Bengali is the sixth largest language in the world, with 228 million native speakers and 37 m speakers of Bengali as a second language. It can therefore be considered a world language. Bengali is the national language of Bangladesh and the state language of West Bengal in India. There are substantial Bengali communities in the USA, Europe, Australia and the Middle East.
Registration for 2023-24 has now closed.
Modules can be taken for credit or not-for-credit. Modules with 44 taught classroom hours are worth 15 credits. If you know some Bengali already, take our diagnostic test to see whether you are ready to take the Level 1b module.
Bengali modules are all year-long with 2 hours of classroom teaching per week. There are no modules for semester 2 only. All language modules are taught in-person, on the Mile End campus.
To help with your application, you can use this form to find the right module code. You will then need to follow the instructions on the form to submit your application.
Bengali Language and Culture 1a (one weekly session over two semesters)
Bengali Language and Culture 1b (one weekly session over two semesters)
Please note that there may be some timetable or room changes before teaching starts. Any changes will be published here.