Language Electives 2026/27

Our language electives are 20-credit modules available to UoY students from across academic departments at a range of levels for Arabic, Chinese, Classical Latin, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Medieval Latin and Spanish. Regardless of the academic year you are in, you can study a language for credit as part of your degree at the level that is right for you, from full beginners to more advanced levels.

Who can take a language elective?

UG and PGT students at the University of York can take a language elective as one of your 20-credit modules if you have room to take an elective as one of your options in 2026/27 and your department allows you to do so. Please check with your supervisor/department if you are unsure.

Home students, both UG and PGT, can take a language elective for credit provided that:

The language elective for your chosen language and level is offered in 2026/27.
You have room in your programme to take an elective in 2026/27 as one of your 20-credit taught modules and you are allowed to do so.
You commit to engaging with the module and assessments throughout the year, from September to May.
You understand that your final results for the language elective will only be available at the end, once the Semester 2 assessment period is over. Assessment components for language electives are spread throughout the year to align with skills development and to make it easier for students to manage your workload.
If you are a PGT student, you can dip down and take the H-coded version of the language elective of your choice. All your other modules will need to be M-coded (masters’ level).

Visiting students can also take a language for credit even if you are studying at York for one semester only provided that the level is adequate for you and prior approval by your supervisor and your home university. Please contact languages@york.ac.uk if you have any questions.

When to apply

Continuing students should apply via e:vision in Window 1, between 2 February and 7 March 2026, to ensure that the language elective is considered when their timetabled is built. Continuing students can still apply in Window 2 (August-September), but they will need to check their timetable first to make sure that the language elective does not clash with their other modules.

First-year students should apply in August/September, when they register for their other modules.

Guidance on studying an LFA module for credit

Students, supervisors, PS colleagues and academics can find detailed information about the new year-long LFA language electives on this Guidance file.

FAQs

How do I know whether I can take an elective as one of my option modules?

You should check with your supervisor/department and make sure that you have room to take an elective as one of your 20-credit modules and that you are allowed to take a language elective.

When is the latest I can sign up to take a language elective?

If you are a continuing student, you should ideally sign up in Window 1 (February to early March). You can still sign up from 30 July until the end of Teaching Week 2, Semester 1, but at that stage you will only be able to choose from the language electives that remain available and we cannot guarantee that the language elective will be timetabled at a time that does not clash with your other modules.
If you are a first-year home student, you should sign up for a language elective in August/September alongside your other modules.
If you are a visiting student and are studying at York for one semester only, you can take half a language elective (in Semester 1 or Semester 2), provided that your home university approves it as a 10-credit module. Please sign up as soon as possible through e:vision or contact your supervisor or languages@york.ac.uk for more information.

If I have room for an elective in both Semester 1 and Semester 2, should I take it as one of my Semester 1 modules or as one of my Semester 2 modules?

If you have room for an elective in both semesters, we would advise you to take it as one of your Semester 2 modules. This will spread workload throughout the year in a way that will probably make it more manageable for you, with three other modules and your 2-hour weekly classes for your language elective in Semester 1 and 2 other modules in Semester 2.

If I have room for an elective in one semester only, can I still take a language elective spanning 2 semesters?

Yes, you can! If you have room for an elective in either Semester 1 or Semester 2, you can take a language elective running from September or May. When you apply through e:vision, you should choose the language elective as one of your modules in the semester when you have room for it. Please note that you should still attend classes and complete assessments between September and May.

If I don’t have room for an elective in the academic year 2026/27 or my department does not allow me to take language electives, what can I do?

If you cannot take a language elective (for credit), you can sign up to take it alongside your studies as a non-credit option for a fee. Reduce rates apply to University of York students. Click here for more information.

If I don’t have room for a language elective, can I still study a language for credit in addition to my required modules for the year?

If you don’t have room for an elective, you cannot take a language elective (for credit) in addition to your required credits as that would exceed the number of credits for the year. You can check with your supervisor whether you can swap one of your 20-credit modules and take a language elective instead. If that is not an option, you can still study the language, but as a non-credit language course for a fee. Registration for non-credit students opens in mid August and closes in late September. Click here for more information.

When is the latest I can withdraw from a language elective?

The latest you can withdraw is the end of Week 2, Semester 1. If, due to exceptional circumstances, you need to withdraw from a language elective later than Week 2, Semester 1, you should contact languages@york.ac.uk. Please note that withdrawing at a later stage will only be considered if you are applying due to exceptional circumstances, and will require an approval process.

What if I get bored of learning a language halfway through the year?

If you apply to drop out at that stage, your application will only be considered if it is due to exceptional circumstances and you would run the risk of being short of credits.

What should I expect from seminars?

Our 22-week language modules include students from different backgrounds and cover all skills, including reading comprehension, speaking, listening, interaction, writing, culture and civilisation, grammar and vocabulary. Classes are led by expert lecturers, are interactive and dynamic, with different types of activities throughout each session to keep you engaged and foster the development of different skills. You will normally be expected to complete some homework between classes so that you can consolidate learning and to maximise exposure to the language. Our language lecturers provide live feedback in classes, resources, materials and guidance through the VLE site, and can always be contacted if you are struggling, any specific needs or wish to push yourself harder!

What does the assessment look like if I take a language elective as one of my 20-credit modules?

Assessment is spread throughout the year to make it more manageable for students while ensuring that your language skills are assessed at the right time in your language learning journey. Summative assessments include a written submission in Week 11, Semester 1; a class test in Week 10, Semester 2; and an essay (Latin) or oral exam (other languages) during the Semester 2 assessment period (May). Formative assessments are also spread throughout the year to help you develop your language skills through practice and constructive feedback.

If I have studied a language before, how do I know which level is right for me?

You should check this guide (pages 2 and 3) and check the levels available for your chosen languages and the prerequisites. If you are still unsure, please contact languages@york.ac.uk.

Can I study a language elective if I am a native speaker of the language?

No, you can’t. Language electives are not suitable for students who speak that language as their first language or at native level. If you are a heritage speaker of a language and have some gaps in your knowledge, you should probably consider the higher-level modules. Please check this guide and contact languages@york.ac.uk if you are still unsure.

Can I join language classes online?

Language classes are in person. If, due to exceptional circumstances, a class needs to be rescheduled and it cannot take place in person, a class may run online. This would only be an exception, though, and your lecturer would let you know in advance.

Do I need to pay an extra fee to take a language elective?

When you take a language elective for credit as one of your degree modules, it is covered by your university fees and you don’t need to pay an extra fee. You only need to pay additional fees if you take it as a non-credit option (alongside your studies). Click here for more information.

Do I need to buy a textbook?

For most language electives, you are required to buy a textbook that will be used in class and for self-study. Information will be provided at the beginning of the semester and your lecturer will also provide additional materials.

What if I don’t want to study a language for credit, only alongside my studies?

You can take the language module as a non-credit option (alongside your studies) for an extra fee (reduced for UoY students). You can register from mid August to late September. Click here for more information.

What if I take a language for credit next academic year and I don’t have room for a language elective the year after? Will I need to stop learning that language?

Our model is designed in such a way that you can tailor your language learning journey regardless of whether you can or want to take a language for credit or not. You could continue to the next level but as a non-credit option. Click here for more information.

Who can I contact if I have questions that my lecturer cannot answer?

For any questions about registration or any issues that your lecturer cannot answer, please contact languages@york.ac.uk.