German and History BA (Hons)

Join our friendly and dynamic Department of Languages and Cultures, 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.You will focus 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 reunification of East and West Germany in 1990.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.In the history component you will have the opportunity to discover a thousand years of history whilst experiencing all the specialist areas on offer at the University of Reading, including Britain, Europe, Africa, America, the Middle East and South Asia. Your first year acts as an introduction and helps you identify your particular areas of interest. You will explore people, politics and revolution and we will teach you the skills you need to study and research history. One particular optional module enables you to study Cold War Berlin – a great way to complement your study of German.German studies offers you a life-changing experience that opens doors and prepares you for your future. You will spend up to a year in Germany-speaking company, either studying at a partner institution, undertaking a work placement or working as a British Council language teaching assistant. This allows you to immerse yourself in the culture of the country and greatly improve your knowledge of German at the same time. The core language module in the second year will equip you with the skills and knowledge required to work and live abroad.**Careers**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, clear and critical thinking, 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.