DEGREE GUIDE

German

What do German degrees involve?

German degrees teach you how to communicate fluently in German while exploring the history, literature, politics, and culture of German-speaking countries. You will study key areas such as language acquisition, translation, linguistics, film, and contemporary society. These courses help you develop strong analytical, communication, and intercultural skills while gaining a deeper understanding of Germany’s influence in Europe and the wider world. You will also have the opportunity to study or work abroad, immersing yourself in the language and daily life of a German-speaking country. With a combination of language training, cultural studies, and real-world experience, you’ll be well-prepared for careers in translation, diplomacy, international business, and education.

Example
Modules

German Language Skills: Develop fluency in German through speaking, listening, reading and writing, with a focus on building vocabulary, refining grammar, and improving accuracy.

Introduction to German Cinema: Study landmark films and movements, from post-war realism to contemporary cinema, exploring how film reflects German history and identity.

German Literature and Society: Read major literary texts and learn how novels, plays and poetry reflect cultural, political and social change.

Common Degree Names

💼 Some universities offer placement opportunities during the year abroad, such as teaching assistantships or internships.
🌍 A year abroad in a German-speaking country is a compulsory or strongly encouraged part of most German degrees.

BA (Hons) German
BA (Hons) German and French
BA (Hons) German and English
BA (Hons) German and History
BA (Hons) German and Politics

A German Studies study corner with a Bauhaus-style poster and a map of Germany, Austria and Switzerland on the wall, and yellow paperback editions of Faust, an open book and a German dictionary on the desk.

Level 3 (A-level / IB Diploma (HL) / Scottish Highers)

German degrees develop fluency in the language alongside deep knowledge of German-speaking cultures, literature, history, and society. Most universities offer two entry routes depending on your current level.

For advanced-level courses (if you already study German):

German – required
Another Modern Language – valued if applying for combined programmes
English Literature, History, or Politics – develops essay writing and cultural analysis skills

For beginners'/ab initio courses (starting from scratch):

No German required – these courses are designed for complete beginners
Another Modern Language – shows aptitude for language learning
English Language or Literature – useful for analytical and essay skills
History, Politics, or Sociology – helpful for understanding cultural context

✨ Don't worry if you haven't studied German before – many universities offer beginners' courses that will take you to degree level from scratch.

Universities may also accept:

BTEC National Extended Certificates or National Diplomas alongside relevant A-Level subjects
IB Career-related Programme (IBCP) with at least two IB Higher Level subjects including German B for advanced level coures (ideally three - see relevant subjects above) alongside your Career-Related Study

Advanced and beginner courses have different requirements, so always check your chosen university's website to confirm which route suits you.

Level 2 Qualifications (GCSE / MYP / National 5)

Most courses ask for:

GCSE English Language and Maths at grade 4/C or above, or equivalent such as National 5s or MYP
GCSE German (or equivalent) for advanced-level courses. Beginners’ courses do not require German at GCSE.

📘 For beginners’ courses, showing an interest in language learning (through other language GCSEs or personal experience) can strengthen your application.

💬 Interviews

Formal interviews aren't usually part of the application process. However, some universities may invite you for a short conversation, either online or in person, to learn more about your interest in the subject.

🔍 Work Experience

You don't need work experience to apply for German. If you have a school placement to fill, any setting where you can use or be exposed to German — such as a business with German clients, a tourism organisation, or a cultural exchange programme — could be useful.

✨ Personal Statement Tips

What draws you to studying German at degree level - the language itself, German literature, cinema, history, philosophy, or the cultures of German-speaking countries? A German degree involves much more than language learning, so thinking about what you want to explore helps. If you've engaged with German culture through films, music, books, podcasts, news coverage, or reading literature in German or translation, reflect on what sparked your interest. Some courses offer ab initio (beginner) routes, so prior study isn't always required - but showing genuine curiosity about German-speaking cultures and enthusiasm for the intellectual challenge of the language will strengthen your application.

If your qualifications don't match the usual entry requirements, there are some other possibilities.

🌱 Foundation Year in Languages or Humanities

Some universities offer a foundation year if you don't have the required language background or grades. Many German degrees also offer ab initio (beginner) routes, so a foundation year can be a way in even without prior German study.

🎓 Access to HE Diploma (Humanities or Social Science)

Accepted by some universities. Choose a pathway with essay-based units and aim for Merits and Distinctions in your graded units. Check whether your chosen university requires prior German study alongside the Access qualification.

Is this degree right for you?

Members can explore whether this degree fits who they are:

Skills you'd develop and whether they match your strengths
How this aligns with your interests, motivators and values
Career paths and where graduates end up

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Skills you would develop in X degree

Skill Name

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Is this a good fit for you?

Use the tabs to explore the kind of person that this would be a good fit for. Do you share the Interests, Motivations, Values, Work identity and skills that people who thrive in this course tend to have?

Not sure what these things are? Explore your Identity Tree with us first.

Interests that connect well with a German degree

Students who enjoy this degree often share these interests. You don't need to feel strongly about all of them, and interests develop over time. If one or two catch your curiosity, or sound like something you'd like to know more about, that's a good sign.

Different Cultures, Languages & Beliefs: The degree takes you into the German-speaking world, exploring language, identity, and cultural life across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. You'll build fluency while studying how history, politics, and contemporary debates shape everyday life in these countries.

Language, Stories & Writing: You'll study major German literary works alongside the structure and evolution of the German language itself, including how it varies across regions and countries. Translation and interpreting modules develop a deep understanding of how different languages express meaning and nuance.

Students who thrive in a German degree are often motivated by

Engaging with People and Cultures

You're energised by working closely with people to understand what's really going on for them: talking, listening, asking questions, spending time, picking up on what isn't being said directly. That might be interviewing someone for a piece of research, sitting with a client who's trying to work something out, exploring a community you've not been part of, or working alongside people from a different culture. The energy comes from the engagement itself, not just from reading or thinking about people.

Analysing and Investigating

You're energised by making sense of information, looking for evidence, spotting patterns, and piecing together how things connect. Whether it's pulling apart data, questioning assumptions, or tracing a problem back to its source, you find energy in the process of understanding what's really going on. You'd rather dig into the details than accept things at face value.

Curiosity and Learning

You're energised by the activity of learning itself: diving into a subject you've never explored, watching documentaries, taking apart how something works, or constantly asking "why?" The process of learning gives you energy, not just the outcome. You don't just want the answer; you want to understand how things connect, why they matter, and what's underneath the surface explanation.

Working Internationally

You're energised by work that crosses borders and connects you with people from different countries, backgrounds, and systems. That might be collaborating with international colleagues, working in a place that isn't your own, using another language professionally, or tackling problems that don't stop at a single country's borders. You come alive when the work you're doing reaches beyond your own patch of the world.

What makes German click for the students who love it?

Few traditions in writing and thought have shaped Europe the way the German one has, and that is what grips them: its literature, its philosophy, its films. They want to know German-speaking life at first hand rather than through translation, so the year spent living and studying in a German-speaking country is the part they look forward to most. Following a dense argument in the original, staying with it until it opens up, is where the satisfaction lies.

These are the skills that students who love this degree tend to enjoy using. You don't need to be great at them already, but if they sound like you, that's a good sign.

Skill Name

Skills that suit this degree

You don't need to be great at these already — but if you enjoy using them or want to get better at them, that's a good sign.

Are you curious about how people in other cultures think, and do you enjoy exploring different intellectual traditions?
Do you enjoy the challenge of putting complex thoughts into words — especially when the ideas are difficult to express?
Do you like picking apart arguments or ideas to understand what's really being said — and whether it holds up?

Careers a German degree could lead you to

German

What do German degrees involve?

Example Modules

Common Degree Names

Is this degree right for you?

Skills you would develop in X degree

Skill Name

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Is this a good fit for you?

Careers a German degree could lead you to

Example
Modules