German Studies and English Literature

Our German Studies and English Literature degree at Lancaster immerses you in a dynamic exploration of two complementary disciplines, bridging cultures through language and literature.

In your study of English Literature, you’ll read the greats as well as the voices that history has overlooked. You’ll read widely, closely, and deeply, experiencing literature in a host of new and immersive ways.

You’ll graduate with expertise in the German language alongside in-depth cultural knowledge and practical experience.

Why choose German Studies and English Literature at Lancaster?

• Expand your horizons and gain insight into the literature and culture of both German and English-speaking worlds

• Study a wide range of genres from both ancient and modern literatures

• Follow a progressional ladder on an internationally recognised language scale entering either from beginners or intermediate level and progressing to proficiency

• Explore important global issues and how they interact with the German-speaking world such as environmental challenges and climate change, politics, health and human rights

• Develop your own critical-critical) voice

• Be part of Literary Lancaster - a vibrant community of critics and writers

What will I study In English Literature?

Literary study at Lancaster offers a rich engagement with the very best of literature from classical and medieval to the modern and contemporary. You will have the chance to study all the great names, as well as voices that have been forgotten or overlooked.

We are pioneers in experimental or creative forms of literary criticism, as well as encouraging established forms of literary scholarship, such as archival work, historicism, close reading, and literary theory.

At Lancaster, studying English Literature is not just an academic pursuit – it is also an opportunity to connect with history, culture, and the many ways literature shapes our world. We believe that reading is not passive but active. It is something that acts upon both the texts that we read and the world in which we live.

To enhance your experience, we run many special literary events, often in spectacular locations such as Lancaster’s medieval Castle, the awe-inspiring Priory, or the archive-rich Wordsworth Grasmere in the nearby Lake District. These events develop a sense of community and help you to establish friendships through your studies.

How is German Studies taught at Lancaster?

Your journey to language proficiency and exploring the German-speaking world starts here. Studying German at Lancaster you will acquire high-level language skills and gain an internationally recognised qualification modelled on the Common European Framework of Reference for languages.

You’ll enter the course either as a complete beginner in German or with some initial competency. Whatever level you begin with, you will progress to becoming proficient in the language. Spending your third year abroad in a German-speaking country makes a major contribution to your command of the language, while deepening your intercultural sensitivity. You can study at a partner university or conduct a work placement.

Your language learning will be further enriched by cultural studies, covering visual media, literature, art, and history, providing a comprehensive understanding of the societal contexts of the German-speaking world.

What opportunities are there outside the course?

There are many opportunities to develop experience and enhance your career prospects in English Literature. If you are interested in writing, publishing, and editing you could choose to get involved in one of our four student-run literary journals: Cake, Flash, Lux and Errant.

You might get involved in organising, marketing and hosting some of our literary events. You could also volunteer to help at Litfest, Lancaster’s annual literature festival which attracts well-known authors from around the world (including some of our own author-tutors).