Arabic and English BA Honours - Courses | University of Westminster, London

Course Overview

UK Fees £9,250 *

International Fees £15,400 *

Duration 3 or 4 years

Course summary

At Westminster, we'll train you to become a competent linguist and communicator, ready to enter graduate employment.

We place particular emphasis on employability, offering high-quality teaching in all languages skills alongside knowledge and understanding of contemporary cultural contexts.

This course offers you the opportunity to combine the study of Arabic with English. It will enable you to achieve proficiency in Arabic, develop linguistic and cultural knowledge of both languages, and build knowledge and understanding of linguistic, literary, and cultural studies.

Our Arabic courses are designed for beginner or 'false beginner' entrants – students who may be able to read the Arabic script, and/or have completed the equivalent of one or two years' part-time study. We may need to test you to determine your entry point.

You’ll study languages, literatures and cultures in an integrated interdisciplinary way, exploring the connections between them and the broader historical and cross-cultural contexts in which they are produced. You’ll also consider the theoretical tools of textual, cultural, and linguistic analysis in detail.

You'll master oral and written communication, linguistic and literary knowledge, and language transfer skills, ensuring you graduate well-equipped to communicate and work in diverse cultural settings.

One of the highlights of studying languages at Westminster is the opportunity to embark on a transformative international experience. Flexible opportunities can include short fully funded field trips or summer schools, a semester spent studying abroad in the second year, and/or a year-long international experience after your second year of study.

You'll benefit from studying in the heart of a multilingual city, where over 300 languages are spoken, offering unique opportunities for linguistic exploration.

Overall, the transferable and cognitive skills gained through studying this course will equip you for lifelong personal and professional development.

Top reasons to study with us

Learn real-world language skills – our authentic teaching, which focuses on language in a cultural context, equips you for real-life situations
Gain international experience - choose to participate in a year studying or working abroad in an Arabic-speaking country
Practise your language skills - practise one-to-one conversation with a native speaker through the Languages Plus programme
Study English in the heart of London – discover a historic literary city and learn from world experts in language, gender and the history of English
Academic support – individually focused academic support through our tutorial modules ensures you'll get the most out of your course.

Course structure

Teaching methods include lectures, tutorials, practical sessions, seminars and workshops, as well as independent learning, conducted beyond the classroom (individually and in groups) in the library, at home, and via online learning.

Assessment methods include essays, exams, individual and group presentations, projects, and critical analysis.

The following subjects are indicative of what you will study on this course.

Introducing English Language
Introduction to the Study of Language and Culture
The Arab World and the Word
Introduction to Translation (available to intermediate students)
Language and Text
Objects and Meaning: The Social Life of Material Culture

The Novel
Expressions of Arabic Culture
History of the English Language
Spoken Discourse Analysis
Language in the Public Space
Making Memory: Culture, History and Representation
Multilingual e-Collaboration: Transposing Current Affairs
Understanding Culture: Arabic in Focus

Between Years 2 and 3, you’ll have the opportunity to undertake a professional placement year in industry. Completing the placement year will lead to the final award Bachelor of Arts with Honours – Arabic and English with Professional Experience.

Alternatively, you can undertake a period of study abroad at one of Westminster’s partner institutions. Successful completion will lead to the final award Bachelor of Arts with Honours – Arabic and English with International Experience.

Final Year Project
Themes in Contemporary Arabic Studies
Issues in Culture
Language and Power
Reading the Present
Studies in Literary Language
Identities on the Move: Arabic Studies in Focus
Multilingualism in Society: Theory and Practice
Sex Strike: Gender and Protest
Sexualities in Literature and Culture
Work Placement for Humanities

Professional recognition

The University of Westminster is a Higher Education Language Partner of the Chartered Institute of Linguists.

Programme specification

For more details on course structure, modules, teaching and assessment Download the programme specification (PDF).

To request an accessible version please email [email protected]

Prospectus

Get your copy of the University of Westminster prospectus and browse the range of courses on offer.

Request a prospectus

Get in touch

+44 (0)20 7911 5000 EXT 65511
(Mon–Fri, 10am–4pm BST)

[email protected]

Live chat with us
(Mon–Fri, 10am–4pm BST)

Open days

Join us at an open day online or on campus. Get a feel for student life at the University of Westminster and talk to course leaders and our support teams.

Next open day

Saturday 15 June On campus

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Careers

International experience

Develop your language skills in a real-world setting with a year studying, working or volunteering abroad.

Employing humanities programme

Benefit from our tailored scheme to develop work readiness and draw attention to the wide applicability of humanities skills in working life and careers.

Boost your career potential

Arabic is in the top five languages wanted by employers, and speaking a second language can help improve your employability.

Source: CBI/Pearson report 2019.

Career development

Our course aims to produce graduates who have strong communication and organisational skills, are flexible, adaptable and capable of working collectively and autonomously.

The language skills gained in our course will allow you to develop the interlingual and intercultural competencies associated with an international outlook and global citizenship.

Career development skills are embedded in the course, and opportunities for part-time work, internships, placements, careers workshops, work-related learning, and more, are available to you – opening up a range of future job roles or further training options.

As part of the degree, you'll have the opportunity to spend an academic year abroad at a partner institution and/or, depending on your language level, in an approved form of employment in an Arabic speaking country, enabling you to develop your language skills in a real-world setting.

Job roles

The course prepares you for roles in a range of sectors including:

Advertising, marketing or PR
Business or finance
Interpreting or translation
Law
Media and journalism
Public sector work
Publishing
Teaching

Graduate employers

Graduates from our Arabic degrees have found roles in companies including:

British Council
Date Palm School
Hackney Mental Health Support
Transport for London (TFL)
University of East London
Cypher Coding Ltd
HSBC
Notting Hill Gate Library
Muslim Association of Britain
University of East London

International Opportunities

Many of our courses offer international study and work experiences, and the University provides other global opportunities that all students can apply for - so whatever you're studying, you'll have the chance to go abroad.

Opportunities could include:

Taking part in semester or year-long exchanges at institutions around the world
Attending an international summer school or field trip
Developing your CV through volunteering or work placements abroad

International experience broadens horizons, boosts self-confidence, and improves global understanding, alongside being fantastic for your career.

Find out more about our international opportunities, including funding options and where you can go.

Students working and studying internationally

Course Leader

More about me

Dr Liz Harvey-Kattou

Senior Lecturer

Liz is the Leader of Modern Languages combined courses and a Senior Lecturer in Hispanic Studies. She was educated at UCL (BA Modern Iberian and Latin American Regional Studies, MA Hispanic Studies, PhD Hispanic Studies). She has lived and worked in Costa Rica.

She teaches modules on world cinema, Hispanic cultural studies, and Spanish language. Her research looks at national identity and cultural production, specifically literature and film. She has published a book, Contested Identities in Costa Rica: Constructions of the Tico in Literature and Film (LUP, 2019), as well as several articles and book chapters on Latin American film and literature.

More about me

Studying languages and cultures helps you see your own place in the world more clearly.

Course Team

Why study this course?

Language in practice

You'll have access to our Languages Plus programme which puts you in touch with native speakers through the Language Exchange, gives you one-to-one grammar help at the Language Clinics, and allows you to gain valuable work experience in a languages-related field.

International study

Immerse yourself in the language and improve your knowledge and understanding of the culture by participating in a year or semester studying or working in an Arabic-speaking country.

Fantastic central London location

Based in our Regent Campus in central London, you'll enjoy the benefits of studying in a major global city.

Studying languages with us

A levels – BCC (104 UCAS Tariff points)
T levels – 104 UCAS Tariff points
International Baccalaureate – 104 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis
BTEC Extended Diploma – DMM
BTEC Diploma – D*D
Access – 104 UCAS Tariff points from the Access course

In addition to one of the above, you should have:

GCSE English Language grade 4/C – IB grade 4 Higher level, GCSE Maths grade 4/C – IB grade 4

If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS of 6.0 overall, with 5.5 in each component.

We are ideally looking for evidence of successful language learning, formal or informal, in the applicant’s personal statement, but please note that these courses are designed for students only at Beginners or False Beginners level in Arabic and we may need to test you to determine your language level.

We also welcome applications from students who are taking a combination of qualifications listed above. For further information, please contact Course Enquiries.

View more information about our entry requirements and the application process

International Baccalaureate – 104 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis

If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS of 6.0 overall, with 5.5 in each component.

More information

Learn new skills

Learn a new language

From Arabic to Spanish, you can learn a new language alongside your degree with our Polylang programme.

Develop your entrepreneurial skills

Our award-winning Creative Enterprise Centre offers industry networking events, workshops, one-to-one business advice and support for your startup projects.

Gain extra qualifications

We provide access to free online courses in Adobe and Microsoft Office applications, as well as thousands of specialist courses on LinkedIn Learning.

Fees and Funding

UK
INTERNATIONAL

UK tuition fee: £9,250

When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.

Find out how we set our tuition fees.

Funding

As well as tuition fee loans, there is a range of funding available to help you fund your studies.

Find out about undergraduate student funding options.

Scholarships

The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students, which cover all or part of your tuition fees.

Find out if you qualify for one of our scholarships.

Additional costs

You should budget for about £50 in each year for additional materials.

See also our general policy on what your tuition fees cover.

International tuition fee: £15,400

When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.

Find out how we set our tuition fees.

EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme

If you are an international student accepted on an undergraduate programme starting in September 2024 or September 2025 at level 3 (Foundation) or level 4 (first year) on the basis of an eligible EU qualification only, you will be awarded a tuition fee reduction which will align your fee more closely to the one for UK students. For more information, see the EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme.

International student funding

Find out about funding for international students.

Additional costs

You should budget for about £50 in each year for additional materials.

See also our general policy on what your tuition fees cover.

Teaching and Assessment

Below you will find how learning time and assessment types are distributed on this course. The graphs below give an indication of what you can expect through approximate percentages, taken either from the experience of previous cohorts, or based on the standard module diet where historic course data is unavailable. Changes to the division of learning time and assessment may be made in response to feedback and in accordance with our terms and conditions.

How you'll be taught

Teaching methods across all our undergraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application. Learning typically falls into three broad categories:

Scheduled hours: examples include lectures, seminars, practical classes, workshops, supervised time in a studio
Placement: placement hours normally include placement opportunities, but may also include live projects or virtual activity involving employers
Independent study: non-scheduled time in which students are expected to study independently. This may include preparation for scheduled sessions, follow-up work, wider reading or practice, completion of assessment tasks, or revision

Year

25%75%

100%

22%75%3%

Scheduled hoursIndependentPlacement

How you'll be assessed

Our undergraduate courses include a wide variety of assessments.

Assessments typically fall into three broad categories:

Practical: examples include presentations, videos, podcasts, lab work, creating artefacts
Written exams: end of semester exams
Coursework: examples include essays, reports, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation

Year

66%25%9%

61%25%14%

100%

55%24%21%

Written examsPracticalCoursework

Data from the academic year 2023/24

Supporting you

Our Student Hub is where you’ll find out about the services and support we offer, helping you get the best out of your time with us.

Study support — workshops, 1-2-1 support and online resources to help improve your academic and research skills
Personal tutors — support you in fulfilling your academic and personal potential
Student advice team — provide specialist advice on a range of issues including funding, benefits and visas
Extra-curricular activities — volunteering opportunities, sports and fitness activities, student events and more

Visit our student hub

Course location

Our Regent Campus is comprised of two sites, situated on and around Regent Street – one of the most famous and vibrant streets in London.

Subjects including Criminology and Sociology, English and Creative Writing, History, Languages, Politics and International Relations and Visual Culture are based at 309 Regent Street, which includes recently refurbished social spaces, gym facilities and our Regent Street Cinema.

For more details, visit our locations page.