2025/26 Undergraduate Programme Catalogue

BA Modern Languages (German and Japanese) (For students entering from September 2024 onwards)

Programme overview

Programme code
BAML/GR&JP-R
UCAS code
R1R1
Duration
4 Years
Method of Attendance
Full Time
Programme manager
Maria Chiara La Sala
Contact address
m.c.lasala@leeds.ac.uk
Total credits
480
School/Unit responsible for the parenting of students and programme
School of Languages, Cultures and Societies
Examination board through which the programme will be considered
Relevant QAA Subject Benchmark Groups
The programme will meet the QAA Benchmarks defined for Languages, Cultures and Societies outlined here:

https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/sbs/sbs-languages-cultures-and-societies-23.pdf?sfvrsn=3c71a881_10

Entry requirements

Entry Requirements are available on the Course Search entry

Programme specification

The information on this page is accurate for students entering the programme from September 2024. For students who entered the programme before September 2024, you can find the details of your programme:

BA Modern Languages (German and Japanese)

On this programme, students will become highly competent in their two chosen languages while acquiring an understanding of, analysing, interpreting and engaging with the cultures and societies where these languages are spoken.

A compulsory period of residence abroad will provide students with the unique opportunity to develop language skills in a rich and varied context of use, while engaging with other cultures and societies, thereby fostering intercultural awareness and pluricultural competence, self-reliance and flexibility.

This dual-language programme offers opportunities for students at all levels to engage with the connections and contrasts between the languages they study (e.g. through ‘MODL’ modules that span multiple language areas), enabling them to deepen their critical understanding of their chosen languages. There might also be an opportunity to take discovery modules, which include modules in an additional language for students wishing to expand their linguistic repertoire.

At Level 1, students will study core language modules that are tailored to their ability alongside modules which will introduce them to the cultures and societies of the languages they are studying. They will also receive training in crucial academic skills such as critical analysis, argumentation, research and academic writing.

At Level 2 and 3 students will continue to develop their communicative proficiency and their linguistic and intercultural awareness through core language modules. They will also choose from a range of optional modules exploring various aspects of the cultures, history, politics, and social and economic structures of the countries of the languages of study. They will analyse and critically interpret a wide diversity of cultural forms, products and practice, and will learn to mediate, analyse and compare ideas and events that cross national, cultural or linguistic boundaries.

Throughout the programme, students will develop valuable interpretative, analytical and digital skills, as well as becoming confident researchers. Students will demonstrate these qualities when they undertake a Final Year Project on a topic of their choice in one of the language subjects they study.

Year 1

(For students entering from September 2024 onwards)

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

At Level 1, students must study 120 credits. Overall, students must take 100 credits across their two subjects. Students are required to take 60 credits in Japanese and a minimum of 40 credits in German.

The remaining 20 credits may be taken as a MODL module, which can count towards either of their two subjects (German AND Japanese), a further option with German, or discovery modules.

Compulsory Modules

All students will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
EAST1252Modern Japan20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GERM1010German Language Awareness and Skills20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP
GERM1140Exploring German-Speaking Cultures, Histories and Societies20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Optional Modules

Students with no prior knowledge of Japanese will be required to study the following modules

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
EAST1210Basic Japanese Language (1)20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST1220Basic Japanese Language (2)20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)PFP

Students with prior knowledge of Japanese will, subject to a placement test, be required to study the following modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
EAST1280Intermediate Japanese (1)20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST1281Intermediate Japanese (2)20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)PFP

Students may study the following optional module:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
GERM120020th Century German History20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

All students may study up to 20 credits from the following list of optional modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
MODL1050Introduction to Audio-Visual Culture20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL1060Language: Structure and Sound20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MODL1070World Histories20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL1090Intercultural Competence: Theory and Application20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL1100Politics, Culture and Society20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL1150Worlds of Literature20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL1401Discourse, Culture and Identity20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Discovery Modules

All students may choose to take up to 20 credits of discovery modules.

Year 2

(For students entering from September 2024 onwards)

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

Compulsory Modules

Students will be required to study the following compulsory residence abroad module

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
MODL9500LCS Year Abroad120Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP

Year 3

(For students entering from September 2024 onwards)

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

At Level 2, students must study 120 credits. Overall, students must take 100 credits across their two subjects. Students are required to take 60 credits in Japanese and a minimum of 40 credits in German.



The remaining 20 credits may be taken as a MODL module, which can count towards either of their two subjects (German AND Japanese), a further option with French, or discovery modules.

Compulsory Modules

Students will be required to study the following compulsory modules

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
EAST2719Japanese 2: Pre-Advanced Communication Skills 120Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2720Japanese 2: Pre-Advanced Communication Skills 220Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)PFP
GERM2010German Language Skills in Context20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP

Optional Modules

Students are required to study a minimum of 20 credits and may study up to 40 credits from the following lists of optional modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
FILM2030Introduction to German Cinema20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
GERM2080Translating German-Speaking Cultures: The German Language in Intercultural Relations20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GERM2082Dealing with difficult pasts: German memory cultures20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
GERM2083Language and Society in the German-speaking world20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Students will be required to study 20 credits from the following optional modules: 

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
EAST2007Japan's International Relations20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2025Global Korea in Context: Sociocultural and Political Dynamics20Not running in 202526
EAST2480Japanese Development Assistance in a Globalising World20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2713Buddhism: a Lived Tradition20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2715Japanese Cinema in the World20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2716Nature and Technology in Japan: Cultural Images20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Students may study up to 20 credits from the following list of optional modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
MODL2001Linguists into Schools20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL2003Global Queer Politics and Cultures20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL2015Black Europe20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL2070Reception, Transmission and Translation: The Global Circulation of Literature20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL2075Global Environmental Humanities20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL2250Digital Communications Across Cultures20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Discovery Modules

Students may choose to take 20 credits of discovery modules.

Year 4

(For students entering from September 2024 onwards)

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

At Level 3, students must study 120 credits. Students are required to take a minimum of 40 credits in German and a minimum of 40 credits in Japanese. Overall, students must take 100 credits across their two subjects.

All students must take 40 credits as a Final Year Project (FYP) module, which can be taken in - and count towards - either of their two subjects (EITHER German OR Japanese).



The remaining 20 credits may be taken as a MODL module, which can count towards either of their two subjects (German AND Japanese), a further option with German OR Japanese, or discovery modules.

Compulsory Modules

Students will be required to study the following compulsory modules: 

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
EAST3285Japanese 3: Advanced Communication Skills20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP
GERM3010Advanced German Language in Contemporary Discourses20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP
MODL3050Final Year Project40Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP

Optional Modules

Students who take their FYP in Japanese are required to take a minimum of 20 credits and may take up to 40 credits from the following list of optional modules.

Students who take their FYP in German may take up to 20 credits from the following list of optional modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
FILM3026Contemporary German Cinema20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
GERM3092Advanced Translation from German into English20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GERM3240Cultures of protest and resistance: challenging state and society in German-speaking cultures20Not running in 202526
MODL3200Representing the Holocaust: Transgression and the Taboo20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Students who take their FYP in German are required to take a minimum of 20 credits and may take up to 40 credits from the following lists of optional modules (from Basket 1 AND Basket 2).

Students who take their FYP in Japanese may take up to 20 credits from the following lists of optional modules (from EITHER Basket 1 OR Basket 2). 

Basket 1

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
EAST3018Death in Japanese Society and Culture20Not running in 202526
EAST3156Nature and Technology in Japan: Cultural Images20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST3271East Asia's Regional Political Economy20Not running in 202526
EAST3286Advanced Japanese in Context: Culture and Identity20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3287Advanced Japanese in Context 5: Japanese Diplomacy and Foreign Policy in Historical Context20Not running in 202526
EAST3525Globalising China and the Developing World20Not running in 202526
EAST3580Advanced Japanese in Translation20Not running in 202526

Basket 2:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
EAST3016East Asian Performing Arts20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST3017Japan-Korea Relations in the Shadow of Empire20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST3252Modern Japanese History20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3350Japanese Cinema in the World20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3707Buddhism: A Lived Tradition20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

All students may study up to 20 credits from the following optional modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
MODL3410Contemporary World Literature20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL3600Material Cultures and Cultures of Consumption20Not running in 202526
MODL3610Adventures of the Imagination: Crime and the Fantastic Across Continents20Not running in 202526
MODL3620Decolonial Approaches20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MODL3630Social Movements across Cultures20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL3650Minoritised Languages, Dialects and Cultures from Past to Present20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL3800Linguists into Schools20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Discovery Modules

All students may choose to take up to 20 credits of discovery modules.

Last updated: 21/07/2025 17:00:45

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team