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Contact information
- SELCS Admissions Team
- selcs.admissions@ucl.ac.uk
- +44 (0)20 7679 3096
Scandinavian Studies BA
This degree provides the opportunity to specialise in the Danish, Norwegian or Swedish language, and to develop an in-depth appreciation of Scandinavian culture. You will have access to state-of-the-art language teaching facilities and the largest and oldest Scandinavian library in the UK, and will spend a year in a Scandinavian country.
Covid-19 programme updates
Due to COVID-19, there may have been updates to this programme for the 2020 academic year. Where there has been an update, these are indicated with a red alert and a link which will provide further information.
Key Information
Programme starts
September 2020
- UCAS code
- R600
- Duration
-
Full-time: 4 years
- Application deadline
- 15 January 2020
- Location
- London, Bloomsbury
Entry requirements
A Levels
- Grades
- ABB
- Subjects
- Foreign language preferred.
- GCSEs
- English Language at grade B or 6, plus Mathematics at grade C or 5. For UK-based students, a grade C or 5 or equivalent in a foreign language (other than Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew or Latin) is required. UCL provides opportunities to meet the foreign language requirement following enrolment, further details at: www.ucl.ac.uk/ug-reqs
Contextual offer
- Grades
- BBB (more about contextual offers)
- Subjects
- Foreign language preferred.
- GCSEs
- English Language at grade B or 6, plus Mathematics at grade C or 5. For UK-based students, a grade C or 5 or equivalent in a foreign language (other than Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew or Latin) is required. UCL provides opportunities to meet the foreign language requirement following enrolment, further details at: www.ucl.ac.uk/ug-reqs
IB Diploma
- Points
- 34
- Subjects
- A score of 16 points in three higher level subjects, preferably including a foreign language, with no score lower than 5.
Contextual offer
- Points
- 32 (more about contextual offers)
- Subjects
- A score of 15 points in three higher level subjects, preferably including a foreign language, with no score lower than 5.
UK applicants qualifications
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
Equivalent qualification
International applications
In addition to A level and International Baccalaureate, UCL considers a wide range of international qualifications for entry to its undergraduate degree programmes.
English language requirements
If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency. Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
The English language level for this programme is: Advanced
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.
Degree benefits
This degree programme gives you the opportunity to learn a Scandinavian language of which you have no prior knowledge and attain a near-native competence by the time you graduate.
You will spend your third year abroad in Scandinavia, at a university in Denmark, Norway or Sweden depending upon your chosen language.
UCL Scandinavian Studies has specialists across the areas of language, politics, history, medieval studies, literature and film.
You will have access to the largest and oldest Scandinavian library in the country, as well as state-of-the-art facilities within the UCL Language Space.
Degree structure
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Language modules are mandatory in each year. You will nominate your chosen language as Danish, Norwegian or Swedish. No prior knowledge of the language chosen is required. The rest of your degree will be made up of other compulsory modules featuring cultural studies and linguistics, plus optional modules chosen according to your interests.
You will also take modules from the School of European Languages, Culture and Society (SELCS). This will allow you to study subjects like literature, film, art and culture from a wider perspective. You will be exposed to broad cultural movements, issues and approaches and be able to draw on the full range of specialisms within the school.
Covid-19 study abroad updates
For this academic year, if you were due to study abroad, you should have been contacted by your department with more information. Further guidance can be found on FAQs for 20/21 Study Abroad students about coronavirus (COVID-19).
If you are planning to study abroad in 2021/22, UCL and your department will be in contact with you at the start of the upcoming academic year with information on the application process.
If you plan to study abroad in future years, UCL and your department will provide relevant information and guidance nearer to the time.
Modules
An indicative guide to the structure of this programme, year by year.
Core or compulsory module(s)
- Basic Language Module in Danish, Norwegian or Swedish
- Histories and Cultures of the Nordic Region
- Introduction to Linguistics and the Scandinavian Languages
- Introduction to Old Norse
- Nordic Storytelling
Optional modules
You will also choose interdepartmental modules offered by SELCS. Options may include the study of linguistics, film and history.
Core or compulsory module(s)
Intermediate Language Module in Danish, Norwegian or Swedish
Optional modules
You will select 90 credits of optional modules. Options may include:
- Basic Modern Icelandic
- Beginners Finnish Language
- Intermediate Old Norse
- FInland: Environment, Culture and Society
- Nordic Cinema
- Politics and Society in the Nordic Countries, 1990s and After
- Scandinavian Literature in Context
- Viking-Age Scandinavia
- SELCS Interdepartmental Intermediate modules
Year abroad
You will spend your Year Abroad at a university in the country where your target language is spoken, studying alongside native speakers, to make the most of your cultural and linguistic immersion.
The experiences and skills developed while abroad further academic and personal development, cultural and social awareness, provide a foundation for further study and enhance career prospects.
For further information please visit the SELCS Year Abroad website.
Core or compulsory module(s)
- Advanced Language Module in Danish, Norwegian or Swedish
- Advanced Project Work in Danish, Norwegian or Swedish
- Dissertation in Scandinavian Studies
Optional modules
You will select 60 credits of optional modules. Options may include:
- Advanced Old Norse
- Intermediate Finnish Language
- Intermediate Modern Icelandic
- Nordic Cinema
- Nordic Landscapes in text, image and sound
- Nordic Politics and Society
- The Nordic Welfare States
- Translation from the Scandinavian Languages
- The Vikings in Europe
- Vikings and Valkyries in Contemporary Culture
- SELCS Interdepartmental Advanced modules
Covid-19 module updates
Due to COVID-19, there may be updates to the modules for your chosen programme of study this year. Some modules may not be available or may need to be moved to a later term or year of study.
These updates are relevant for 2020-21 academic year only. The full list of modules will be available in the module catalogue from late August. From the first week of September, you will be invited to complete module selection from Portico, our student record system.
There may need to be additional updates or changes to modules during the academic year to allow for new guidance from the UK Government and Public Health England. Your department shall keep you updated of these changes as they become available
Your learning
Teaching consists of a mixture of lectures, classes, seminars, group work and presentations. Language elements comprise four taught hours a week for basic language in year one, four hours a week for intermediate language in year two, and two hours a week for advanced language in the final year. A significant portion of your work will take place in guided independent study.
Covid-19 contact hours on campus
In Term One, while campus will be open, all the learning activity for the core content of your modules will take place online – including lectures, tutorials, seminars and assessments. By “core content” we mean everything you need to learn to complete the module successfully.
In addition to these online contact hours, we will be offering some face-to-face educational activities for students on campus, and we will provide alternative online activities for those students unable to join us on campus. These activities, which will include contact with academic staff, will be relevant to your programme of study may include seminars, academic and employability skills workshops, small-group or individual tutorials, lab and practice-based teaching.
UK Government safety guidelines will limit the amount of ‘in person’ activity we can offer and while it will vary from programme to programme, is likely to be no more than 1-2 hours per week. This will vary across departments, particularly if your programme includes laboratory/practical/studio/workshop sessions. You will be updated with more specific details as they are available and your timetable will indicate which sessions will be on campus and which will be available online.
Communicating further Covid-19 mitigation plans
We are continuing to follow UK Government guidance, as well as the expertise of our researchers, including specialists in health, education, human behaviour and infection prevention, to make sure UCL is as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. If it becomes necessary to make further changes to your programme as a result of new guidance/regulations, UCL and your department will communicate these as soon as this becomes clear. We will keep you up-to-date with our plans throughout term one, so you have the information you need to be able to take decisions that are right for your circumstances. Please ensure that you keep in touch with your department by regularly checking your UCL emails, Moodle courses, the Coronavirus FAQs for Students page and any UCL online groups or social media you follow.
Assessment
Most modules are assessed by a mixture of coursework and written examination. Some are assessed by essays only. Language modules are assessed by coursework and written and oral examinations.
Covid-19 assessment updates
There may be changes to the format of assessments for modules in this programme due to COVID-19. These will be summarised for each module on the module catalogue from 17 August 2020.
If any changes to assessments need to be made during the academic year due to updates in government guidance, these will be communicated to you as soon as possible from your department.
Detailed course descriptions are available on the department website: Scandinavian Studies BA.
Careers
Upon graduation you will be fluent in your chosen language and have a reading knowledge of other Scandinavian languages. The historical and literary parts of the degree will develop your cultural awareness. You will be trained in the organisation, presentation and interpretation of complex information, written and oral communication, and independent and group work.
Many of our graduates find they are able to use their Scandinavian languages in a variety of contexts, such as working for Scandinavian companies. Recent graduates have also entered translating, publishing and teaching.
UCL is commited to helping you get the best start after graduation. Read more about how UCL Careers and UCL Innovation and Enterprise can help you find employment or learn about entrepreneurship.
Student view
“Many people are surprised that my degree programme even exists! I chose it because I wanted to take advantage of UCL's unique subjects. I don't think that I could be studying both Swedish and Finnish along with Russian evening classes at any other university in the UK.”George Ferguson - Scandinavian Studies BA Second Year
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2020/21 academic year. The UK/EU fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2020/21 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.
- UK/EU students
- £9,250 (2020/21)
- Overseas students
- £21,260 (2020/21)
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.
Additional costs
If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc. on this programme, please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).
Funding
Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.
Modern European Languages Scholarship
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/scholarships/undergraduate/MELS
Departmental scholarships
Funding opportunities relevant to the department may appear in this section when they are available. Please check carefully or confirm with the programme contact to ensure they apply to this degree programme.
Modern European Languages Scholarship
- Value
- £2,500 per year
- Eligibility
- UK, EU
- Criteria
- Based on academic merit
The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.
Application and next steps
Your application
Your personal statement should reflect your interests and goals, especially with respect to your proposed degree. Some knowledge or experience of Scandinavian culture is expected, as well as an explanation of how this has motivated you to learn more. We do not necessarily require a language at A level or equivalent, but expect you to demonstrate an enthusiasm and aptitude for language learning.
How to apply
Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
Application deadline: 15 January 2020
Selection
If your application demonstrates that your academic ability and motivation make you well suited to our degree and you receive an offer, we shall invite you to a Post Offer Open Day. There, you will be able to experience the sort of teaching we offer and life in SELCS.
Our admissions process aims to assess your linguistic abilities and attainments as well as your cultural awareness, motivation for study and intellectual potential. We may interview candidates by telephone in order to establish a level of language ability.
For further information on UCL's selection process see: Selection of students.
Page last modified on 24 February 2020