We’re proud to have been awarded an exceptional number of teaching prizes for innovation and excellence. When you join us you will work with world-renowned specialists who share their expertise in an approachable way, helping you to get the most out of your degree.

• A competitive edge: your integrated year abroad This unique experience is one of the most exciting elements of our degree programmes, spent living and working or studying in one or two different countries. See p.15 for further information.

• An inspiring working environment We are located right at the centre of campus, in the purposebuilt International Building, with its excellent teaching rooms and cosmopolitan café. Royal Holloway is only 40 minutes away from the galleries, museums, theatres, libraries and cinemas of London, so you can easily tap into the many cultural opportunities on offer.

School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures

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Degree options Degree programmeS

degree programmes

Duration

Typical offer

R400

4 years

ABB/BBB

R4P3

4 years

ABB/BBB

R4R1

4 years

ABB/BBB

4 years

ABB/BBB

R4V1

4 years

ABB/BBB

R4L2

4 years

ABB/BBB

Duration

Typical offer

BA French

R120

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Spanish

BA French (University of London)

R103

3 years

ABB

Spanish as a Major subject BA Spanish with International Film

BA French with German

R1R2

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Spanish with French

BA French with International Film

R1P3

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Spanish with German

R4R2

BA French with International Relations

R1LF

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Spanish with History

BA French with Italian

R1R3

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Spanish with International Relations

BA French with Mathematics

R1G1

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Spanish with Italian

R4R3

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA French with Music

R1W3

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Spanish with Music

R4W3

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA French with Philosophy

R1V5

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Spanish with Philosophy

R4V5

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA French with Political Studies

R1L2

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Spanish with Visual Arts

R4W6

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA French with Spanish

R1R4

4 years

ABB/BBB

SPANISH Joint degrees

BA French with Visual Arts

R1W6

4 years

ABB/BBB

ABB/BBB

Spanish

French

French as a Major subject

French joint degrees

BA Comparative Literature and Culture & Spanish

QR24

4 years

BA Classical Studies & Spanish

Q8R4

4 years

ABB

BA Drama & Spanish

WR41

4 years

AAB/ABB

BA Comparative Literature and Culture & French

QR21

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA English & French

QR31

4 years

AAB/ABB

BA English & Spanish

QR34

4 years

AAB/ABB

BA French & Classical Studies

RQ18

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA French & Spanish

RR14

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA French & Drama

RW14

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA German & Spanish

RR24

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA French & German

RR12

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA History & Spanish

VR14

4 years

AAB/ABB

BA French & Greek

RQ17

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Italian & Spanish

RR34

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA French & History

RV11

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Management & Spanish

NR24

4 years

AAB/ABB

BA French & Italian

RR13

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Spanish & Music*

WR34

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA French & Latin

RQ16

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Spanish & Philosophy

RV45

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA French & Management

RN12

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Spanish & Visual Cultures*

4D55

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA French & Music

RW13

4 years

ABB

Multilingual Studies

BA French & Philosophy

RV15

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Multilingual Studies

R991

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA French & Spanish

RR14

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Multilingual Studies with International Relations

Q1L2

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA French & Visual Cultures*

4S77

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Multilingual Studies with Philosophy

R9VM

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Multilingual Studies with Visual Arts

Q1W6

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Comparative Literature and Culture & German

QR22

4 years

ABB/BBB

Comparative Literature and Culture

BA Drama & German

WR42

4 years

AAB/ABB

BA Comparative Literature and Culture

Q200

3 years

ABB/BBB

BA English & German

QR32

4 years

AAB/ABB

Comparative Literature and Culture as a major subject

BA French & German

RR12

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Comparative Literature and Culture with International Film

Q2P3

3 years

ABB/BBB

BA German & Classical Studies

RQ28

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Comparative Literature and Culture with Philosophy

Q2V5

3 years

ABB/BBB

BA German & Greek

RQ27

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Comparative Literature and Culture with Visual Arts

Q2W6

3 years

ABB/BBB

BA German & History

RV21

4 years

ABB/BBB

Comparative Literature and Culture JOINT DEGREES

BA German & Italian

RR23

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Comparative Literature and Culture & Drama

Q2W4

3 years

ABB/BBB

BA German & Management

RN22

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Comparative Literature and Culture & French

QR21

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA German & Music

RW23

4 years

ABB

BA Comparative Literature and Culture & German

QR22

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA German & Philosophy

RV25

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Comparative Literature and Culture & Italian

QR23

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA German & Spanish

RR24

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Comparative Literature and Culture & Spanish

QR24

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA German & Visual Cultures*

4Q77

4 years

ABB/BBB

German joint degrees

Italian joint degrees

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UCAS code

UCAS code

BA Comparative Literature and Culture & English

QQ23

3 years

ABB/BBB

BA Comparative Literature and Culture & Philosophy

QV25

3 years

ABB/BBB

BA Comparative Literature and Culture & Italian

QR23

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Comparative Literature and Culture & Visual Cultures*

4C11

3 years

ABB/BBB

BA Classical Studies & Italian

QR73

4 years

ABB

BA Classical Studies & Comparative Literature and Culture

Q8Q2

3 years

ABB

BA Drama & Italian

WR43

4 years

AAB/ABB

LIBERAL ARTS

BA English & Italian

QR33

4 years

AAB/ABB

BA Liberal Arts*

Y000

3 years

AAB/ABB

BA French & Italian

RR13

4 years

ABB/BBB

*subject to validation

BA German & Italian

RR23

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Italian & Management

RN32

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Italian & Music

RW33

4 years

ABB

BA Italian & Philosophy

RV35

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Italian & Spanish

RR34

4 years

ABB/BBB

BA Italian & Visual Cultures*

4J39

4 years

ABB/BBB

School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Degree structure All our students take a total of four units in each year spent on campus and the content of these is dictated by the number and proportion of languages studied. All modern languages students take the core language courses in their chosen language(s) and then choose a number of ‘options’ from the lists on pages 8-11.

We offer you the opportunity to study one, two or even three languages in a number of exciting combinations: • S ingle Honours degrees (BA French or Spanish) comprise one or one and a half units of language study coupled with two to three units of options courses. This is the perfect degree programme for those who want to immerse themselves in all aspects of their chosen language. The whole of the third year is spent in your chosen country.

• M ajor-Minor degrees in two languages (e.g. BA French with German) or in a language with a non-language minor (e.g. BA Spanish with Mathematics), are also four-year programmes with the third year spent abroad. You’ll study three units of the major subject (one unit of language and two units of options courses) and one unit of the minor subject.

• J oint degrees (e.g. BA French & Visual Cultures or BA Italian & Management) are four-year programmes with the third year spent abroad. Equal weight is given to both subjects. Students opting for two languages divide their year abroad between two countries.

• M ultilingual Studies: this demanding degree programme is designed for talented linguists who already have advanced knowledge of two languages. By continuing your two A2 (or equivalent) languages and adding a third from beginners’ level you will be fluent in three languages when you graduate. You’ll take the core language unit in each language plus one optional unit.

• M inor pathways in the School of Modern Languages: students taking French, Spanish or Comparative Literature and Culture can combine their Major with Minors in International Film or Visual Arts. These pathways draw on research expertise across language areas.

• M ajor-Minor degrees where the Major component is not a language (e.g. BSc Economics with Italian) are three-year degrees with no year abroad. You will study three units of the major subject and one unit of language each year.

• Liberal Arts: see p.13 for more details

student view

Jennifer Dare, BA French & Spanish “I’ve been delighted with the range of course subjects available to language students. Not only was I offered excellent language development courses including translation, but also wide scope for progress in other areas within French and Spanish culture. I’ve found so many new interests and find the courses challenging and rewarding.”

School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures

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French Why study French?

From Brussels to Strasbourg, the French language plays a major role within today’s Europe. On the world stage, countries from Africa and the Pacific to Canada point to a vibrant future for Francophone studies.

A degree in French prepares you for a wide range of career options both in the UK and beyond. Employers particularly value the adaptability and awareness of cultural difference possessed by graduates of French. Past students are now employed in areas as diverse as public relations and marketing, the media, journalism, information technology, law, accountancy, translation and teaching, often making use of their language skills. Royal Holloway’s campus near London puts cultural resources – French cinema, art collections, theatre, specialised bookshops – on your doorstep. Royal Holloway boasts one of the largest groupings of leading French scholars in the University of London, their work covering all the major periods from medieval times to the present, and we achieved an excellent score of 21 in the last Teaching Quality Assessment.

Degree structure The degree courses are structured around a core of spoken and written language courses in each year spent on campus.

Additional language courses including translation are taken by specialist (single and major French) students. All our courses are constructed to enable the progressive acquisition of transferable skills (such as précis-writing and oral presentations) which can be applied to other areas of study and to the world of work. Language courses make use of text, audio, film and online resources. In the first year, options courses are designed to introduce key areas (history, linguistics, politics, literature, theories of communication, cinema, the visual arts) and equip students with foundational

knowledge, critical tools and skills. By the final year, the range of courses allows students to specialise in aspects of particular interest.

Your year abroad See p.15

Admissions and entry requirements See p.16

The University of London BA in French (3 years: London/Paris) This exciting degree programme allows you to develop the advanced language skills, critical understanding and cultural awareness of one of our prestigious BA programmes in just three years. Students are based at Royal Holloway, but spend eight months studying at the University of London Institute in Paris. You will study French literature, film, history and culture in depth, while also benefitting from the experience of living in the vibrant French capital. The entry requirements for this course are ABB at A-level.

Course units in French Year 1

Year 2

Year 4

Language courses

Language courses

Language courses

FR1009 Pratique du Français I (1 unit)

FR2009 Pratique du Français II (1 unit)

FR3001 Pratique du Français III (1 unit)

FR1004 La Langue Française: du texte à l’oral (1 unit)

FR2004 Introduction to Translation (1/2 unit)

FR3003 Advanced Translating Skills (1/2 unit)

Options courses

Options courses

Options courses

FR1111 Introduction to French Literature: Critical Skills (1/2 unit)

FR2102 Writing Romance and Desire (1/2 unit)

FR3102 Arthurian Romance: Chrétien de Troyes (1/2 unit)

FR1105 The Visual Image in French Culture and Society (1/2 unit) FR1112 The Individual and Society: Key Works (1/2 unit) FR1113 French History Through Film (1/2 unit) FR1114 Decoding France: Language, Culture, Identity (1/2 unit)

FR2104 Culture and Ideology: La France et La Francophonie (1/2 unit) FR2106 Cinema in France: From Modernism to the Postmodern (1/2 unit) FR2005 Socio-political Issues of Contemporary France in Fiction and Translation (1/2 unit) FR2107 The Illustrated text in France (1/2 unit)

FR3112 Image, Identity and Consumer Culture in Post-war Fiction and Film (1/2 unit) FR3113 Text and Image in France: from Cubism to the Present (1/2 unit) FR3114 Ethics and Violence: Murder, Suicide and Genocide in Literature and Film (1/2 unit) FR3120 Wanton Women: Artists and Writers of the French Avant-Garde (1/2 unit) FR3122 Representations of Slavery in French and Francophone Culture (1/2 unit) FR3123 Deadly Passions: Tragedy in 17th-Century France (1/2 unit) FR3124 Blindness and Vision in French Culture (1/2 unit) FR3119 Dissertation: 5,000 word research project (1/2 unit) Note: not all courses are available every year.

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School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures

German Why study German?

Degree structure

German is the most widely spoken language in Europe, and one of most widely taught second languages in the world. Your knowledge of German language and culture will give you a distinct advantage in a globalised world, and open the doors to a diverse and rich cultural heritage. The course will immerse you in the language and culture of German-speaking countries, which publish one out of every ten books in the world. The contribution to world culture of German-speakers, whose work and ideas will be integral to your studies, can hardly be overestimated: from Luther, Marx and Freud, to Goethe, Kafka and the Nobel laureate Günter Grass, these ‘Dichter und Denker’ (poets and thinkers) will change the way you see the world. Modern Germany is a global hub for business, technology and industry, and German and Austrian cities like Berlin, Munich, Cologne or Vienna, where many of our students spend a period of residence as part of their studies, are amongst the most vibrant and exciting in the world.

All degree programmes involving German are structured around a core of spoken and written language courses, which we offer to native as well as non-native speakers of German. Our teaching methods are based on principles of culture-based language learning, so you will have the opportunity to experience a variety of authentic examples – drawn from contemporary journalism, film and television, music, and other areas – under the guidance of expert language teachers. The core language courses are supplemented, in the first year, by a range of content courses, covering key areas within German Studies such as history and politics, literature, cinema, and philosophy.

Studying German at Royal Holloway will give you a fluent command of the language, and equip you with the analytical and presentational skills that employers will demand of a Humanities graduate. You will be introduced to the extraordinary literary and cultural output from the German-speaking countries, to the turbulent phases and transitions in German history, and to challenging and stimulating ideas that have shaped our world and our time. Just as importantly, you will develop and refine your intercultural competence, and build leadership and social skills that will prove invaluable to your future career.

In your second and final years you will (depending upon your degree subject) have greater freedom to specialise in the academic areas that you find the most exciting. In doing so, you will be supported by our experienced staff, who will help you to reach your full potential.

Your year abroad See p.15

Admissions and entry requirements See p.16

Royal Holloway provides exceptional resources for your studies, and with its campus close to London you will have easy access to a thriving community of researchers, artists and entrepreneurs.

In the national Research Assessment Exercise (2008), German at Royal Holloway was ranked equal second in the country. In the National Student Survey, we always perform extremely highly.

German is proud to offer a close-knit community and a friendly, supportive environment that allows our students to achieve their ambitions.

Course units in German Year 1

Year 2

Year 4

Language courses

Language courses

Language courses

GM1009 German Language I (1 unit)

GM2009 German Language II (1 unit)

GM3009 German Language III (1 unit)

GM1010 Intensive Beginners’ German I (1 unit)

GM2010 Intensive Beginners’ German II (1 unit)

Options courses

Options courses

Options courses

GM1120 Introduction to German Studies (1/2 unit)

GM2022 Death, Desire, Decline: Thomas Mann and Franz Kafka (1/2 unit)

GM3129 Dissertation: a 5,000-word research project (1/2 unit)

GM1122 German Thinking and Culture: Past and Present (1/2 unit)

GM2123 Love and marriage in Major Novels by Theodor Fontane (1/2 unit) GM2124 Representations of Childhood and Youth in Modern German Culture (1/2 unit)

GM3130 Doubles, Devils and Deadly Spiders: 19th-Century German Gothic Literature (1/2 unit) GM3131 Narrarive and Identitiy: The German Novel from the 18th to 21st Centuries (1/2 unit) GM3132 Dream Factories: Recent German Film (1/2 unit) Note: not all courses are available every year.

School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures

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Spanish Why study Spanish?

The Hispanic Studies team at Royal Holloway prides itself on its lively, innovative and eclectic approach to curriculum design and delivery. Our students are able to choose from an exciting range of options taught by leading experts in their fields covering Spanish or Latin American literature, film, drama, the visual arts and translation. Indeed, in the most recent national Research Assessment Exercise (2008), half of the research publications produced by Hispanic Studies staff at Royal Holloway were rated ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.

Spanish is a major world language spoken by some 350 million people in 24 countries, including no fewer than 28 million in the United States. Spain itself is now inextricable from the European stage, while Latin America is expected to see significant expansion over the coming decades as globalisation continues to gather pace. Hispanic Studies graduates are consequently much in demand in the workplace, their professional lives frequently affording them wonderful opportunities to experience first hand the rich, vibrant and diverse cultures of the Hispanic world.

With a degree in Spanish from Royal Holloway, you can naturally expect to be fluent in the Spanish language. However, your studies with us will also help you develop a deep and mature appreciation of how and why different cultures have developed as they have, together with a real sense of how and why the present is so insistently informed and shaped by the past. Additionally, the range of skills associated with analysis and argument developed and honed during your studies will complement your communicative abilities in both English and Spanish. Together these make up an impressive portfolio of transferable skills to take into the workplace when you eventually embark on your professional life.

Meanwhile, London has a great deal to offer the student of Spanish. At Royal Holloway you will enjoy the benefits of a green and beautiful country campus which is within easy reach of the centre of the capital. London has hundreds of Spanish and

Latin American bars and restaurants, and frequently hosts art exhibitions and concerts from across the Hispanic world. The Spanish Embassy, the Instituto Cervantes and the embassies of Latin American countries also organise events on a regular basis, while Spanish films are often shown at international film festivals and in West End cinemas.

Degree structure All degree programmes involving Spanish are structured around a core communicative language course taken in each year spent on campus. Additional language courses including translation may also be taken in years one and two. Students with no prior knowledge of Spanish can apply to join any of our degree programmes except for Spanish as a Minor subject, where we require A2 level Spanish. Alongside the core Spanish language courses, our students also choose options courses, the number chosen varying according to the structure of different degree programmes. In the first year, options courses are designed to be foundational, introducing key areas such as the study of literature, literary and cultural theory, film, the visual arts, history and philosophy, and equipping students with all the critical tools and skills needed for academic success at university level. In the second and final years, options courses are based more closely on individual staff research interests. In your final year, you will also have the opportunity to specialise in a particular topic or author of your choice, your chosen project being supervised by international experts in the field.

Your year abroad See p.15

Admissions and entry requirements See p.16

Course units in Spanish Year 1

Year 2

Year 4

Language courses

Language courses

Language courses

SN1001 Spanish I (1 unit)

SN2001 Spanish II (1 unit)

SN3001 Spanish III

SN1010 Intensive Spanish I (1 unit)

SN2010 Intensive Spanish II (1 unit)

Options courses

SN2011 Principles and Practice of Translation (Spanish into English) (1/2 unit)

SN3002 Advanced Literary Translation (from Spanish to English and English to Spanish)

SN1002 Introduction to Translation from English to Spanish and Spanish to English (1/2 unit) SN1105 Culture and Identity in Latin America (1/2 unit)

Options courses

SN2012 Principles and Practice of Translation (English into Spanish) (1/2 unit)

SN3108 Dissertation: 5,000 word research project (1/2 unit)

Options courses

SN3109 Short Fiction by Spanish Women Writers

SN1108 Authors and Readers in 20th Century Spanish-American Fiction (1/2 unit)

SN2013 Constructing Identity in Contemporary Spanish Film (1/2 unit)

SN3111 Contemporary Mexican Cinema

SN1109 Comparative Hispanic Culture (1/2 unit)

SN2109 Myths of the Feminine in the Spanish Novel (1/2 unit)

SN1101 Modern Spanish Theatre (1/2 unit)

SN2113 Twentieth-Century Mexican Visual Arts and Film (1/2 unit) SN2118 Religion and Society in the 16th- and 17thCentury Hispanic World (1/2 unit) SN2120 Love in the Contemporary SpanishAmerican Novel (1/2 unit)

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SN3112 Spanish American Literature: An Overview SN3113 Dissertation: 8,000 word research project (1 unit) SN3118 Seducing the Nation: Spanish Cinema 1940s to 1980s SN3119 Literature and Conflict in 20th-Century Latin America SN3120 Journeys of Discovery in 20th Century Spanish-American Literature Note: not all courses are available every year.

School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Italian Why study Italian?

The dynamism, vitality and exuberance of life is what Italy is all about. Rich in culture, from Dante to Dolce & Gabbana, from Renaissance art and architecture to Alessi designs, from Machiavelli and Galileo to Umberto Eco, from the operas of Verdi to the films of Fellini, Italy’s pre-eminence is uncontested. The resonances of Italy’s rich past in literature, design, the visual arts, architecture, business, engineering and cinema are all around us today, across Europe and the world. In addition, Italy is home to the largest number of UNESCO world heritage sites in the world, and these reflect Italy’s unsurpassed and highly influential cultural heritage.

Studying Italian at Royal Holloway takes you into this dynamic world and our success with both complete beginners and advanced students in Italian, coupled with a fascinating range of cultural courses, makes us one of the most attractive places to study Italian in the country. And, because Italian is less frequently studied than French and Spanish, your language skills will be in greater demand when you leave due to the need for Italian speakers in the job market.

written skills. Indeed, we pride ourselves on our interactive and communicative small group teaching and the input of our native language tutors as well as our specially designed intensive language course for beginners. In the first year all students take either the advanced one unit language course or the intensive one unit course for beginners. In the second year, all students take a one-unit core language course. In the final year, all students take the compulsory half unit course in oral skills and then choose between the half unit translation course or the half unit essay course. The options courses we offer cover all aspects of Italian culture and the number chosen each year depends on the proportion of Italian in your degree programme. In your final year you will also have the opportunity to write a dissertation on a subject of your choice, with guidance from a leading specialist on the topic.

Your year abroad See p.15

Admissions and entry requirements See p.16

Our friendly and approachable staff offer a selection of interesting and innovative courses. Whilst respecting the traditional canon of Italian Studies (Dante and Renaissance art and literature), our curriculum also contains an exciting range of topics in areas such as Cinema and Fashion and Design as well as contemporary prose, poetry and theatre, modern media and history and politics. Staff research interests cover all the main periods of Italian culture and their diverse interests and approaches form the basis of the courses offered. It is very important for us that our teaching be in tune with the latest research and creative thinking.

Degree structure All degree programmes involving Italian are structured around a core language course. We teach language at all levels, from complete beginner’s level to advanced students and the courses aim to develop competence and fluency in a range of oral and Course units in Italian Year 1

Year 2

Year 4

Language courses

Language courses

Language courses

IT1050 Advanced Italian (1 unit)

IT2050 Advanced Italian II (1 unit)

IT3009 Advanced Italian III (1 unit)

IT1000 Intensive Italian for Beginners (1 unit)

IT2000 Advanced Italian II for Post Beginners (1 unit)

Options courses

Options courses

IT3230 Dante: The Divine Comedy (1/2 unit)

IT2230 Dante’s Divine Comedy: Themes and Ideas (1/2 unit)

IT3430 Of Women, Knights, Weapons and Love: The Italian Chivalric Tradition (1/2 unit)

IT1950 Building the Italian Nation: Heroes and Anti-Heroes from Pinocchio to The Leopard (1/2 unit)

IT2840 Italian Crime Fiction (1/2 unit)

ML3202 From Aestheticism to the Avant-Garde (1/2 unit)

IT1980 Fascist Italy (1/2 unit)

IT2400 Art and Literature in Renaissance Florence (1/2 unit)

Options courses IT1230 Politics, Religion and Love: The Italian Three Crowns (Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio) (1/2 unit)

IT2340 Post War Italian Cinema (1/2 unit)

IT3860 Shooting History: Dictatorship, Crime and Terror in Italian Fiction and Film (1/2 unit)

ML2301 Boccaccio – Decameron (1/2 unit)

IT3980 Italian Fashion and Design (1/2 unit) IT3990 The Postmodern: Pioneers and Practitioners in Italian Literature (1/2 unit) IT3900 Dissertation: approved topic 8,000-10,000-words (1 unit) Note: not all courses are available every year.

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Comparative Literature and Culture GRADUATE VIEW

Natalie Ford, BA Comparative Literature and Culture “I’d recommend CLC to anyone who is interested in broadening their horizons and being open to all kinds of media and culture – in fact, I’d recommend it to anyone, full stop!”

What is Comparative Literature and Culture (CLC)?

Comparative Literature and Culture is a rich, interdisciplinary degree programme, in which all material is available in English.

At its heart, CLC involves exploring literary, filmic, artistic or other cultural works not in isolation but in their intersections and relationships with each other. In other words, you’ll study a broad range of material across national or linguistic borders, across different time periods, and across the boundaries between different genres and media.

Why study CLC? CLC offers the rare opportunity to explore literature, film, philosophy and art from the from ancient Greece to the 21st century and from Latin America to Europe. This innovative, prestigious degree leads the way in opening up critical perspectives and breaking down geographic and conceptual barriers. CLC is for people who are globally aware and passionate about all kinds of culture. You are not required to have studied, or to study, a foreign language, but you may have already enjoyed English, Philosophy, Psychology, Theatre Studies, Media Studies or foreign languages. CLC can also be taken as a Joint Honours degree with Classical Studies, English, French, German, Hispanic Studies, Italian or Philosophy, and as a Major-Minor with International Film, Philosophy or Visual Arts.

Skills and experience Our degrees in CLC are designed to develop the kinds of critical, communication and leadership skills which are particularly valuable in meeting the challenges of today’s workplaces. You’ll be taught by leading specialists, and there is an exceptional range of courses, options and assessment methods. CLC is ideal for people interested in careers in the arts, the media, and the commercial and public sectors. Studying CLC develops the ability to think broadly and critically beyond conventional conceptual boundaries in ways which are particularly relevant in today’s globalised world.

Degree structure CLC is an innovative and flexible modular degree. In addition to core courses that develop your critical skills and introduce you to major genres in literature, film and visual arts, you can choose from our exceptionally wide range of fascinating options. These allow you to develop your own interests, and span fiction, drama, film, poetry, philosophy, painting and sculpture from different periods and areas, all taught by leading research specialists.

For more information on course options download the programme brochure at royalholloway.ac.uk/clc

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Liberal Arts NEW for 2015 entry Why study Liberal Arts?

Degree structure

Multifaceted, diverse and adaptable graduates are increasingly sought by employers looking for people able to respond quickly and effectively to shifting business needs and market conditions.

Liberal Arts is an internationally-recognised approach to study that will prepare you for life in our rapidly changing world. With an emphasis on teamwork alongside individual development, our rigorous and intensive programme will equip you with skills of critical thinking, creativity and adaptability, through your study of a wider range of areas than is usually possible in a Single or Joint Honours degree.

You will be able to select courses from a wide range of departments, so what you learn will be unique and different from every other student on the programme. However, there are a few common features:

Royal Holloway is one of just a handful of universities in this country to offer this highly-prized degree, ideal for students who are creative and inquisitive, with a wide range of interests.

The BA in Liberal Arts at Royal Holloway is: •T ruly interdiscplinary: explore a wide range of areas across the Arts, Humanities, Social and Natural Sciences, with far more choice than is usually available.

• I nternational in focus: you will study a Modern European language, whether you’re starting from scratch or from a more advanced level, and you can develop your global perspective by spending a year at one of our many overseas partner universities.

• Rigorous and intensive: you’ll spend regular time working closely with leading experts in small groups of your peers.

• Teamwork-focused: you’ll take a core course designed to specifically develop this valuable skill, critical in the modern workplace.

• Individual: you have the ability to design your own programme as your degree progresses.

• Well-supported: fortnightly small group tutorials with a Personal Tutor in your first year will equip you with the skills you need to make the transition into university study.

• Employable: as well as developing adaptability and flexibility, boost your skills by applying for work placements and taking advantage of the fantastic careers support Royal Holloway offers.

Year 1 Core courses (1/2 units): Styles of Reasoning, and The Art of Interpretation. These two interdisciplinary courses aim to give you a strong foundation upon which to base your study of particular disciplines, and also to help you to think about how to bring different disciplines into conversation with each other.

All students on the Liberal Arts programme take a full unit of a foreign language in their first year; you may choose whether to pursue that language through the rest of your degree.

Year 2 Core courses (1/2 units): Ways of Knowing, and Human Nature.

These are both interdisciplinary courses, but focus on problemsolving in small groups to facilitate independent research, teamwork, and presentation skills.

Final year Independent research project to write a dissertation.

Each year, you will be able to select optional units from those offered by all departments in the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences*, namely Classics, Drama & Theatre, English, History, Media Arts, Music, and Politics & International Relations, as well as the School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures.

Selected courses from the Faculty of Science and Faculty of Management & Economics will also be available. *we aim to be as flexible as possible, however please note there may be occasional inevitable clashes.

royalholloway.ac.uk/liberalarts

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European Studies Why choose European Studies?

European Studies is a four-year degree which introduces students to the issues and trends shaping contemporary Europe. European Studies is the ideal programme for students with interests ranging across Languages, International Relations, Business and Management, History, Politics, Cultural Studies, Economics and Geography. With the enlargement of the European Union to span 27 countries, an understanding of everyday European political, economic and social life is vital to our ability to succeed in today’s marketplace. Each component of the degree is designed to develop a keen understanding of the key factors affecting contemporary Europe. The European Studies degree programme at Royal Holloway draws upon excellence in a wide range of disciplines. European Studies graduates will acquire: knowledge of the development, workings and policies of European institutions, advanced linguistic competencies and fluency in at least one of French, German, Spanish and Italian, and an ability to apply the concepts, theories and methodologies of at least one social science to the international context. European Studies students and staff provide a dynamic, motivating and supportive environment in which to study.

Degree structure In all three years spent at Royal Holloway, all students take a total of four course units. These units can, to a large extent, be tailored to meet the interests of individual students. All students must

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take the European Studies core courses, one language and one Social Science. The European Studies core courses cover aspects of contemporary European history, politics, economics and international relations. In the Social Sciences, students can choose from European and internationally focused units in Management, History, Politics, Geography or Economics. In the language component, French, Spanish, German and Italian are all available; German, Italian and Spanish are available ab initio.

Example degree structure European Studies core unit

One unit per year dealing with the development of European integration, International Relations and European History.

Main language French, German, Italian or Spanish Social Science A choice of selected European and internationally focused units in: International Relations, Political Science, Geography, History, Economics and Management.

Option Option to concentrate on main language, take another language or option to concentrate on main social science or take another social science.

Your year abroad: a competitive edge (Period of Residence Abroad or ‘PRA’) This is one of the most exciting elements of our degree programmes, spent in one or more countries and giving you the opportunity to live overseas, either working or studying.

We are one of the rare Modern Languages departments in the UK to let you choose between studying at a university, applying to work as a British Council English Language Assistant or arranging your own work placement.

This horizon-expanding year is invaluable in intellectual, career and personal development. It offers a period of intense immersion in which you will develop the impressive language proficiency, intellectual maturity, resilience and self-reliance that will set you apart from other UK graduates. This year is offered at much reduced fees and is typically funded by the Erasmus exchange scheme.

We have a varied and exciting range of placements for students studying French, German, Spanish or Italian, with links to universities in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Spain, Latin America and Italy. Throughout your year abroad, you will find your language skills flourishing, as well as the confidence you have in your language abilities, as you are immersed in rich and vibrant culture.

Not only do our students frequently say their year abroad is the best year of their lives, but they also develop the kind of sensitivity to different cultures that is highly prized in the workplace. Our experienced PRA tutors and administrators will help you make the right choice and support you throughout your time abroad. royalholloway.ac.uk/mllc

GRADUATE view

Jonathan Morrissey, BA German & Music, Music and Educational Publishing “I chose Royal Holloway because it offered a great combination of the things I was looking for as an undergraduate. What really leapt out were the fantastic links the German department had with universities in other European countries, and as soon as I realised I had the chance to head out to Vienna for my third year abroad - a dream destination for a German and Music student - that was it really!”

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Admissions and entry requirements

We consider applicants with A2 and AS/A2 combinations and their equivalents in other British, European and international qualifications. We also welcome applications from mature students, including those with non-standard qualifications, as well as those with Access qualifications.

Typical offers

For our advanced language pathways we normally require a minimum B grade at A2 level, but can give sympathetic consideration to applications from students presenting an A grade in the language at AS level.

• AABBB in Scottish Highers

We teach German, Italian and Spanish at beginners’ level too.

Even if you haven’t studied a language before you can start from scratch.

Foreign language qualifications are not required of applicants for our degree programmes in Comparative Literature and Culture and Liberal Arts but we look for an A level in an essay-based subject, such as English or History.

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For all degree programmes in the School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures we typically require: • ABB/BBB at A2 level or the equivalent in combinations of A2 and AS levels • 32 or 34 points in the International Baccalaureate (with grade 6 at Higher Level in a language) Applicants offering a combination of AS and A2 (two of each) should note the language requirements set out above. For Multilingual Studies you should have two languages at A2 (or equivalent) level.

All applicants are considered on their individual merits and you are encouraged to contact the Admissions Tutor for Modern Languages with any queries you might have. All applicants who receive an offer from us are subsequently invited to the School to meet current staff and students and discuss the degree programmes and courses in more depth.

Your future career Royal Holloway Modern Languages graduates are extremely well-placed to take full advantage of a globalised jobs market in which languages represent an increasingly vital component of the portfolio of skills sought by today’s employers. Equipped with such a splendid ‘passport’, the world can truly be said to be open to you.

A Modern Languages degree will give you: • in-depth and practical experience of other cultures and societies • fluent communication in at least one European language • a high level of competence in the management, analysis, and communication of information • experience in the arts of debate and persuasion through the critical evaluation of a wide variety of cultural forms • an impressive range of other key skills much sought after by employers, including flexibility, self-reliance, resilience, independent thinking, and the ability and confidence to initiate, articulate and take ideas forward.

85% of our most recent graduates are in employment or further study (KIS 2013, six months after graduation). Recent employers include Mazda Motor Europe, British Council, Oxfam Head Office, Merlin Entertainments Group and Ralph Lauren.

The School works in partnership with the College’s dedicated Careers Service to help you enhance your employability and prepare for the choices ahead. Modern Languages students can take advantage of the many opportunities on offer such as a parttime jobs fair, a wide variety of skills workshops, online sectorspecific resources, plus a series of relevant themed intensive careers weeks including Finance, the Not for Profit sector or Marketing. For more information visit royalholloway.ac.uk/careers And when you move into the world of work, we like to keep in touch with you around the world wherever possible and are always delighted to hear how your chosen career is progressing. royalholloway.ac.uk/alumni

graduate view

Marian Henbest, BA French with German, Broadcast Journalist “My time at Royal Holloway helped me to gain the independence and confidence I’ve always needed in my job as a broadcast journalist, whether researching, reporting, interviewing or presenting news bulletins. I use my spoken and written French as well as my translation skills on a daily basis as I currently live and work in Paris. Thanks to my year abroad – the perfect taster! – moving to France was so much easier as I already spoke fluent French and knew about the basics… health services, banking, the dreaded red-tape and tax declarations!”

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Other information Languages for All

Postgraduate options

All students across College have access to ‘Languages for All’, a programme of language courses run by the School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures, offering a range of optional (extracurricular) courses in a number of modern foreign languages.

Further information about the programme is available at: royalholloway.ac.uk/languagesforall

Some of our students choose to remain in the School and complete a taught or research MA which can enhance employment opportunities and prepare students for the PhD degree and a career in academia. We have a large and thriving community of graduate students and all members of research staff are actively engaged in the supervision of graduate work. Our Masters by Research offers a rare opportunity to conduct a substantial piece of academic research, and a powerful way to explore your individual interests in the kind of depth not usually achievable within a taught MA. For more information visit royalholloway.ac.uk/mllc

Student life Student life at Royal Holloway centres very much on our beautiful 135-hectare campus. Many first-year students and finalists live in College residences on or near the campus. There is a very active Students’ Union, which provides an exciting range of entertainments such as frequent gigs and club nights, as well as supporting a variety of societies ranging from jazz through filmmaking to rugby (for both men and women). The student-run Languages Societies housed in the School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures host a wealth of activities including film screenings, parties, study trips and plays.

And if all the activity on campus is still not enough for you, then, of course, the multiple and international attractions of central London are close at hand whilst our proximity to Heathrow, Waterloo and St Pancras makes trips to Europe and beyond extremely convenient.

Our research and teaching We are extremely proud of our strong international research reputation, which informs both our teaching and our vibrant intellectual culture. With its many internationally established academics, the School also has a strong track-record of attracting the research stars of the future.

In the most recent nationally conducted Research Assessment Exercise (2008), the majority of the research rankings awarded to the School were in the 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour’) categories.

Complementing the excellent scores for French and Italian, German was ranked 5th nationally, while Hispanic Studies achieved the highest 4* score in the country for its world-leading research publications.

You will therefore be taught by leading experts in their fields: • we publish frequently, widely and internationally.

• we sit on the editorial boards of some of the most important journals and imprints in our specialist areas.

• we are often found as front page news in non-academic media, whether in Der Spiegel, the Times Literary Supplement, film magazine Profile, on BBC Radio 4’s In Our Time, or interviewed for BBC or for overseas televsion programmes.

• we are often also asked to act as specialist consultants to a range of arts and other organisations outside the academic world.

Our staff receive frequent invitations to speak at international conferences and universities and belong to wide-reaching research networks with other leading international scholars.

Academics from the school regularly give research papers and plenary lectures all over the world, as well as organizing conferences and colloquia on diverse themes. We also run research seminars catering to specialist thematic and language area interests both here at Royal Holloway and in central London, as well as major events and seminar series.

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Teaching staff and research interests French

Hispanic Studies

Dr Cécile Bishop

Ms Alba Chaparro

Representations of slavery in French and Francophone culture

Senior Language Advisor

Dr Ruth Cruickshank

Dr Miriam Haddu

Post-war French fiction, film and thought, consumerism and globalisation

Contemporary Mexican cinema and Mexican visual cultures

Professor Colin Davis

Peninsular Spanish prose fiction from 1850 to the present day

Post-war French literature and thought Dr Joseph Harris Early-modern French literature, especially 17th- and 18th-century drama Professor Ruth Harvey Medieval French and Occitan literature and society Dr Ruth Hemus

Professor Abigail Lee Six

Dr Arantza Mayo Hispanic Golden Age and Latin American Literature and culture Dr Olivia Vázquez-Medina Contemporary Spanish-American fiction Dr Sarah Wright Twentieth-century Spanish culture, theatre and film

European avant-garde, including literature, performance and visual arts

Italian

Professor Eric Robertson

Late 19th- and early 20th-century Italian culture

20th-century French literature, especially poetry, and visual arts Dr Emily Salines Senior Language Advisor Dr Hannah Thompson 19th-century French literature Professor James S. Williams Modern French literature, cinema, and gender studies German

Dr Fabrizio DeDonno

Professor Jane Everson Italian Renaissance literature Ms Maura Ianelli-Chanda Senior Language Advisor Dr Stefano Jossa Italian poetry Dr Giuliana Pieri Italian art and crime fiction

Dr Jon Hughes Modern and contemporary German literature, film and journalism Dr Emily Jeremiah Contemporary German literature, identity, and ethics Professor Peter Longerich History of the Weimar Republic, Third Reich, Second World War and the Holocaust Dr Anja Peters Nineteenth-century German literature, culture and intellectual history Professor W. Daniel Wilson German literature, culture, and history of the 18th and early 19th centuries

The School’s permanent academic staff are joined each year by language assistants and tutors, researchers, research assistants and post-graduate tutors. For full and up-to-date details of current staff and their roles, research and teaching interests, please check our staff directory at: royalholloway.ac.uk/mllc The terms and conditions on which Royal Holloway, University of London makes offers of admission to its programmes of study, including those covered in this booklet, may be found in the Undergraduate Prospectus or Postgraduate Prospectus, copies of which are available on request from: royalholloway.ac.uk/studyhere The information contained in this brochure is correct at the time of publication but is subject to change as part of the School’s policy of continuous improvement and development.

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Royal Holloway, University of London Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX T: +44 (0)1784 434455 royalholloway.ac.uk

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School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures