Accessibility statement

Your time at York

Three-year degree programmes consist of modules totalling 360 credits, with 120 credits taken each year. Most modules count for 20 credits, so you normally take six modules a year.

In four-year degree programmes, your work while abroad is assessed and the marks achieved contribute towards your final degree classification.

Stage one (First year)

Most of our degrees have fixed module choices in the first year. This is primarily because we use the first year to train you in the basic skills of linguistic analysis. Some degrees allow you to choose one or two option modules in the first year.

  • Linguistics
    In the first year you will learn skills in several different core areas, so that you can make informed choices in your second year and beyond about which of these most interest you.
  • French/German/Spanish
    The first year includes some final grammar input, to ensure a firm foundation for the remainder of the degree, which then focuses more on linguistic usage and cultural insight.
  • English language
    You will study both present day and Old English, exposing you to the language as it was spoken centuries ago, and giving you hands-on experience of how the language has (and hasn’t) changed.

Stage two (Second year)

In the second year, there are a smaller number of fixed modules (depending on your degree), with all students taking a module in one further foundational core area of linguistics, the study of language acquisition.

  • Two languages (French/German/Spanish)
    Students take compulsory modules in both languages in the second year, plus ‘Language Acquisition’. You then start to exercise choice over which pathway you will follow in the remainder of your degree by choosing your remaining module in either language or linguistics.
  • One language with linguistics (English, French, German or Spanish)
    Students take compulsory language modules, plus ‘Language Acquisition’, plus one Intermediate linguistics module (in ‘Syntax’ or ‘Phonetics and Phonology’). You then start to exercise choice over which area(s) of linguistics you want to specialise in for the remainder of your degree in your remaining module choices.
  • Linguistics
    Students take ‘Language Acquisition’, plus one Intermediate linguistics module (in ‘Syntax’ or ‘Phonetics and Phonology’), then have a free choice in your remaining module choices.

Stage three (Final year)

The greatest degree of choice is available in the final year, though if you are studying French, German or Spanish, there are final year compulsory modules (including Translation Methodology and Practice).

Full details of the choices available at each stage in each of our degrees is listed under ‘Courses’.

Who to contact

Studying abroad

If you are on a three year degree programme you have the option to apply - through a competitive exchange programme - for a place to study abroad in your second year, in North America, Australia or Asia:

If you are on a four year degree programme, you can choose to spend your year abroad either at a university, on a work placement or as an English language assistant in a school abroad.