Viking and Old Norse Studies (4 years) BA (Hons)

University College London

This four-year programme aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of the Viking Age through study of the medieval and modern Scandinavian languages, Old Norse literature, and medieval history. The third year is spent abroad at a university in Denmark, Iceland, Norway or Sweden, depending upon your language choice.

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 a year abroad in Scandinavia, at a university in Denmark, Iceland, Norway and 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.

Your learning

Teaching comprises lectures, classes, seminars, group work and presentations. The modern 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.

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.

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.