Our Language and Culture Areas
At Durham, we offer a wide range of language and culture areas from which you can study, either on an advanced route (following on from your previous study at school or similar), or from beginner level.
Please use the links below to learn more about our different areas of study:
Arabic Studies
With over a quarter of a billion native speakers stretching from Morocco in the West to Iraq in the East, Arabic is the fifth most widely spoken language in the world
Chinese Studies
Durham has a long history of teaching East Asian languages: the first lecturer in Chinese was appointed in 1952
French Studies
Durham is a leading centre for research and undergraduate and postgraduate study in French
German Studies
We offer a rich selection of challenging and rewarding modules, addressing both urgent contemporary and live historical issues through literature, film and visual culture
Hispanic Studies
We see Spanish as a world language, and among our staff we have instructors from various parts of the Spanish-speaking world
Italian Studies
Italian at Durham is one of the top Italian units in the UK, regularly appearing in the top five in major national league tables
Japanese Studies
Our students' experiences range from developing language skills, to discovering the richness of Japanese literature and history, to the allure of current popular culture
Russian Studies
In addition to the language modules, our course provides a broad-ranging introduction to Russian, Soviet and post-Soviet culture and cultural history
Visual Arts and Film
Combining still and moving images, academic study and practical skills development, we span from ancient Rome to today, and are almost global in our geographical reach