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BA GERMAN R200

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Full Time: 4 Years

Develop an in-depth knowledge of the language and culture of one of the most influential countries in Europe.

Join our friendly and dynamic Department of Modern Languages and European Studies, which offers the opportunity to study in a lively, multilingual community with staff and students from all over the world. We offer a flexible and supportive approach to learning which allows you to tailor your degree to your interests, including the opportunity to learn other languages.

Through this course you will become confident and highly skilled in written and spoken German. You will master the fundamental elements of the language, to the point where you will graduate with a near-native command of it. We’re proud of our small language classes, led by native speakers. Direct access to expert staff for help and feedback ensures you develop your language skills to the best of your ability.

The course content focuses on modern Germany, including current developments in German society. Through the study of a wide range of topics in history, film, literature and linguistics you will gain a deep understanding of German culture, including the profound impact of the unification of East and West Germany in 1989.

You will also be able to pursue your own interests beyond the language you're learning through a wide range of comparative modules. If you really enjoy German cinema, for example, then you can opt to take modules in European and World cinema and gain an even broader knowledge of the medium.

A integral part of the course is the opportunity for you to spend up to a year in Germany or Austria, either studying at a partner institution through the Erasmus+ programme, undertaking a work placement or working as a British Council language teaching assistant. This allows you to immerse yourself in the culture of your host country and greatly improve your knowledge of German at the same time. The core language module in the second year will prepare you for your time abroad, equipping you with the skills and knowledge required to work and live in a different culture.

We provide accelerated learning in German, meaning that you can start at intermediate level if you have previously learnt it up to GCSE or AS level. Regardless of which level you join the course at, all students achieve the same standard of written and spoken German by the final year. Please check the entry requirements for more details on entry points.

Quick look entry requirements A Level BBB-ABC | IB 30 points overall

Typical offer

BBB-ABC. Minimum grade B at AS level German or grade A (7) at GCSE German. No beginners' German. To study advanced German a grade B at A level is required.

International Baccalaureate

30 points overall including 5 in German or another modern foreign language at higher level. pts overall

English language requirements

IELTS 7.0, with no component below 6.0

For information on other English language qualifications, please visit our international student pages.

What will you study?

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3
  • Year 4

Year 1

Core modules include:

  • German language (at intermediate or advanced level)
  • Icons of modern Germany

Optional modules include:

  • German texts and genres

Comparative modules include:

In addition to these German modules, students may choose to take a module from our list of comparative modules. Comparative modules do not focus on one specific country or culture, but rather they contrast and compare different literary, cinematic or historical traditions.

  • The making of modern Europe: 1789 to the present
  • What is comparative literature?
  • Greats of European cinema
  • Introduction to linguistics
Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Year 2

Core modules include:

  • German language

Optional modules may include:

  • Fantasy, horror and the grotesque: ETA Hoffman
  • Love, lust and loss in German literature
  • The world of words: lexicology and word formation

Comparative modules include:

In addition to these German modules, students may choose to take a module from our list of comparative modules. Comparative modules do not focus on one specific country or culture, but rather they contrast and compare different literary, cinematic or historical traditions.

  • Society, thought, and art in modern Europe
  • Unity, nationalism and regionalism in Europe
  • Science, perversion, and dream in global fantastic literature
  • Love in Medieval Renaissance
Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Year 3

You can choose from three options for your third year: studying at a partner institution through the Erasmus+ programme, undertaking a work placement or working as a British Council language teaching assistant.

Our German partner institutions include universities in Augsburg, Düsseldorf, Göttingen, Potsdam, Regensburg, Trier and Tübingen. The University of Vienna and the University of Graz in Austria are also possible destinations. The Department of Modern Languages and European Studies has a dedicated study abroad officer who can help you prepare for study at one of these universities.

You can also talk to the Department's specialist year abroad team, who can provide you with support in securing and preparing for a placement. Past students have carried out roles with companies such as Siemens, PwC, SAP and Airbus Helicopters.

Year 4

Core modules include:

  • Advanced German language

Optional modules include:

  • German language for management and business
  • Mobility and the metropolis: Berlin in German literature
  • War on screen - Germany and its films about WWII
  • Migration in Germany

Comparative modules include:

In addition to these German modules, students may choose to take a module from our list of comparative modules. Comparative modules do not focus on one specific country or culture, but rather they contrast and compare different literary, cinematic or historical traditions.

  • EU Case studies
  • Cinemas of the world
  • 19th century European novel
  • Language and power
Please note that all modules are subject to change.

How much will it cost?

How much will it cost?

New UK/EU students: £9250* per year

New international students: £16070 per year

* UK and EU Fee Changes

Subject to the Government passing legislation to raise the minimum fee cap, we will raise undergraduate tuition fees from £9,000 to £9,250 for new UK/EU students applying to start courses in the 2017/18 academic year. You will not be affected by this rise if you have deferred entry to the 2017/18 academic year. The Government will confirm future arrangements for EU students in due course.

Information on this page is based on 2018/19 figures and is likely to change slightly for 2019/20 entry. We will publish up-to-date information about 2019/20 entry as soon as it becomes available.

For further information, please see our webpage on the Teaching Excellence Framework and future tuition fees.

What are the fees for a placement year?

For Home/EU and International students entering in 2017/18, your placement year will be in 2019/20 and your fees will be 15% of full fee (subject to changes in the University’s Fees Policy).

If your study abroad is covered by the Erasmus scheme, please contact the Erasmus/Study Abroad team by emailing studyabroad@reading.ac.uk or this link.

Additional Costs

These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK and other EU countries may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

Flexible courses (price per 10 credit module)

Home/EU students: £750

International students: £1275

* UK and EU Fee Changes

Subject to the Government passing legislation to raise the minimum fee cap, we will raise undergraduate tuition fees from £9,000 to £9,250 for new UK/EU students applying to start courses in the 2017/18 academic year. You will not be affected by this rise if you have deferred entry to the 2017/18 academic year. The Government will confirm future arrangements for EU students in due course.

The tuition fee will remain £9,000 per year for the full duration of this course if you start in the 2016/17 academic year or have accepted an offer but deferred your entry until the 2017/18 academic year. This is unlike other institutions who are planning to raise fees midway through courses.

For further information, please see our webpage on the Teaching Excellence Framework and future tuition fees.

Additional costs

These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK and other EU countries may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

What career can you have?

What career can you have?

By the time you graduate, you will be able to write and speak fluently in German – an immensely useful skill to have given that there is currently a great shortage of well-qualified linguists in the UK. The experience of studying or working abroad also distinguishes you from non-language graduates, providing evidence of self-reliance, adaptability and enterprise. The course also provides you with numerous transferable skills in research, analysis, presenting and group working, which will prove useful in a wide range of careers.

Our graduates have an excellent record of gaining employment or progressing to further study. Many go on to put their linguistic skills to practical use by working for companies with a German connection. However, prospects extend well beyond translating and interpreting. Recent Reading graduates have been recruited by employers such as Sony Europe, the Civil Service, Oxford University Press, Dow Jones and PwC, all of whom clearly value the technical and intellectual training of a degree in modern languages.

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