Modern Languages degree for my BBB/BBC DC

[BigVaseofTulips]

where would people recommend. Leicester is the aspirational one (say ABB but clearing suggest they take lower). What about Aber, Swansea, Surrey, Ox Brooke’s, Sheffield Hallam?

@BigVaseofTulips
I meant to add: please do not get hung up on what other students have in terms of A levels. Plenty of other students will have a B in MFL. It really doesn’t mean they cannot do well at the degree. As I have said, you don’t need to aim low at all with MFLs. Also, you don’t keep comparing yourself with others when you are there. The ab initio students are separate for y1. The skill that really helps is being able to write good essays. DD said some people who didn’t have essay subject A levels found university essays a challenge. Help and guidance is available though.

There's a thing that says how many points they got . Can you see that?

@InaMuddle2 within the 'entry...' tab, you have to scroll down to the section labelled 'UCAS Tariff Points', if that helps?

My main concern about Bristol would be the cost of accommodation, particularly after the first year. I have seen people quote really high figures (£8000+ pa) for what they are paying for accommodation in Bristol. I hate raising the subject of cost because I really don't like the idea of bright students having their university choices constrained by accommodation costs. But in the real world, it's a factor that needs to be considered.

OP, re your DD's future career plans, I think it's entirely possible that having knowledge of/proven aptitude for foreign languages could open up opportunities for her if she joins the army. I have a memory of discussing exactly this subject with one of DS's friends who is in the army. However, it was a while ago so unfortunately I am hazy on the details!

Look at the institution, but also look at the course. Some will be heavy on literature, others will be more about actually speaking and living the language. Does she want to read Molière and Goethe or is she more interested in France and Germany and the issues that face them today? I think MFL (especially unpopular ones such as German) can be a good way into prestigious institutions on reduced grades as fewer and fewer people are qualified to study them, but many excellent universities have big departments with well-established links for exchange students.

My ds put Surrey University as insurance for an entirely different subject. I wonder sometimes if he should have firmed it as he liked their course structure. Time will tell if gets his firm and whether right choice made.
I looked at languages at Surrey out of interest and they look impressive and do well in league tables too. Also, I find Surrey good at putting subject details on the website in a detailed way.
A lot to like there I think.

Surrey is great but Guildford is very expensive. Ditto Bristol. Ditto Exeter. Do check out Leicester and the Welsh unis

Yes, UCAS tariff points but I'm looking for actual grades.

You just work backwards from that?

I'm not sure exactly what you want, and why?

Without a FOI request you are not going to get very precise detail but you certainly get a pretty good idea from Discover Uni. So you can see the modal distribution on there suggests most students got AAA/A*AA (although EPQs etc mess that up a bit). Mores students got more than that who got below that. A small number got in with perhaps CCC /BCC.

DD and friend both applied for MFL. Friend was eligible for contextual offers due to her home postcode and got BBC offer from Bristol while my DD's offer was ABB for the same course. Interestingly DD's Newcastle offer was AAB.

My DD was fortunate to be at a state school (comprehensive) which took languages seriously. Both her and her close friend at Uni to do MFL. Both at same Uni and her intake is about 50% state, 40% independent and 10% overseas.

I'm asking because OP wrote about Newcastle DiscoverUni stats show that 71% of students on the Modern Languages BA have AT LEAST AAA. 90% have ABB or above and I wanted to know similar percentages for Leeds.

So thank you for the info as it's something DD can take into consideration when deciding whether firm Leeds.

Yes, she will have been working from the points. 73% of Leeds students have at least AAA (or equivalent) by way of comparison.

Hiya, yes @Piggyiseatingfire is correct - we’ve been working from UCAS points (AAA or above is 144 or more; ABB or above is 128 or more). At Leeds, 76% have AAA or above and a whopping 96% have ABB or above - so even higher than Newcastle. DD will give a swerve!

@Piggyiseatingfire I wondered if you knew if there is a risk of UCAS points on Discover Uni overstating the actual A Levels obtained as not only do they include EPQs but also things like Grade 8 music exams - or are those filtered out?

Yes, I mentioned EPQs upthread. The music grades won't affect anything like all students and aren't worth all that many points anyway.

I'm just trying to be helpful tbh. Both of mine have been and gone to uni!

@juja @Piggyiseatingfire yes I appreciate EPQs inflate points but it is still quite a good comparative guide I think

It also has an excellent MFL department and is in the top 20 for languages in the CUG.

Yes, it definitely is.

@Piggyiseatingfire you are being helpful ! Keep going... it is appreciated ...

I'm in a similar position no DC currently applying- one in 2nd year and one starting in Oct (deferred entry), simply sharing our experiences.

Good point that not that too many have UCAS awarding music / speech and drama grades - so unlikely to skew the average too much, rather like some doing 4 A Levels. Surprised at distinction Grade 8 is awarded 30 extra points - seems quite a few to me - both mine did Grade 8 - of course not relevant to their Uni offers but both had to declare them when they accepted their offers post A Levels - I guess it is for these Government statistics.

Mine both have FA coaching certificates which pick up no points whatsoever. Me? Bitter?

@juja and @Piggywaspushed I am bowled over by people being so helpful on this thread. I am not a linguist and don’t know anyone who is so finding it v hard to advise DD - hence your help is very much appreciated. I think DD has decided to visit Exeter (albeit worried about cost of accommodation), Nottingham, Liverpool, Lancaster, Cardiff and Swansea or Aber. That’s a lot of visits and will cost a bomb though! Ruled out Bristol on cost and Reading and Surrey because neither have a nearby UOTC (Army society). We are topping DD up to max loan so her accommodation will have to come out of that (hence concern of Exeter). If she doesn’t get the grades, we’ll take our chances in clearing since, as PP have said, MFL courses often in there. Thanks again

@rampantivy 100% it’s excellent - but DD would definitely be at bottom of cohort even if offered a place and she doesn’t want that pressure (not very confident anyway and needs a 2.1 for Army/police grad schemes). Thanks for replying x

Reading university go to the excellent Oxford UOTC which is a short train journey away - trains v frequent, cost v little and the UOTC building is 5 mins walk from the train station (less actually).

Also reading is a short and easy hop to Heathrow for bagging cheap flights to France and Germany for language practice. The campus is super pretty and it is a really underrated uni, for reasons I have never understood. Now on Elizabeth line to london which is also great for accessibility. I would look at it if you can.