Colleges offering Foreign Language Courses in India

The popularity of the language courses is not just limited to India and the craze is there in other countries as well. If you decide to learn a new or a foreign language, you should know that it is a medium to get the essence of a new culture. Read this Shikha article to learn about some of the most popular universities offering various programmes in Foreign Languages for those who wish to study foreign languages. 

Ever wonder why you feel so good after travelling to new places? Apart from the natural beauty, new buildings, monuments, and food, some of the best things about those places are people, their culture and their language. If out of all, new languages amaze you the most, then you are at the right place because today we will discuss some of the best colleges offering foreign languages in India. 

Spending time learning a new language on Duolingo, it is best to learn and spend some time in an environment where you get to practise what you are learning daily because you have to be practical you will forget if you don't practise. So, if you are planning to learn a foreign language and want to get a degree in it, then make sure you use it daily or more often than your regional language for the initial few three to five years. Suppose you are learning Spanish, there are various job opportunities where you can work to enhance your communication skills as well as a local person from France. When you get into the environment where you are listening, speaking, the accent, and words, daily the chances of you learning and remembering it are a lot higher than just using an app for a few days in a week. 

Nowadays there are some YouTubers who are teaching 'Sanskrit' language through videos and day-to-day Gen-Z terms that teenagers use to chitchat. If a person wants to learn you can learn from anywhere but to learn a new language there are three major things one needs to understand which are consistency, environment and regular communication. It will take a lot more time than usual if you forget to focus on these three aspects while learning a foreign language. Coming back to our topic, let us learn about some of the top colleges offering foreign languages in India to cater to both professional and academic aspirations. If you are in India then the opportunities to learn a foreign language are in abundance. 

One of the leading institutions is Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), renowned for its diverse language programs. JNU offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in languages like French, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Persian, and more. The university's emphasis on cultural exchange and linguistic proficiency makes it a top choice for aspiring language enthusiasts.   

Another prominent institution is the University of Delhi, which houses several colleges offering foreign language courses. Colleges like St. Stephen's College, Hindu College, and Miranda House provide a wide range of language options, including French, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Arabic. These colleges offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs, along with certificate and diploma courses.  

The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is another renowned institution offering foreign language courses. BHU provides undergraduate and postgraduate programs in French, German, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese. The university's strong academic environment and experienced faculty make it an ideal place to learn a foreign language. Apart from these central universities, several state universities and private institutions also offer foreign language courses. For instance, the University of Mumbai offers courses in French, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese. Similarly, the University of Hyderabad offers courses in French, German, Spanish, Russian, and Arabic. Private institutions like the American Institute of Indian Studies (AIIS) and the Max Mueller Bhavan also offer foreign language courses. AIIS provides intensive language courses in Hindi and Sanskrit, while Max Mueller Bhavan offers German language courses at various levels.   

In addition to traditional classroom-based learning, online platforms and language learning apps have made it easier to learn foreign languages. Learning a foreign language opens doors to new cultures, career opportunities, and personal growth. Whether you're interested in academic pursuits, international travel, or global business, learning a foreign language can be a valuable asset. With a wide range of institutions and resources available in India, learning a foreign language has never been more accessible. When it comes to learning a foreign language, select a language you feel you speak and communicate well in. If ‘Despacito’ made you fall in love with Spanish, do not hesitate, to take up and learn the language. After English, Mandarin Chinese and Hindi are the most spoken languages in the world. The languages which are spoken the most in the world at the moment are:

There are many academies and institutions which help people learn a foreign language, which have phases. Duration of a course to learn a foreign language is generally six to 12 months, however, one needs plenty of practice to perfect the language, how to read, write and understand the language. There are renowned Universities in India which offer full-time courses in a foreign language. Not only will the course help you speak the language fluently, but one also gets to know how to read, write and understand the language and you will receive a full-fledged professional degree.

Also Read: Diploma in Photography in India

Top Colleges Offering Foreign Language Courses

Jawaharlal Nehru University

One of the most renowned varsities in the nation, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) offers students admission to various and diverse courses and programmes in foreign languages. The School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies (SLLCS) is one of the premier institutions in the nation in pursuing higher studies in linguistics, and literature in various languages. The School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies have 12 centres which are as follows:

The SLLCS also offers certificate, diploma and advanced diploma of proficiency programmes in Foreign languages which are: Bahasa Indonesia, Mongolian, Portuguese and Pushtu and Urdu language. The course structure for foreign languages are as follows:

Eligibility Criteria

• UG Courses: The candidate needs to have done their Class 12 from a recognised board and should have secured a minimum of 45% from any discipline.
• PG Course: The candidate needs to have done their graduation from a recognised University in any stream and should have a BA/Certificate/Diploma in a foreign language.
• MPhil: The candidate should have done their MA in the language applying for from a recognised University and should have secured a minimum of 55%.

Admission Process: Students are required to apply online on the official website of JNU and are required to appear for JNUEE. For UG courses, the test will be in English based on the language and history of the language. For PG and MPhil/PhD courses, students are required to give the entrance exam in the applied language. Students who make the merit list, are required to appear for an interview. Students clearing the two rounds are offered admission.

For more information on JNUEE, candidates can go through the following links as mentioned below:

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Banaras Hindu University

One of the established varsities in the nation, the BHU - Banaras Hindu University offers a variety of courses and programmes, with the Faculty of Arts’s Department of Foreign Language has the distinction of conducting teaching programmes in seven major languages of Asia and Europe. Students can opt to take up the course as a programme which ranges from Certificate/Diploma in all languages and can pursue a full-time course in Russian Chinese. The courses offered are as follows:

Eligibility Criteria

• UG Courses: The candidate needs to have done their Class 12 from a recognised board and should have secured a minimum of 45% aggregate from any discipline.
• PG Course: The candidate needs to have done their graduation from a recognised University in any stream and should have a BA/Certificate/Diploma in a foreign language.
• MPhil: The candidate should have done their MA in the language applying for from a recognised University and should have secured a minimum of 55% aggregate.
• Diploma: The candidate needs to have done their Class 12 from a recognised board in any discipline and should have secured a minimum of 45% aggregate.

Admission Process: Students are required to apply online on the official website of Banaras Hindu University and are required to appear for BHU Undergraduate Entrance Test (BHU UET) and Postgraduate Entrance Test (BHU PET). Students who clear the written test and make the merit list, are offered admission to the University. For more information of BHU UET, candidates can go through the following links as mentioned below:

For more information on BHU PET, candidates can go through the following links as mentioned below:

Jamia Millia Islamia

Known for the diverse and varied courses and programmes offered, Jamia Millia Islamia offers students admission to courses in foreign languages, which range from Certificate to Diploma to Advanced Diploma to Research Programmes. The Centre Spanish and Latin American Studies offers a variety of courses such as Spanish, Portuguese, French, Russian, etc. Students can opt to take up part-time courses which are offered in Certificate courses or can go full time which is a Diploma course. The structure of the courses offered in a foreign language is as follows:

Eligibility Criteria

For certificate and diploma courses, the candidates need to have done their Class 12 from a recognised board in any stream and should have secured a minimum of 45% aggregate. For the Advanced diploma, the candidate should have done their graduation in any discipline and field from a recognised University and should have secured a minimum of 50%.

Admission Process: The candidate needs to apply online on the official website of Jamia Millia Islamia. Admission to certificate/diploma/advanced diploma courses is done based on merit. For PhD courses, students are required to appear for the JMI Entrance Exam. Students who clear the written test and interview will be offered admission to the course. For more information on the JMI Entrance Exam, candidates can go through the following links, which are as follows:

University of Mumbai

One of the sought-after varsities in the nation, the University of Mumbai offers admission to various programmes in Foreign Languages. The varsity has a Department of German Studies and a Department of French Studies. Known for their academic excellence, students learn about art, tourism, history, literature, and translation in the language learn. Both departments offer admission to UG, PG, MPhil & PhD. The course structure is as follows:

Eligibility Criteria

• UG Courses: The candidate needs to have done their Class 12 from a recognised board and should have secured a minimum of 45% aggregate from any discipline.
• PG Course: The candidate needs to have done their graduation from a recognised University in any stream and should have a BA/Certificate/Diploma in a foreign language.
• MPhil: The candidate should have done their MA in the language applying for from a recognised University and should have secured a minimum of 55% aggregate.

Admission Process: Students are required to apply online on the official website of the University of Mumbai and students are required to appear for an entrance exam. Students who clear the written test will be invited for an Interview. Students who clear the two rounds will be offered admission to the course.

Delhi University

Last but not least, one of the renowned and sought-after varsities in the nation, Delhi University offers students admission to various foreign language courses and programmes. Various established colleges such as Hansraj College, Ramjas College, Miranda House, and St.Stephen's College offer admission to foreign language courses. The foreign language courses can be taken as a certificate/diploma/advanced diploma and full-time courses as well. Students can go through the following departments which are as follows:

Eligibility Criteria

Students need to have passed their Class 12 from a recognised board in any stream and should have secured a minimum of 45%.

Admission Process: Students are required to directly approach any college and should contact the college concerned. Students can also contact the department and apply for the language interested in. Admission will be done based on merit. Candidates who make the merit list are invited to complete the admission process.

Foreign Languages Course: Job Opportunities

Candidates can check the table below to learn about the job opportunities available for candidates having foreign language course degrees. Check out the popular job options available for candidates with language degrees:

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