This is an archived page and for reference purposes only
Studying German in combination with English Language and Linguistics enables you to learn another language and gain an understanding of how language itself works.
Overview
German is one of Europe's most important languages for business and culture. Worldwide, it is the second-most widely used language on the internet (W3Techs 2014). It is also frequently used as a second language in Eastern Europe, serving as a means of communication across international boundaries. Fluency in the German language, combined with knowledge of political and cultural developments in the German-speaking world, opens up career opportunities in many areas of Europe.
Along with our other European language departments, German has native-speaker language assistants and state-of-the art computing and audio-visual facilities. Many classes are taught in German, and you have the opportunity to spend a year studying, teaching English or working in a German-speaking country.
Language is fundamental to everything we do: it helps us communicate ideas, express our feelings, and present ourselves to different audiences. English Language and Linguistics is therefore an ideal complement to the subject of German, where an understanding of how language works is important.
Combining theoretical and practical elements, English Language and Linguistics explores both the structure of language and its multifaceted relationship with culture and society. The choice of topics covered is very wide, including areas such as sociolinguistics, language acquisition, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, phonetics and phonology, morphology, language learning and teaching, language impairments, literary stylistics and critical and cultural theory. You can also study creative writing and media writing.
Some of our joint honours students follow a strand reflecting their specific interests: for example, language teaching options for those considering careers in education, or stylistics options for those following a literary programme. Others enjoy English Language and Lingustics as an absorbing and intellectually stimulating discipline in its own right.
Independent rankings
Over 90% of Modern Language and Linguistics students at Kent were satisfied with the quality of teaching on their course, according to The Guardian University Guide 2017.
Course structure
The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.
Year abroad
You have the opportunity to spend a year either studying at a partner university in Germany, or teaching English, or working in a German-speaking country.
Teaching and assessment
German
Teaching is by a combination of lectures and seminars. You also have regular teaching and conversation sessions with German native speakers.
Assessment at Stage 1 is by 100% coursework (essays, class participation) in the first half of the year, and a 50:50 combination of coursework and examination in the second half of the year. At Stage 2/3, depending on the modules you select, assessment varies from 100% coursework (extended essays or dissertation), to a combination of examination and coursework, in a ratio that will normally be 50:50, 70:30.
English Language and Linguistics
On average, you have four lectures a week plus four seminar classes. However, this varies depending on the material and the nature of the module, and may include workshops, discussion groups and practical sessions. You have group or one-to-one tutorials for research projects and dissertations, and tutorials with your lecturers and seminar leaders to discuss coursework and assignments. In addition, you have access to further information and support via Moodle, our interactive web-based learning platform. At each stage, some modules are continuously assessed, while others combine coursework and examination. Stage 2 and 3 modules count towards your final degree result.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- provide a challenging and research-led programme of study, relevant to the needs of students with a strong interest in English language and language structure more generally
- meet the needs of those thinking of working in education, training, writing, publishing, commerce, language-based therapy and tourism, or other careers where sensitivity to language and communication plays a central role
- offer a grounding in linguistic theory, and sensitivity to social, cultural and political issues which surround the use of language
- provide teaching informed by current research, scholarship and good practice, requiring engagement with aspects of work at the forefront of knowledge
- enable students to manage their own learning and to carry out independent research
- develop general critical, analytical and problem-solving skills
- provide students with opportunities for the development of their personal, communication, research and other key skills appropriate for employment or postgraduate study
- enable students to think and work creatively and intellectually and to stimulate their search for knowledge and insight
- provide the opportunity to study another culture’s approach to the study of linguistics
- develop in students the ability to communicate in another language, in part through the provision of language modules at the host university.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- the inter-disciplinary nature of linguistics and language studies
- terminology to describe and understand the nature and use of language, including descriptive linguistic concepts and terms relevant to theory and explanation in linguistics, the role of language in social life and sychronic and diachronic perspectives
- the way speech sounds are articulated, described and change in isolation and in natural speech and how these speech sounds are organised into a system
- the structures and properties of individual words and sentences
- the way meaning is generated in language
- language varieties, styles and registers
- intercultural language issues
- language acquisition
- discourse in its broader political, historical and socio-cultural contexts, such as analysis of discourse, stylistics and text and theories of discourse
- approaches to linguistics in another culture, in particular German.
Intellectual skills
You gain the following intellectual abilities:
- develop lines of argument and make sound judgements in accordance with the basic theories and concepts of the subjects
- engage in critical reflection, verbal discussion and written and interpretative analysis of key material
- present, evaluate and interpret a variety of data using defined techniques in a logical and systematic fashion
- assess the merits of contrasting theories and explanations, including those from other disciplines
- select and use a variety of methods for collecting and analysing data and assess the efficacy of each
- consider the ethical aspects of collecting, handling and storing data
- summarise and synthesise information from a number of sources
- reach independent judgements about data or theory.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in the following:
- demonstrate knowledge of the main methods of enquiry and analysis in linguistics and its sub-fields and apply this knowledge independently
- understand the technical and ethical issues in linguistic data collection
- present linguistic data appropriately by means of charts, graphs, tables, matrices, diagrams and quotation
- evaluate and interpret linguistic data, develop lines of argument, and make sound judgements in accordance with the central theories and analytical concepts in linguistics and its sub-fields
- separate descriptive from prescriptive linguistic judgements, and challenge linguistic prejudice.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in the following:
- communicate the results of study and work accurately, make well structured, coherent arguments in an effective, fluent manner both in speech and in writing
- the ability to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences
- interact effectively within small groups, exercising personal responsibility, sensitivity and appropriate decision-making skills
- manage your own learning, conduct independent research, achieve goals, take initiative, be organised and meet deadlines
- understand the dynamics of oral and written communication in various settings
- use appropriate library and information technology application and resources
- enhanced competence in IT, including aspects relating to multimedia and multimodal discourse
- take notes accurately and effectively
- problem solving in a variety of theoretical and practical situations
- enhanced working knowledge of and ability to communicate in another language during the year abroad.
Careers
German
The ability to speak another European language is a key asset in the global employment market, and many employers view a graduate with overseas study experience as significantly more employable. In addition to your language expertise, you also acquire many transferable skills, such as excellent communication skills, the ability to think independently and the confidence to express your ideas persuasively and with sensitivity, that are considered essential by graduate employers. Recent graduates have gone into careers such as teaching German, teaching EFL, translation, accountancy, law, customs, finance, publishing and journalism.
English Language and Linguistics
English Language and Linguistics help you acquire high level skills in communication, problem solving, group work, IT and numeracy, which will be very important in your future career. The programme prepares students for an extensive and wide range of careers where an in-depth understanding of how language functions is essential. These include advertising, journalism and professional writing, media, public relations, marketing and sales, publishing, teaching at all levels, company training, broadcasting, conversation analysis, and the civil or diplomatic services.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | ABB |
| GCSE | Grade B in a modern European language other than English |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above. |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | The university will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) on a case by case basis please contact us via the enquiries tab for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 16 at HL including a modern European language other than English 4 at HL or 5 at SL |
International students
The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.
Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2016/17 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
The University of Kent is currently considering whether to increase its regulated full-time tuition fees for all returning Home and EU undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250 in September 2017. This would be subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses might also rise by 2.8%.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk
UK/EU/International students on an approved Year Abroad for the full 2016/17 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Those on an approved Year in Industry pay an annual fee of £865 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Details of our proposed funding opportunities for 2016 entry can be found on our funding page.
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. For 2016 entry, the scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our scholarships pages. Please review the eligibility criteria on that page.