BA French and German (with a year abroad)
About this course
BA (Hons) French and German (with a year abroad) is a modern languages degree focusing on French and German language proficiency alongside the study of culture, society and linguistics. Students undertake a compulsory year abroad to study at a partner institution or complete a work placement. The course also offers an optional professional placement year. The first year covers foundational language proficiency through compulsory modules such as French Language and Cultures: Upper intermediate, German Language and Cultures: Upper intermediate, Understanding Language in the Real World, and Understanding French-speaking Cultures and Societies. In the second year, students advance their skills with compulsory modules including French Language and Cultures: Advanced and German Language and Cultures: Advanced, while selecting from optional topics such as The Berlin Republic and Sociolinguistics. The final fourth year centers on advanced proficiency through modules like French Language and Cultures: Proficient and German Language and Cultures: Proficient, alongside specialized options covering areas such as translation, cinema, linguistics and independent study projects.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: AAB including at least one of French or German IB: 35 points including 5 in at least one of French or German, at Higher Level BTEC: DDD. An A Level or equivalent qualification in either French or German will be required.
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What students say
Based on about 14 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 90%
- Learning opportunities: 85%
- Assessment and feedback: 88%
- Academic support: 100%
- Organisation and management: 92%
- Learning resources: 90%
- Student voice: 74%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 10 students who started, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 5%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 10%
What graduates do next
Based on about 11 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 70%
- Working and studying: 5%
- Further study: 15%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Teaching Professionals: 30%
- Sales occupations: 10%
- Information Technology Professionals: 10%
- Secretarial and related occupations: 10%
- Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 70%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 40%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 40%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 40 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 5%
- North West: 15%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 30%
- East Midlands: 5%
- East of England: 5%
- London: 25%
- South East: 5%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 95%
- Other HE qualification: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Gold for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- French Language and Cultures: Upper intermediate
- German Language and Cultures: Upper intermediate
- Understanding Language in the Real World
- Understanding French-speaking Cultures and Societies
- Understanding German-speaking Cultures and Societies
- Intensive French Language and Cultures: Beginner
- Intensive German Language and Cultures: Beginner
- Understanding French-speaking Cultures and Societies
- Understanding German-speaking Cultures and Societies
- English Past and Present
- Phonetics and Phonology
- Syntactic Structures
- French Language and Cultures: Advanced
- German Language and Cultures: Advanced
- World Cinemas: Representing National and Transnational Societies and Cultures
- The Berlin Republic
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language I
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language II
- Acoustic Phonetics and Phonological Analysis
- Sociolinguistics
- The Language of Turn & Sequence
- Aspects of a Theory of Syntax
- Language Acquisition
- Plurilingualism, Multilingualism and Transnational Languages: Concepts, Strategies and Approaches
- Laicité: religious freedom or state repression?
- French Language and Cultures: Proficient
- German Language and Cultures: Proficient
- World Cinemas: Representing National and Transnational Societies and Cultures
- Myths, Memories and the Legacy of the French Occupation (1940-44)
- Modern German Language
- Independent Study in Languages and Cultures
- Independent Study in Translation
- Translation: Methodology and Practice
- Topics in Phonetics and Phonology
- Multimodality: Language and the Body
- Psycholinguistics: Language Processing
- Topics in Psycholinguistics: Language Processing
- Neurolinguistics: Language and the Brain
- Linguistic Approaches to Second Language Acquisition
- English Place-names across Time and Space
- Bilingualism
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language II
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA French and German (with a year abroad) at University of York earn?
The median salary is £28,500 after 15 months, £25,000 after 3 years, £31,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £25,500 and £37,500. The £31,000 median after five years is £3,000 less than the UK median for French studies.
What do graduates of BA French and German (with a year abroad) at University of York do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA French and German (with a year abroad) at University of York?
90% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA French and German (with a year abroad) at University of York?
The typical offer is AAB at A level, or 35 points in the IB. The average entrant had 149 UCAS points.
Does BA French and German (with a year abroad) at University of York include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and a compulsory year abroad.
How many students continue on BA French and German (with a year abroad) at University of York?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.