BA Modern Languages and Linguistics (German)

Programme overview

Entry requirements

Entry Requirements are available on the Course Search entry

Programme specification

Combine your passion for speaking languages with a fascination for how they work, by studying linguistics alongside one of ten languages. You'll develop the spoken and written skills in your chosen language and explore the cultures and histories of the countries where the language is spoken.

Developing expertise in linguistics will help you navigate the uniquely complex phenomenon of language. You’ll explore language acquisition, structure and change, the mental and social processes that shape and sustain human interaction, as well as phonetics – the study of how speech sounds are physically produced.

Studying a language will complement this expertise as you’ll be able to use these linguistic concepts and theories to enhance your language learning. Your year abroad will further enhance your language learning.

In your final year, you'll develop a project on a topic of your choice to demonstrate the skills and knowledge that you have gained during this four-year degree.

This joint honours degree offers you teaching of the highest standard, in a research-intensive environment where enthusiastic experts and students come together to explore linguistics and languages. You’ll also be encouraged to get involved in a range of activities organised by the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies and Language@Leeds.

We offer the following languages at two entry levels: beginners or with prior experience (e.g. A-level or equivalent). If you have prior experience in Arabic, please contact us before applying:

* Arabic (from beginners' level only)
* Chinese
* French
* German
* Italian
* Japanese
* Portuguese
* Russian
* Spanish
* Thai

You must include your chosen language in the ‘Further Details’ section of your UCAS application.

Year 1

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

At Level 1, students must study 120 credits. Students are required to take a minimum of 40 credits in Linguistics and 40 credits in German.

Students on Route B must take 120 credits across their two subjects. Students are required to take 60 credits in Linguistics and 60 credits in German.

Overall, students on Route A must take 100 credits across their two subjects. Students on Route A are required to take 60 credits in Linguistics and 40 credits in German. Students on Route A may take the remaining 20 credits as discovery modules or as further options with Linguistics or German.

Compulsory Modules

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
LING1100	Language: Meaning and Use	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)	PFP
MODL1060	Language: Structure and Sound	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)	PFP

Optional Modules

Route A

Students with prior knowledge of German (B1 of the CEFR) will be required to study the following modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
GERM1140	Exploring German-Speaking Cultures, Histories and Societies	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GERM1160	Upper Intermediate German (B2)	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP

Route B

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

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
GERM1145	Exploring German-Speaking Cultures, Histories and Societies for Beginners	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GERM1150	Beginners German (A1)	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
GERM1155	Pre-intermediate German (A2)	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)	PFP

Route A

Students with prior knowledge of German (taking GERM1160) are required to take a minimum of 20 credits and may take up to 40 credits from the following list of optional modules.

Route B

Students with no prior knowledge of German (taking GERM1150 AND GERM1155) are required to take 20 credits from the following list of optional modules.

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
LING1065	Languages of the World	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL1090	Intercultural Competence: Theory and Application	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL1401	Discourse, Culture and Identity	20	Semesters 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.

Route A

Students with prior knowledge of German (taking GERM1160) may take the following optional module. 

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
GERM1200	20th Century German History	20	Semesters 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

Route A

Students with prior knowledge of German (taking GERM1010) may take up to 20 credits of discovery modules.

Route A Students with prior knowledge of German (taking GERM1160) may take up to 20 credits of discovery modules.

Year 2

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

At Level 2, students must study 120 credits. Students are required to take a minimum of 40 credits in Linguistics and a minimum of 40 credits in German. Overall, students must take 100 credits across their two subjects. The remaining 20 credits may be taken as discovery modules or as further options with Linguistics or German. Please note that not all modules will be available every year.

Compulsory Modules

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

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
LING2330	Phonetics	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)	PFP
LING2340	Syntax	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)	PFP

Optional Modules

Route A

Students who took GERM1010/GERM1160 in year 1 will be required to study the following module: 

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
GERM2010	German Language Skills in Context	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP

Route B Students who took GERM1020/GERM1150 and GERM1021/GERM1155 in year 1 will be required to study the following modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
GERM2020	German Language Skills (B1/B2 of the CEFR)	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP

All students taking are required to study a minimum of 20 credits and may study up to 60 credits from the following optional modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
FILM2030	Introduction to German Cinema	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
GERM2082	Dealing with difficult pasts: German memory cultures	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
GERM2084	Language, Society and Translation in the German-Speaking World	20	Semesters 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.

All students may study up to 40 credits from the following optional modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
LING2065	Data Science for Linguists	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
LING2131	Psycholinguistics	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
LING2360	The Life Cycle of Languages	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
LING2370	Representation, Identity and Control	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
LING2380	Language and Gender	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
LING2390	Language Acquisition	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
LING2410	Language Change	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
LING2420	Interactional Linguistics	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
LING2421	Multilingualism in Society	20	Semester 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.

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

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MODL2090	Languages in Action: from Theory to Practice	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL2250	Digital Communications Across Cultures	20	Semester 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

All students may study up to 20 credits of discovery modules.

Year 3

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

Compulsory Modules

Students will be required to study the following compulsory module:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MODL9500	LCS Year Abroad	120	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP

Year 4

[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 Linguistics. Overall, students must take 100 credits across their two subjects. The remaining 20 credits may be taken as discovery modules or as further options with Linguistics or German.

Please note that not all modules will be available every year.

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 Linguistics OR German).

Compulsory Modules

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

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
GERM3010	Advanced German Language in Contemporary Discourses	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Optional Modules

All students will be required to study ONE of the following Final Year Project (FYP) modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
LING3200	Linguistics Dissertation	40	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP
MODL3050	Final Year Project	40	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP

Students who take their FYP in Linguistics (LING3200) may take up to 40 credits from the following list of optional modules.

Students who take their FYP in German (MODL3050) are required to take a minimum of 40 credits from the following list of optional modules.

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
LING3065	Experimental Syntax	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
LING3180	Language and Gender	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
LING3190	Language Acquisition	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
LING3220	Representation, Identity and Control	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
LING3250	The Life Cycle of Languages	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
LING3290	Language Change	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
LING3310	Interactional Linguistics	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
LING3350	Language Processing	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
LING3390	Linguistic Technologies	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
LING3421	Multilingualism in Society	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
LING3600	Sociophonetics	20	Semester 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 who take their FYP in Linguistics (LING3200) 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 (MODL1050) may take up to 20 credits from the following list of optional modules.

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
FILM3026	Contemporary German Cinema	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
GERM3092	Advanced Translation from German into English	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL3200	Representing the Holocaust: Transgression and the Taboo	20	Semester 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.

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

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MODL3130	Languages in Action: from Theory to Practice	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL3620	Decolonial Approaches	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MODL3650	Minoritised Languages, Dialects and Cultures from Past to Present	20	Semester 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

All students may study up to 20 credits of discovery modules.

Last updated: 30/04/2026 16:10:01

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