German and History

For centuries, German-speaking cultures have had a profound international influence. German ranks in the world’s top 20 languages, and it is the most spoken first language in Europe.

Studying German and History helps us understand the contemporary world, and also sheds light on the past. On our flexible joint honours programme, you have the opportunity to develop advanced language skills in German while discovering how the German-speaking world, and other cultures around the globe, have shaped modern civilisation.

German

Across four years, including a year abroad, you will gain professional skills in all aspects of German, including:

• reading and listening

• writing and translating

• speaking and presenting

Alongside your language studies, in German classes, you will explore and compare historical and cultural developments in the German-speaking world from different perspectives. This will enable you to critically appraise topics such as:

• German identities

• Encounters with non-Germans

• Nationalism and anti-nationalism

• Nature and culture

• Minority cultures

• Migration in the German-speaking world

History

In History, you will study the human past more broadly, interacting with evidence in primary form, and through critical reading of a wide body of historical writing.

History at Edinburgh is distinctive for its range of historical themes, chronological periods and geographical areas. Beyond German history, you can take courses in the history of other cultures and civilisations. you can choose from courses covering:

• the early Middle Ages to the most recent past

• Britain and Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas

Further, our courses offer a rich variety of approaches to the past, including:

• political history

• cultural history

• social history

• economic history

• intellectual history

• gender history

• global and transnational history

Why Edinburgh

As a world-leading festival and capital city, and home of two World Heritage Sites, Edinburgh is a fantastic place to study a modern language in its cultural context and alongside History.

German has been taught here since 1894, making it one of the first European languages to be offered at Edinburgh. We have excellent resources for the study of History and German, including access to unique archival sources within the library's special collections.

Studying over four years gives you the blend of specialist skills and intercultural competence needed for a range of careers. Additionally, we are unique in Scotland in offering students a full academic year abroad within the four-year honours programme, regardless of whether you spend the year studying or working.

How long it takes to complete this degree programme

This programme is studied over 4 years, including a year abroad. This enables us to build choice and flexibility into your studies, giving you time to explore options, find what you like and build your skills.

Your first two years will be your pre-honours years. They will give you a good grounding in your subjects. In addition to your core courses, you will broaden your education and skill set by choosing option courses from a range of disciplines. This may enable you to change the focus of your programme.

Your final two years will be your honours years. You will spend Year 3 studying abroad, gaining lived experience of German-speaking culture. Year 4 will be tailored to your interests in specific topics, periods, or approaches to German and History.

Programme benefits

• Learn in an historic capital city where German has been taught for over a century.

• Study over four years, including one abroad.

• Become fluent in one of Europe's most widely spoken languages.

• Try out different subjects in your first two years.

• Join societies related to what you are studying.

• Delve into fantastic libraries and collections.