Welcome to the Department of European Languages and Cultures (DELC) at the University of Edinburgh.
We teach degree programmes in French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish, and offer courses in Basque, Catalan, Icelandic, Nynorsk and Old Norse.
Our undergraduate MA (Hons) programmes take four years to complete, including a full year studying or working abroad in Year 3. All programmes can be taken on a single honours basis, or as a joint honours programme combining a language with one of a range of other subjects in the arts, humanities and social sciences. Most can be taken with no prior knowledge of the language.
Our interdisciplinary postgraduate environment brings together our expertise in European languages with teaching and research in film, literature, theatre, the other arts, and translation. Programmes span a range of eras and themes, from medieval literatures to gender.
Open Language courses in French, German, Icelandic, Italian and Spanish are free to all University of Edinburgh students. You can take one at any stage of your undergraduate or postgraduate programme. Each course lasts one semester and can be taken for 20 credits or for extra credit, depending on your other study commitments. Foundation 1 classes are suitable for complete beginners.
Find out more about Open Language courses
Subject areas
QS World Rankings by Subject 2020
The University of Edinburgh is ranked 3rd in the UK for Modern Languages and Arts & Humanities.
Globally, we’ve climbed five places in Modern Languages to 12th in the world.
The Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings are the only rankings to have received International Ranking Expert Group (IREG) approval.
Browse the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020 on Top Universities
DELC Creative is a space for everyone in European Languages and Cultures to come together, practise our languages, and do something creative.
Read Babble Issue 5 - creative writing and non-fiction on the theme of movement
We offer a range of undergraduate courses in the study of European languages as a stand alone course, or in conjunction with another area of study.
Choose from a wide range of taught interdisciplinary and research-led programmes, from one-year masters degrees to PhDs.
All you need to know as a current student in European Languages and Cultures.
NEW: take me to COVID-19 updates for current students on the University of Edinburgh website
Year Abroad
The first port of call for all queries regarding the Year Abroad for DELC students.
Take me to study and work placement during COVID-10 updates on the University of Edinburgh website