Modern foreign languages

We continue to support modern foreign languages in a variety of ways.

Routes into Languages
This is a £7.3 million programme to encourage the take-up of modern foreign language courses in England.
Additional funds for students exchanging in a year of study or work abroad through the ERASMUS exchange programme, or study abroad through another route.

Student demand-raising activity in modern foreign languages

We are inviting higher education institutions (HEIs) in England with provision in modern foreign languages to submit proposals to deliver a programme of student demand-raising activity. This will aim to sustain modern foreign language education in England.

The deadline for applications was Wednesday 9 January 2013. Applications were assessed by representatives from the British Academy, the higher education sector, the Department for Education and HEFCE. The panel’s recommendations will be presented to the HEFCE Board on 29 April 2013 and subject to approval, the successful applicant will be announced in May 2013.

Review of modern foreign languages

In October 2009, we published a review that investigated the health of modern foreign languages provision in English HE.

The review, led by Professor Michael Worton, Vice-Provost, University College London, made recommendations to HEFCE, Government and other partners aimed at the long-term sustainability and vitality of modern foreign languages.

It looked at recent languages policy and the impact of investment in this area.

A dissemination event for the sector took place in December 2009. The language stakeholders named within the recommendations of the report met in February 2010 and agreed an action plan for taking the recommendations forward.

Action plan for taking forward recommendations for modern foreign languages

Download the Action plan for taking forward recommendations for modern foreign languages as PDF (62 KB) | Download the Action plan for taking forward recommendations for modern foreign languages as MS Word (74 KB)

A common dataset

As part of our continuing attempt to assess the health of modern foreign languages, we worked with the former DfES, HESA, Universities UK and CILT to agree a common set of data.

This data enables us to monitor the trends in modern foreign languages across various levels of study and subjects of study.