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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 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 70 language departments globally.

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

 

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2nd for Italian Studies Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024
4th for Russian Studies
4th for Russian Studies Complete University Guide 2026
4th for Iberian Languages
4th for Iberian Languages Complete University Guide 2026
3rd for Russian Studies Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024

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 Film Festival 2025: Celebrating Student Talent and International Voices

The 2025 Durham Film Festival took place from June 11th to 14th, transforming various venues across Durham into lively hubs celebrating cinema. Highlights included an Open Air Cinema at Aidan’s beer garden, a Hollywood-style Speakeasy at Bar 33, and a formal award ceremony at Durham School.
three people in front of the BFI logo

Yael Almog Publishes a Special Issue of Political Theology on the Diversity of Jewish Diaspora

The issue, titled ‘Ages of Jewish Diaspora’, brings together cutting-edge research that seeks to challenge the binary opposition between Jewish national belonging and diasporic existence.
a photo of Yael Almog in her study

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 2024

World-leading status affirmed in QS World University Rankings 2026

Durham University has been named in the QS World University Rankings world top 100, a position it has achieved every year since 2010. The rankings have confirmed the University’s strong global reputation for employability (64th) and it is also 22nd in the world for sustainability.

Learn more about the QS World University Rankings

Get in touch

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

 

+44 (0) 191 334 2630

Questions about studying here?

Check out our list of FAQs or submit an enquiry form.

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