We are one of the largest departments for the study of language in the country and one of the most highly rated in the world (3rd for Linguistics in the QS World Rankings, 2024). Be inspired by our top academics as you study both English and German in a global context, based in one of the best linguistics and English language departments in the world Immerse yourself in the German language and culture with a year abroad either studying at one of Lancaster’s prestigious partner universities, or on a work placement with a school, college, company or charity Impress employers by combining your fluency in German with your knowledge about communication and the nuances of language use in a variety of settings Experiment in our eye-tracking and EEG labs, Phonetics Lab, Perception and Learning Laboratory Visit our modern language resource centre to access online resources, immerse yourself in its book collection, study with fellow students and watch foreign language films Enjoy our varied programme of events including language lunch clubs - you could even try international karaoke! How does language work? How does it express our identity? Taking this joint programme will not only improve your fluency in German but will also enable you to explore fascinating aspects of language study such as conversation analysis and corporate communication. So much more than grammar! In our four-year programme, you’ll drill down into how the English language functions. You’ll cover a wide range of traditional topics from grammar and phonetics to accents and dialects. But you’ll also discover how new TV genres come about or how jokes are constructed. On the German side, we’ll help you consolidate and improve your language skills. The course has a strong language focus but also explores the history, culture and politics of all German-speaking countries to give you a well-rounded view. You will have access to core and comparative modules in areas such as science futures and climate change from a German-speaking perspective with reference to a range of cultural texts. You can find some examples of optional modules in the Course Structure section below. Fast track your language skills It’s not essential to have studied German before. As long as you’ve demonstrated some aptitude for foreign languages at GCSE, you can take our intensive beginner’s course and ramp up your ability. There’s also the flexibility to choose a third subject as a minor in your first year - either another modern foreign language or another subject. As we follow the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), you’ll reach an internationally recognised standard of proficiency by the time you graduate. Of course, your year abroad is the opportunity to become more confident and more fluent. Beginners Languages Studying a language from beginners level is somewhat intense in nature so we only allow students to study one language from beginners level. Please bear this in mind when looking at our first year module options. If you apply to study a degree with a language from beginners level, your optional modules will only include higher level languages and modules in other subject areas.