German and English Literature

For centuries, both English and German-speaking cultures have had a profound international influence on literature. Today, more people speak German as their first language than any other in Europe, and it is the third most popular foreign language taught worldwide.

This joint honours programme develops your critical, analytic, linguistic and creative skills by engaging with a broad range of texts in both English and German, and a variety of approaches to reading.

Combining literature with a language shows an openness to ideas and perspectives other than your own, an essential attribute in many careers and a global marketplace.

German

No prior knowledge of German is necessary. Through intensive classes on developing spoken and written skills, you will have the opportunity to quickly develop your understanding of the language.

Across four years, including a year abroad, you will get a 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, studying these in the context of historical and political developments from the eighteenth century to today.

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

English Literature

At Edinburgh, you will study in the oldest department of English Literature in the UK, one of the longest-established in the world.

You will gain the essential skills needed for the critical close reading of poetry, drama and prose and explore the cultural contexts of writing in English from the late Middle Ages to the present.

At honours level, you will select courses on the basis of your own interests in specific topics, periods or literary genres.

Why Edinburgh

As the first UNESCO World City of Literature and a world-leading festival city, Edinburgh is a fantastic place to study a language in its cultural context and alongside literature. From the University's Special Collections to the National Library of Scotland, the city's resources for studying literatures, languages and cultures are exceptional.

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 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 studying abroad, gaining lived experience of German-speaking culture. Year 4 will be tailored to your interests in specific topics or approaches to German and English Literature.

Programme benefits

• Learn in the heart of a UNESCO World City of Literature.

• 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.