Department of European Languages and Cultures

Year 1 & 2

Information for students on their first and second year of study in DELC.

All first and second year courses are assessed by a combination of continuous assessment and exam.

Details of the weighting for each course can be found in your course handbook, available via LEARN.

1A  Language courses are aimed at students who do not have a Higher or equivalent level of proficiency in the target language. They are primarily designed to provide students with an introduction to, and a firm grounding in, a new language of study. Some courses also provide an introduction to relevant cultural issues. Because of the demands of studying a new language, two 1A courses may not normally be taken together in the same year.

1B Language courses are aimed at students who already have a Higher or equivalent level of proficiency in the target language. They are designed to develop existing language skills, and to place these within a broader cultural context.

In all cases, a pass (40% overall) is required for entry into second year. 1A students may be advised not to enter second year, in their own interest, if their pass mark is not much above 40%; further information on this will be given in the course of first year.

Second‐year courses are designed to consolidate the work of the first year, and develop the student’s skills in preparation for the Year Abroad.

DELC common courses such as ‘Prose Fiction in Comparative Perspective’, ‘Introduction to European Theatre’ 'Literature and culture in medieval Europe' are designed to provide students with a broad understanding of the periods or genres studied, and therefore widen their cultural perspectives.

For entry to Honours in any subject, a pass at 50% at the first attempt in that subject is required. In languages, there is also a requirement that the language component of the course be passed at 50%. All courses (including outside subjects) must be passed, making a total of 240 qualifying credits passed in first and second years, before embarking on the year abroad. Please consult Learn and the DRPS for details.

View your Degree Programme Structure