German Studies

Description

Studying German at Birmingham helps you achieve a high standard of fluency in spoken and written German. It also allows you to develop the analytical skills that will enable you to explore, in depth, some of the many areas literary, political and cultural in which the German-speaking countries have contributed to European life.

Staff teaching and research interests cover the whole spectrum of German Studies from the earliest times right up to the present. With an annual intake of around 50 undergraduate students following a variety of degree programmes, we are one of the larger German departments in the UK, yet we are still small enough to provide a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

Detailed Course Facts

• English

Course Content

The German course at Birmingham helps you achieve fluency in spoken and written German, as well as high-level analytical skills that are prized by today’s employers. Alongside study of the German language, you will also be able to explore aspects of German culture, history, politics and linguistics in a very broad range of optional modules, from medieval German literature to the latest developments in German film.

First year

You embark upon a structured language course that leads you by stages from what you have learned at school or college up to final degree level. You are also introduced to German literature, history and linguistics (both contemporary and historical).

Second year

As well as continuing to develop your language skills, you also study special topics chosen from a wide range of courses in the fields of German literature, film and theatre, gender studies, history, society, politics, culture and linguistics.

Year abroad

Your year abroad in the third year is compulsory. Most of our students spend it (via the EU-funded Erasmus/Socrates scheme) at one of our many partner universities in Germany or Austria, although some prefer to work in a German-speaking country as British Council language assistants teaching English in a school or college.

Fourth year

Your fourth and final year of your degree consists of an advanced practical language element (oral work and translation both into and out of German), together with a number of optional courses in German literature (both modern and medieval), history, film, society, politics, philosophy and linguistics.

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6 CAE score : 80(Grade A) TOEFL iBT® test : 93

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

Number of A levels required: 3

Typical offer: ABB

Required subjects and grades: A level German grade B

International Baccalaureate: 34 points including German at Higher Level

Additional information:

Other qualifications are considered

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Birmingham.