DGD wants to study Languages

Argh I'm an Oxford ML tutor and that's not true about Oxbridge! Yes, our courses are very literature heavy, but half the course focuses on language (the other half on literature). Contemporary culture is a big focus in both language and literature 'papers' (modules). Our graduates go on to all sorts of different careers, some directly involving languages and some not.

Please don't write off Oxbridge (unless your DD really doesn't enjoy literary analysis)!

Our students have a lot of fun and there is a lot of variety.

Exeter is also a great place to do ML and there are wonderful colleagues there. But Exeter and Oxbridge aren't really so different.

DGD really wants to study French and Italian, she isn’t sure what she wants to do after but she loves learning languages and about different cultures.
Would she like a joint honours in International Relations with a language?

I have friends we did languages who work for diplomatic service, teach, working in marketing, work for language assessment companies.
Durham and Bath were well regarded as well as options already suggested. Agree that Cambridge is very lit heavy - no knowledge of Oxford.

Many universities ( Cambridge is one) expect the student to pick up a new language from scratch as well as the A level one so French and Italian is certainly a possibility. Don’t discount Cambridge and encourage your GD to go to the open days for the languages facilities. My DGD is also hoping to study languages and Cambridge is her first choice, though she is equally open to other unis, she has already been to a couple of open days. You have to apply fairly soon in the Autumn term so it’s good she is thinking about this now.

This is lovely to hear as do many schools and unis are becoming limited in their numbers of MFL students.
DSS is doing 2 languages at Alevel but the unis he looked at will allow you to pick up another language from beginner level if you are already proficient in one language ie French degree with Italian from beginner level.
Some unis are looking to reduce/reconfigure courses in MFL - ask some blunt questions at open day about what will continue to be available.

I'm afraid I have no advice here as I only have little ones but just wanted to say I'm so sorry for the heartbreak you must all have endured and what wonderful grandparents she has to bring her up and support her dreams.

All I know about languages is that it can open a lot of doors in the future in many different industries, not to mention the opportunity to work in other countries around the world - as a lover of travel I would have loved to be able to speak at least 1 other language! Good luck to her xx

Your starting point regarding needing GSCE or Alevel is the university websites which will state the entry requirements.
I only know two people with foreign language degrees and one works for a publishing company (in English despite her degree being in a foreign language) and the other teaches.

You can look up the requirements for most courses on line - but I think it would be unusual to expect Italian and French gcse for a combined course

if it were my daughter I might encourage her to look at other languages like Chinese , Russian , Arabic as I expect that’s where she might find more career opportunities- and a much more exciting look at language and culture . Again it’s unlikely that a university would expect any prior qualifications

This is a lovely post to read. I am a French and Spanish graduate (Exeter) and I work directly with languages (interpreter, translator and content writer). Obviously this is a very ‘obvious’ route but there are so many other things you can do with languages and it is a great skill.
My advice - forget Oxbridge. They focus heavily on studying literature and not actual language learning/culture. It’s no fun and no variety.
I loved Exeter but I have language friends from Birmingham, Cardiff, Swansea, Bristol, Manchester. All great options
Good luck DD! Bonne chance! Do PM me if you want help