Department of Modern Languages

The employees of the Department of Modern Languages are active in the academic field of European languages and cultures. The department's focus is on the languages and cultures of the countries of Western and Southern Europe outside of the Benelux: Germany, England, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. More than a hundred academic staff members provide education and perform research in these fields.

The department offers approximately 1,400 students a rich palette of study programmes:
nine Bachelor's programmes, eleven Master's programmes and a large number of minors.
The study programmes in Celtic and Portuguese language and culture are unique in the Netherlands, and Utrecht is the only university in the country that offers Master's degree programmes in Translating, Intercultural Communications and Renaissance Studies. The department provides education on an intimate scale, geared towards activating learning. Most of the department's students consider a period studying abroad as a natural element of their studies.

The department's academic staff perform research in European languages, from ancient times to the present day. Texts and literature are studied in their original languages and contexts. Many of the department's projects are part of larger international cooperative efforts. The Faculty of Humanities is home to two research institutes for modern languages and culture: the Research Institute for History and Culture and the Utrecht Institute of Linguistics OTS. The Department of Modern Languages also offers its employees a variety of facilities to excel as internationally-respected researchers, including a programme for granting sabbaticals.

The department is located in a number of monumental buildings in the historic centre of Utrecht.