German and Linguistics (with a year abroad) BA (Hons)

University of York

Study the language with the greatest number of native speakers in Europe, a language which has a global business reach. Spend a year abroad studying, working or teaching in a German-speaking country, consolidating your language skills.

Combine the study of German with investigations into the nature of language itself. You'll be taught the language component of the course in German, so you'll become confident using German as a means of communication, and for critical thinking. You'll gain an understanding of German culture and society which will underpin your abilities as a high-level communicator.

Your communication skills will be complemented by studying linguistics. This will enable you to understand and interpret language, and to learn the science behind how we communicate. You’ll engage with the study of language on a conceptual level as well as the detailed level of linguistic data. Our department is one of the highest-ranked centres for research in linguistics in the UK, and the strength and diversity of our research is reflected in our teaching.

The course has flexibility in terms of how much German and linguistics content you study over the four years. Your knowledge and understanding of how a language works, and how we communicate, will give you a solid foundation for many careers.

Assessment and feedback

You'll be assessed in a variety of ways, including essays, projects, written, oral and listening exams. Assessments include formative work which will help you practice or develop skills but will not count towards your final degree mark.

Instructors provide you with feedback in a variety of forms, for example: written feedback on work that you have handed in, in-class discussion of common problems on an assignment, model answers, one-on-one discussion of research projects, or online responses to questions posted on the module discussion board.

Your year abroad is assessed. You must satisfactorily complete certain criteria in order to graduate with a degree that has 'with a year abroad' in the title. You must complete two assessments in the target language which will be submitted to York during the year. You must fulfil your year abroad obligations (for example attending courses and completing all the local assessments if you're at university or carrying out your teaching duties if you're on a teaching assistantship).

Careers and skills

Effective communication, critical thinking and project management skills are central to most careers. The study of language and linguistics at York equips you with these skills and others, which translate readily into any work context.

Our graduates have an excellent record of pursuing fulfilling paths after graduation.

Apart from your knowledge of linguistics, you will leave with the confidence and skills that come from successfully completing a demanding course and participating fully in university life.

There are specialist careers that lead directly from your degree, after additional postgraduate training, including: clinical linguistics (speech and language therapy), forensic linguistics (forensic speech science), teaching (primary and secondary), teaching English as a foreign language, academic research and higher/further education.