History and Language
History and Language is a combination that develops both rigorous historical understanding and genuine competence in a living language, equipping you to engage with the past through the cultural and linguistic lens of another national tradition. History trains you to work carefully with evidence, to evaluate competing interpretations, and to construct persuasive accounts of how human societies have changed over time. Language study develops your communicative range, giving you access to literature, media, and everyday life in another culture, and enriching your historical perspective by allowing you to engage with non-Anglophone scholarship and primary sources.
At Birkbeck College in London, this part-time programme allows you to study history and your chosen language from French, German, Italian, Japanese, or Spanish, pursuing both disciplines without having to choose between them. Birkbeck's evening teaching model is designed for students who work or have other daytime commitments, making higher education accessible to a wider range of people. The programme develops the critical and analytical skills needed to assess historical evidence and question received interpretations, alongside the ability to formulate and communicate your own ideas effectively in both English and your chosen language.
The breadth of historical periods and themes available gives you considerable freedom to follow your intellectual interests.
Graduates of History and Language work in a wide range of careers that draw on both analytical and linguistic competence, including journalism, education, translation, the civil service, international organisations, cultural institutions, publishing, and business. The combination of historical awareness and language skill is particularly valuable in roles involving international relations, cross-cultural communication, and the interpretation of foreign political or cultural contexts. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in history, language, or a related field, building specialist expertise for research or professional roles that benefit from this distinctive combination.