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2024/25 Undergraduate Programme Catalogue

BA Modern Languages and International Relations (German)

Programme code:BA-ML/GR&IRUCAS code:
Duration:4 Years Method of Attendance: Full Time
Programme manager:Maria Chiara La Sala Contact address:M.C.LaSala@leeds.ac.uk

Total credits: 480

Entry requirements:

Entry Requirements are available on the Course Search entry

School/Unit responsible for the parenting of students and programme:

School of Languages, Cultures and Societies

Examination board through which the programme will be considered:

Relevant QAA Subject Benchmark Groups:

The programme will meet the QAA Benchmarks defined for Languages, Cultures and Societies outlined here:

https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/sbs/sbs-languages-cultures-and-societies-23.pdf?sfvrsn=3c71a881_10
The programme will meet the QAA Benchmarks defined for Politics and International Relations outlined here:
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements/subject-benchmark-statement-politics-and-international-relations

Programme specification:

The information on this page is accurate for students entering the programme in 2023/2024 or before. For students entering the programme from September 2024 or after, you can find the details of your programme:

BA Modern Languages and International Relations (German)(For students entering from September 2024 onwards)


The BA in Modern Languages and International Relations will give you the opportunity to understand how states interact and co-operate in an increasingly globalised and interdependent world. At the same time, you will develop the language skills and cultural competence that will enable you to engage with and understand the interaction between different peoples and societies.

Studying for a Joint Honours degree allows you to gain an in-depth knowledge of two subjects, through first-class teaching and including a period of residence abroad.

This particular programme offers you the chance to learn about how states interact with each other, as well as the impacts and contributions of organisations such as the UN. You will combine core modules on key topics such as security and the concepts, theories and research methods of international relations with a range of optional modules. You can explore topics that interest them, from the politics of aid to the complexities of Middle Eastern politics and the rise of extreme right parties in Europe. This will be complemented by the study of a cultural and linguistic context outside the United Kingdom. You will gain an additional perspective on the United Kingdom’s position on the world stage by both the academic study of another culture and by the experience of living and working/studying elsewhere. This will enrich your understanding of the global context.

Having begun your studies with anything from beginner to post-A-level competence in their language of choice, you will graduate with the ability to communicate and defend their views clearly in this language, either orally or in writing. In addition, you will have strong research and organisational skills and be confident working independently or in a team. You will also have a strong understanding of cultural diversity, allowing you to work effectively with people whose backgrounds differ from your own. In the third and final year, you undertake a dissertation on an in-depth and specialised topic with advice from tutors.

The programme gives you a diverse skillset, useful for career development in a broad range of fields and professions, including journalism, research, advocacy, the civil service, and roles in local and national government. Other language-based careers such as translating or interpreting or training in these, will also be open to you.


Year1 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Compulsory modules:

At Level 1, students must study 120 credits.

Students must take 100 credits across their two subjects. Students are required to take 40 credits in International Relations (IR) and 60 credits in German. Students may take the remaining 20 credits as discovery modules or as further options with German.

Students will be required to study the following compulsory modules: 

MODL1100Politics, Culture and Society20 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
PIED1110Comparative Politics20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PIED1511International Politics20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Optional modules:

Route A
Students with prior knowledge of German (B1 of the CEFR) will be required to study the following modules:

GERM1010German Language Awareness and Skills20 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GERM1140Exploring German-Speaking Cultures, Histories and Societies20 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Route B
Students with no prior knowledge of German will be required to study the following modules: 

GERM1020Beginners German (A1 of the CEFR)20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
GERM1021Pre-Intermediate German Language (A2/B1 of the CEFR)20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
GERM1145Exploring German-Speaking Cultures, Histories and Societies for Beginners20 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Route A
Students taking GERM1010 may take the following optional module:

GERM120020th Century German History20 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Discovery modules:

Route A
Students taking GERM1010 may take up to 20 credits of discovery modules.


Year2 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

At Level 2, students must study 120 credits. Students are required to take a minimum of 40 credits in International Relations and 40 credits in German. Of the remaining credits, 20 should be taken in either International Relations or German; the final 20 credits may be taken as Discovery modules or in further International Relations or German optional modules. Students are required to pass a minimum of 40 credits in each of their two main subjects.

Compulsory modules:

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

PIED2501Theories of International Relations20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED2559Global Security Challenges20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Optional modules:

Students who took GERM1010 and GERM1080 in level 1 will be required to study the following module:

GERM2010German Language Skills in Context20 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Students who took GERM1020, GERM1021 and GERM1085 in level 1 are required to take the following modules:

GERM2020German Language Skills (B1/B2 of the CEFR)20 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GERM2070Behind the Headlines: Germany in the 21st Century20 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Students may choose to study between 0-40 credits of further optional in International Relations.

PIED2100British Central Government20 creditsNot running in 202425
PIED2139The Labour Party Since 194520 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED2301Politics and Policy in the EU20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PIED2403Comparative Politics of Pacific Asia20 creditsNot running in 202425
PIED2448Politics of Contemporary China20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED2455State and Politics in Africa20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PIED2463United States Politics20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED2711Analysing Data in Politics, Development and International Relations20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Students taking GERM2010 will be required to study a minimum of 20 credits from the following optional modules; Students taking GERM2020 may choose to study up to 40 credits from the following optional modules (but are NOT permitted to take GERM2060):

Students wishing to choose MODL2001 as one of their German options must take a minimum of 60 credits in German in Level 2.

FILM2030Introduction to German Cinema20 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GERM2060Culture, Critique and Othering in the German-Speaking World20 creditsNot running in 202425
GERM2070Behind the Headlines: Germany in the 21st Century20 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GERM2080Translating German-Speaking Cultures: The German Language in Intercultural Relations20 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL2001Linguists into Schools20 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL2015Black Europe20 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL2075Global Environmental Humanities20 creditsNot running in 202425

Discovery modules:

Students may choose to study up to 20 credits of Discovery modules (or take further optional modules in International Relations or German).


Year3 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Students will spend this year of their programme in a country or region where the language of interest is used both in official contexts and as a daily means of communication. Where residence abroad involves studying at a University, a list of approved locations and institutions will be provided for you. Where you are able to choose locations, you must have these approved by the Year Abroad Tutor in your language area.

Compulsory modules:

Students will be required to study the following core residence abroad module. Please note that the appropriate Level 2 module(s) in the language needs to be passed in order progress to the Year Abroad.

MODL9500LCS Year Abroad
Pre-requisite for: Year 4
120 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)


Year4 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

At Level 3, students must study 120 credits. Students are required to take a minimum of 40 credits in International Relations and a minimum of 40 credits in German. Overall, students must take 100 credits across their two subjects.

All students must take 40 credits as a Final Year Project (FYP) module, which can be taken in - and count towards - either of their two subjects (EITHER International Relations or German).


In order to be eligible for an Honours degree, students must meet the normal Rules for Award by passing all modules which are designated to be passed for award or progression and by passing the required number of credits at each level as specified in the Curricular Regulations (at least 200 credits at Level 2 or above, of which at least 100 should be at Level 3).

Compulsory modules:

All students will be required to study the following compulsory module:

GERM3010Advanced German Language in Contemporary Discourses20 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Optional modules:

All students are required to take ONE of the following Final Year Project (FYP) modules.

MODL3300Final Year Project: Dissertation40 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL3340Final Year Project: Extended Translation40 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL3350Final Year Project: Digital Documentary (Podcast)40 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
PIED3750Dissertation40 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Students who take their FYP in German are required to take a minimum of 40 credits in option list A and may take a further 20 credits from Option list B.

Students who take their FYP in International Relation may take up to 40 credits from Option list A and/or Option list B.
Optional List A:

PIED3158British Foreign Policy20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED3325Europe in the World20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PIED3402American Foreign Policy20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PIED3504Critically Analysing The Responsibility to Protect20 creditsNot running in 202425
PIED3565Terrorism: Concepts, Debates, Cases20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Option List B:

PIED3160Prime Ministers and British Politics20 creditsNot running in 202425
PIED3170The End of British Politics?20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PIED3171The Politics of national identity in the UK20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED3199The Labour Party Since 194520 creditsNot running in 202425
PIED3207International Development and Social Policy20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PIED3261Violence and Reconciliation in Africa20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED3302Extreme Right Parties in Contemporary Europe20 creditsNot running in 202425
PIED3305The Far Right in Europe and Beyond20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED3310Britain and the EU20 creditsNot running in 202425
PIED3342Gender and Security in Global Politics20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED3617Reimagining Politics: Gender, Race, and Popular Culture20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PIED3702Introduction to Programming for Social Science20 creditsNot running in 202425
PIED3810Video Games: Politics, Society and Culture20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Students who take their FYP in International Relations are required to take a minimum of 20 credits from the following German optional modules and may take a further 20 credits from this list.

Students who take their FYP in German may take up to 20 credits from the list of German optional modules.


Students wishing to choose MODL3800 as one of their German options must take a minimum of 60 credits in German in the final year, including GERM3010.

FILM3026Contemporary German Cinema20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
GERM3092Advanced Translation from German into English20 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GERM3240Cultures of protest and resistance: challenging state and society in German-speaking cultures20 creditsNot running in 202425
MODL3200Representing the Holocaust: Transgression and the Taboo20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MODL3410Contemporary World Literature20 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL3600Material Cultures and Cultures of Consumption20 creditsNot running in 202425
MODL3610Adventures of the Imagination: Crime and the Fantastic Across Continents20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MODL3620Decolonial Approaches20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MODL3630Social Movements across Cultures20 creditsSemester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL3650Minoritised Languages, Dialects and Cultures from Past to Present20 creditsSemester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MODL3800Linguists into Schools20 creditsSemesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Discovery modules:

All students may choose to spend up to 20 credits of Discovery modules in a third subject or pursue additional modules in International Relations or their chosen language.
Finalists may only take Level 1 modules that are listed as Discovery Skills modules (skd) and only to the value of 20 credits.

Last updated: 01/05/2024 14:56:40

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