Course Overview
Lancaster's four-year combined degree scheme, taught jointly by the Department of European Languages and Cultures and the Department of Linguistics and English Language - ranked in the top ten by The Complete University Guide 2012 - mixes lecture room tuition with a year abroad, giving you valuable experience speaking German in its native context.
Your language studies are complemented by a wide range of options that explore German society, culture, history and politics. You'll also take comparative courses which place your learning in a broader European context.
You'll begin your degree with courses including our Introduction to English Language as well as German Studies (Intensive or Advanced). In your second year, you'll take subjects such as English Sounds and Structures and German Language: Oral Skills. During your third year, you'll complete your Residence Abroad: Intercultural and Academic Reflection. Your final year modules include German Language: Written Skills and Corpus-based English Language Studies.
For a list of compulsory modules, please see the tab above.
Related Courses
Modules
Lancaster degree programmes are flexible, offering students the opportunity to cover a wide selection of subject areas to compliment their degree. The following is an example list of modules which our previous students have studied. For a full list contact the Linguistics and English Language department.
Year 1
- German Studies Part I (Intensive German for Beginners)
- Part I German Studies (Advanced)
Year 2
- German Language: Oral Skills
- German Language: Written Skills
- English Sounds and Structures
- Economic and Social Change in France, Germany and Spain since 1945
- Becoming German: Post-War German-language, Culture and Identities
- Language Acquisition and Language Origins
Year 3
- Residence Abroad: intercultural and academic reflection
Year 4
- German Language Oral Skills
- German Language Written Skills
- Corpus-based English Language Studies
Lancaster University offers the chance to follow a structured study programme or the option to devise a more flexible programme. We divide academic study into 2 sections - Part 1 (Year 1) and Part 2 (Year 2, 3 and sometimes 4). In Part 1 you will take three modules of study which, depending upon your programme, will be drawn from one, two or three different academic subjects, a higher degree of specialisation then develops in subsequent years. For more information about our teaching methods at Lancaster visit our Teaching and Learning section.
For further information about the department, staff and courses please visit the Linguistics and English Language department website.
Entry Criteria
A-level: AAB to include English Language, English Language and Literature combined or a Modern/classical language Language). German is required, unless it is to be taken from beginner's level, in which case an A/AS level or GCSE (A) in a foreign language is required. We normally expect three A-levels.
General Studies: Accepted as one of 3 A-levels
Key skills: Not included in offer
GCSE: Normally Maths and a language.
Scottish Highers: ABBBB
Irish Leaving Cert: Offers will be made on the basis of 5 or 6 Higher level subjects. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (01524 592028) for further information
International Bacc: 35 overall with 16 points from best three HL courses
IELTS: 6.5
BTEC: DDD/DDM
Mature students: We are keen to recruit mature students
Careers
Employers increasingly recognise the invaluable linguistic, communication and interpersonal skills acquired by graduates with language degrees and your English Language degree is of relevance in many areas, from education and speech therapy to the creative arts, social work and counselling.
Our graduates have found employment in journalism, library work, advertising, business, management, EU sales and marketing, computing and accountancy. Many of our graduates become teachers of foreign languages in this country or teach English overseas. The Civil Service, Diplomatic Service, British Council and other international agencies also offer interesting career opportunities for graduates with good language skills.
Some of our graduates continue their studies to a higher level, at Lancaster and elsewhere. A postgraduate degree can open up opportunities in higher education, while others take specific professional qualifications, such as interpreting.
Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, but that you also graduate with relevant life and work based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.
Studying
Teaching and Learning Methods
At Lancaster we offer a broad range of learning environments designed to best support the requirements of your chosen degree programme. These may include lecture and tutorials, interactive workshops, laboratory sessions, other practical activities, student-led seminars and web-based elivery.
The modules which make up a programme of study are assessed using a variety of different methods, enabling students to demonstrate their capabilities in a range of ways. Typical coursework assignments include laboratory reports, essays, literature reviews, short tests, short and sharply focussed critical reports, poster sessions and oral presentations. Formal examinations include short answer questions, essays and data analysis. Multiple choice formats are also employed where appropriate. Students are supported in the production of final year project reports and dissertations. Details of the assessment methods for individual modules can be accessed via the university's online module catalogue.
In addition to these learning and teaching methods we encourage independent study, meaning you take responsibility for your own learning. For more information visit our Teaching Approach page.
Assessment Methods
We offer you a variety of stimulating and effective approaches to teaching, learning and assessment. This enables you and your tutors to explore the very latest thinking within your subject and develops your skills in problem solving, analysis and critical reflection, communication, application of knowledge and modern technologies.
As a University, we commit to providing all our undergraduates with a minimum number of contact hours per week, providing you with timely feedback on your work and a maximum number of 15 students per seminar group.
Funding
Lancaster University has committed £2.7m in scholarships and bursaries to help with your fees and living costs. Our financial support depends on your circumstances and how well you do in your A-levels (or equivalent academic qualifications) before starting study with us.
Lancaster University's priority is to support every student to make the most of their life and education. For students starting their study with us in 2013, over 600 each year will be entitled to bursaries and/or scholarships to help them with the cost of fees and/or living expenses. For UK students entering in 2013 we will have the following financial support available:
- An Academic Scholarship of £2,000 for the first year of study to any student from the UK entering with A*, A*, A or equivalent academic qualifications
- An Access Scholarship of £1,000 per year for all UK students from households with an income of less than £42,600 who achieve grades of A*, A, A or the equivalent academic qualifications
- A Lancaster Bursary of £1,000 per annum for all students from England with a household income of more than £25,000 but less than £42,600
- As part of the National Scholarship Programme, a £1,000 Bursary, a £1,000 Fee Waiver and a £1,000 Accommodation Discount in the first year of study, for students from England with a household income of less than £25,000. Plus a Lancaster Bursary of £1,000 in subsequent years.
*All of the financial awards above are subject to approval by the Office for Fair Access July 2012.
For full details of the University's financial support packages including eligibility criteria, please visit our fees and funding page
View details of our current Undergraduate fees.
