German

For centuries, German-speaking cultures have had a profound international influence. Over one-third of Europeans speak German as their first language, and the language ranks in the world's top 20. It is particularly important within business and politics.

Across all four years of our wide-ranging programme, including a year abroad, your studies will give you the chance to gain professional skills in all aspects of German, including:

• reading and listening

• writing and translating

• speaking and presenting

As well as language learning, you will also explore German-language literature, film and theatre. You will study these in the context of historical and political developments, from the eighteenth century to contemporary times.

On joining us, you will take one of the following language courses:

• German 1A - for beginners

• German 1B - for students with more experience of learning the language

By your final year, you will have developed the linguistic, critical and analytical skills to the standard of completing a dissertation in German.

Why Edinburgh

As a world-leading festival and capital city, Edinburgh is a fantastic place to study a modern language in its cultural context.

We are unique in Scotland in offering you a full academic year abroad within the four-year honours programme, regardless of whether you spend the year studying or working.

German has been taught here since 1894, making it one of the first European languages to be offered at the University of Edinburgh.

Today, graduating with a degree in German from Edinburgh gives you the combination of broad cultural education and specialist knowledge valued by employers worldwide.

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 the German language and the study of German-language literature and culture.

In addition to studying core courses, you will broaden your education and skill set by choosing option courses from a range of subjects and 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 abroad, immersing yourself in German-speaking culture. Year 4 will be tailored to your interests in specific topics within German Studies. You will also further develop your German language and translation skills and write a dissertation.

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.

• Delve into fantastic libraries and collections.

• Try your hand at creative writing and publishing.