2026/27 Undergraduate Programme Catalogue

BA German

Programme overview

Programme code
BA-GERM
UCAS code
R220
Duration
4 Years
Method of Attendance
Full Time
Programme manager
Sarah Hudspith
Contact address
S.F.Hudspith@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
Languages, Cultures and Societies

Entry requirements

Entry Requirements are available on the Course Search entry

Programme specification

This course allows you to develop professional-level language skills in German, whether you’re a beginner or have prior knowledge.

You’ll become highly fluent in German, including oral proficiency, professional communication and written language. You’ll take a compulsory year abroad, where you’ll be fully immersed in the language and rapidly develop your skills through day-to-day practice. You’ll gain a unique insight into German culture and society in the 20th and 21st century and develop skills that make you highly attractive to employers.

You’ll develop and consolidate your spoken and written German through modules taught by world-leading experts in German language teaching. You'll also choose from a range of optional modules exploring various aspects of culture, translation, history and politics. You’ll be engaged in learning the language as much of the course content, including non-language modules, is also taught and assessed in German.

German is spoken across a fascinating and influential area of Europe, from the economic powerhouse of Germany to Austria, Switzerland and beyond. German-speaking countries have exciting and diverse cultures, complex histories and booming economies. You’ll study the diversity of German-speaking cultures, with a focus on gender, race, and queer identities. Our highly flexible degree develops your personal and intellectual independence.

The course is mainly assessed through coursework, offering you a wide range of creative assessments. Your independent project in your final year will be an opportunity to conduct and present your own research.

You’ll be supported to achieve an excellent degree of language fluency by the time you graduate (up to C2 in the Common European Frame of Reference), thanks to our integrated language curriculum for all levels of student.

You’ll learn from cutting-edge researchers in the fields of digital language teaching, translation, intercultural German studies, German history, German-language literature and German-language film. We are a warm community of researchers, teachers and students who take a critical approach to German studies and empower our students to follow their own interests and strengths within our degree programme.

Year 1

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

Optional Modules

Candidates who have prior knowledge of German (B1 CEFR) will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
GERM1140Exploring German-Speaking Cultures, Histories and Societies20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GERM1160Upper Intermediate German (B2)20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP
GERM120020th Century German History20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Candidates who do not have a B1 CEFR level of German will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
GERM1145Exploring German-Speaking Cultures, Histories and Societies for Beginners20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GERM1150Beginners German (A1)20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
GERM1155Pre-intermediate German (A2)20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)PFP
GERM120020th Century German History20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Candidates will be required to study 20 credits from the following 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)

Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.

Discovery Modules

Candidates studying GERM1160 may take 20-40 credits of discovery modules

Candidates studying GERM1150 and GERM1155 may take up to 20 credits of discovery modules

Year 2

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

Optional Modules

Students who studied GERM1160 in Year 1 will be required to study the following compulsory module:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
GERM2010German Language Skills in Context20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP

Students who studied GERM1150 and GERM1155 in Year 1 will be required to study the following compulsory module:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
GERM2020German Language Skills (B1/B2 of the CEFR)20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP

Candidates will be required to study 40-60 credits from the following optional modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
FILM2030Introduction to German Cinema20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
GERM2082Dealing with difficult pasts: German memory cultures20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
GERM2084Language, Society and Translation in the German-Speaking World20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.

Candidates may study 0-40 credits from the following optional modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
MODL2003Global Queer Politics and Cultures20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL2006Social Class across Cultures20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL2015Black Europe20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL2075Global Environmental Humanities20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL2090Languages in Action: from Theory to Practice20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.

Candidates studying GERM2020 will be required to study 20 credits from the following optional modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
MODL2015Black Europe20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL2075Global Environmental Humanities20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL2090Languages in Action: from Theory to Practice20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Discovery Modules

Candidates will be required to study 20 and may study up to 40 credits of discovery modules

Year 3

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

Compulsory Modules

Students will spend this year of their programme in a German-speaking country and will be required to take the following compulsory module.

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

Year 4

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

In Level 3 students must study 120 credits. Finalists may only take level 1 modules which are listed as discovery skills modules (skd) and only to the value of 20 credits.

In order to be eligible for an Honours degree, students must meet the normal Rules for Award by passing all modules which are designated to be passed for award or progression and by passing the required number of credits at each level as specified in the Curricular Regulations (at least 200 credits at level 2 or above, of which at least 100 should be at level 3).

Compulsory Modules

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
GERM3010Advanced German Language in Contemporary Discourses20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP
MODL3050Final Year Project40Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP

Optional Modules

Candidates will be required to study 20 and may study up to 60 credits from the following optional modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
FILM3026Contemporary German Cinema20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
GERM3092Advanced Translation from German into English20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL3200Representing the Holocaust: Transgression and the Taboo20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.

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

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
FOAH3230Transnational Feminism and Creative Practice20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL3130Languages in Action: from Theory to Practice20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
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)

Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.

Discovery Modules

Candidates may study up to 40 credits of discovery modules

Last updated: 08/05/2026 16:48:59

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