MFL degrees at UCL, Durham, Bristol, Bath and Leeds...

[Antaresisastar]

DS has applied to the above for Spanish with another language ab initio. He started an Economics degree in September but realised after about 8 weeks that it wasn't the right course for him and withdrew.
He already has 3 A grades so fulfills requirements for all the above, Leeds and Bristol have given him unconditional offers, still waiting on the others.
Does anyone have dcs studying MFL at any of the above universities and, if so, would you mind sharing what they think of the course, contact hours, quality of teaching, and any thing else regarding uni life?
Many thanks.

Quick update, unconditional offer from UCL today, that will be Spanish with Dutch, don't suppose anyone has any experience of that particular combination?

Interesting. All the Dutch speak English. That must be a pretty niche language course and they obviously want people on the course! How marketable is it when he leaves? I know a number of people who have chosen niche languages to get into the most prestigious universities because they feel the university destination trumps the language studied. Has he applied for Dutch at all the other universities?

Also my DD did Italian at Bristol, but not ab initio. She says they are a very good Department. Obviously options can change, but she really enjoyed the Italian modules and travelling in Italy when she did the Erasmus semester there was a real bonus.

Bono, he and I both know that the Dutch speak English. He has dreams for a post degree career that Dutch would fit well with but I won't elaborate here. He is excited about learning something completely new. I don't think he chose a "niche language to get in to a prestigious university", he already has the grades, and may well have been accepted if he'd chosen Spanish with Italian, we will never know.
He didn't apply for Dutch at the other universities, simply because they didn't offer it.

Sorry , meant BoJo

I don't think any English speaker should be learning Dutch on a degree course unless they already speak fluent French and German.

Can you explain why Bobochic?

Of course he would have got in with Spanish and Italian. Universities want linguists and they do not have enough students studying the more unusual languages and that includes Italian. Youcan get to study Italian with a C at A level - although they will not advertise the fact. Language Departments in some universities are reducing in size. Unless he wants to be a football manager I would love to know what career must include speaking Dutch. Do tell!

Because any international career that involves Dutch will be in a multinational environment where other, mainstream MFL are mastered by all and sundry.

Because most English speakers of Dutch are already French speakers and live in Belgium.

Because not speaking German will put a novice learner of Dutch at a significant disadvantage versus his peer group, who are very likely to speak German.

But Bobo, is there not an argument for just learning a language because you can and are interested and know it will be a challenge? What about all those reading Classics who are hardly likely to use their Greek or Latin in business life?
I am a scientist with an 'O' level in French. I would say to ds, go for what you think will keep you happy, motivated and challenged. Do not worry too much about what will happen in three years time, am I wrong?

Yes, but not as a main component of your degree. I love languages and have learned lots of them but I could not, hand on heart, recommend anyone to spend £9000 per year and their formative years learning Dutch.

BTW - if your DS moves to the Netherlands after his degree, he can do a cheap and excellent course in Dutch for immigrants at university.

Bono, things may change, but at the moment he is interested in journalism, particularly sports journalism. Cycling is his passion, hence the Dutch/Flemish interest.

Thank you all for your contributions and advice but I think I am going to call a halt to this thread. The decision now belongs to ds, he has been well advised and informed, but he is an adult and must make his own choices.

Why not learn Dutch if he wants to? My DS is learning Swedish and what's the point in that other than it interests him? It's not as if he's after crack cocaine or whatever. As an employer I would much rather someone who had the rigour/wit to learn a language properly than turn up with management studies or the like.

My view is that learning Dutch really won't help on the journalism front . Showing huge interest and participation in the sports might be useful on the basis that very many journalists are ex sportsmen and women. I am not sure learning Dutch will give him a leg up on the journalist front. As my DD did Italian I do think people should learn minority languages but she did it because she loved the language and Italy. She had no intention of using it at work! So yes, do what MFL floats your boat but do not expect it to lead to a job using that language every day . MFL degrees involve studying literature, film, history and maybe art plus speaking and translation. I doubt if Dutch sport is an option. I would look at the background of cycling journalists and go from there.

I think the OP is confusing academic study of a language and culture with a language course.

If what you want is to gain fluency in a MFL, a British university is not the right place or price.

I was going to suggest Leeds because of the Tour de Yorkshire (and because it's generally a good student city) but if he is keen on journalism - esp in a specialist/niche area - then perhaps he should be looking at London.

The Velodromes are in Glasgow, Manchester and I assume Stratford in the Olympic Park. A friend of ours just graduated from Leeds in Psychology and is in journalism now! you can do what you want, where you want but having a game plan regarding how to get your work noticed is best. Very many sports journalists played their sports at a high level. They have the insight and back room access to get the stories and comment on them. However, if the OPs DS is determined then he might be successful. Doing a degree in The Netherlands could be an idea!