Colleges offering Foreign Language Courses in India: Type of Course, Eligibility & Native Speakers

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. 

When a person is learning a new language on Duolingo or any other app, it is necessary to practice in real life as well. Just studying on the app is not sufficient; if you do not use the language daily, the chances of forgetting the language are high. So, if one wishes to master a foreign language or even earn a degree in it, try to use it every day, ideally even more than one's native language. For the first three to five years, if you are learning Spanish, look for job opportunities where you can interact with native speakers. One of the best ways to learn a language is to immerse yourself in an environment where you can hear, speak, and think in the language daily, similar to a local. This way will help to pick up the accent, vocabulary, and fluency much faster than depending only on occasional app sessions. 

Nowadays, there are some YouTubers who are teaching the Sanskrit language through videos and day-to-day Gen-Z terms that teenagers use to chit-chat. If a person wants to learn they 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), which is 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.   

Thanks to a blend of traditional classroom learning and the advancement of online platforms and language apps, learning a foreign language is now way easier than before. Learning a new language is not just about words, it is a way to explore and discover global career paths, new cultures, and grow on a personal level. Whether your goals are to study abroad, travel the world, or work in international markets, knowing a foreign language can be a real benefit. In India, there are various learning options available to make language education more accessible than ever before. 

When selecting which language to learn, go with one that resonates with your likes and dislikes. If a song like Despacito sparked your love for Spanish, do not hold back; go for it. After English, Mandarin Chinese and Hindi are currently among the most spoken languages worldwide. Check out the most widely spoken languages below:

Rank	Language	Native Speakers
1.	English	1,132 Million
2.	Mandarin Chinese	1,117 Million
3.	Hindi	615 Million
4.	Spanish	534 Million
5.	French	280 Million
6.	Standard Arabic	274 Million
7.	Bengali	265 Million
8.	Russian	258 Million
9.	Portuguese	234 Million
10.	Indonesian	199 Million

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:

Centre of Arabic and African Studies	Centre for Chinese and South-East Asian Studies	Centre for English Studies
Centre for French and Francophone Studies	Centre for German Studies	Centre for Indian Languages
Centre for Japanese Studies	Centre for Korean Studies	Centre for Linguistics
Centre of Persian and Central Asian Studies	Centre for Russian Studies	Centre of Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Latin America Studies

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:

Language	Courses Offered	Duration
Centre of Arabic and African Studies	BA	3-Years
	MA	2-Years
	MPhil	2-Years
Centre for Chinese and South-East Asian Studies	BA	3-Years
	MA	2-Years
	MPhil/PhD	2-Years
Centre for French and Francophone Studies	BA	3-Years
	MA	2-Years
	MPhil/PhD	2-Years
Centre for German Studies	BA	3-Years
	MA	2-Years
Centre for Japanese Studies	BA	3-Years
	MA	2-Years
	MPhil	2-Years
Centre for Korean Studies	BA	3-Years
	MA	2-Years
	MPhil	2-Years
Centre for Persian Studies	BA	3-Years
	MA	2-Years
	MPhil	2-Years
Centre for Russian Studies	BA	3-Years
	MA	2-Years
	MPhil	2-Years
Centre for Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Latin American Studies	BA	3-Years
	MA	2-Years
	MPhil	2-Years

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:

JNUEE Highlights	JNUEE Important Dates	JNUEE Application Form
JNUEE Admit Card	JNUEE Question Papers	JNUEE Pattern
JNUEE Syllabus	JNU Cut Off	JNU Counselling

Also Read: Top BA Bharatanatyam Colleges in Kerala

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:

Course	Language	Duration
BA (Hons)	Chinese Russian	3-Years
MA	Chinese Russian	2-Years
PhD	Chinese Russian	2 to 4 Years
Diploma	Chinese Russian Italian Japanese Spanish Sinhalese Polish	1-Year

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:

BHU UET Dates	BHU UET Application Form	BHU UET Admit Card
BHU UET Exam Pattern	BHU UET Syllabus	BHU UET Results

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

BHU PET Dates	BHU PET Application Form	BHU PET Admit Card
BHU PET Exam Centre	BHU PET Result	BHU PET Exam Pattern

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:

Course	Language	Duration
Certificate	Spanish (Part-Time) Portuguese (Part-Time) French (Part-Time) Russian (Part-Time) Italian (Part-Time)	1-Year
Diploma	French Italian Portuguese Russian Spanish	1-Year
Advanced Diploma	French Italian Portuguese Russian Spanish	1-Year
PhD	European Studies International Studies – Arab Islamic Culture	2-4 Years
MA	International Studies – Arab Islamic Culture	2-Years

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:

JMI Entrance Exam Dates	JMI Entrance Exam Application Form	JMI Entrance Exam Admit Card
JMI Entrance Exam Pattern	JMI Entrance Exam Results	JMI Entrance Exam Question Papers

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:

Language	Course	Duration
French Studies	BA	3-Years
	MA	2-Years
	PhD French	2-4 Years
	Part-Time Courses in French	1-Year
German Studies	BA	3-Years
	MA in German Studies	2-Years
	MA (Hons) in German Studies	2-Years
	PhD in German Studies	2-4 Years
Chinese	BA in Chinese Studies	3-Years

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:

Department of Slavonic & Finno-Ugrian Studies
Course	Language
Certificate	Russian Croatian Bulgarian Czech Hungarian Polish
Diploma	Russian Croatian Bulgarian Czech Hungarian Polish
Advanced Diploma	Russian Croatian Bulgarian Czech Hungarian Polish
MA	Russian Studies
MPhil	Russian Studies
PhD	Russian Studies

 

Department of Germanic Studies
Course	Language
Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma	Spanish French Italian Portuguese Romanian

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:

Job Options
Translator	Interpreter
International sales marketing	Research Analyst
Content Writer and Editor	Brand specialists
Lecturer	Government agencies
Journalism	Corporate Trainer
Tour Guide	Human Resource
Embassies	Job in International Organization

Read More:

• Fashion Photography Courses
• Diploma in Bharatanatyam 2023
• Want to pursue a Course in Music? Check out the Top Music Colleges in India
• Top 10 Colleges for Photography Colleges in India
• Bharatanatyam: Revival and colleges offering admission in Bharatanatyam courses