German Studies and Comparative Literature BA (Hons)

On this BA German Studies and Comparative Literature programme, you will explore cultures and literatures from around the world, through its emphasis on comparative study. This combines well with the deepened level of expertise you will develop in German language and culture.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.This course will see you 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. You will also have the opportunity to explore topics such as German cinema, the portrayal of Berlin in German literature, the impact of the reunification of East and West Germany in 1989, and the history behind, and current debates about, immigration to Germany.The Comparative Literature modules have been designed by experts with the aim of crossing and dismantling borders: they look at literatures from different communities, national traditions, and time-periods. You will take in a broad range of traditional genres (e.g. the novel, theatre, poetry), as well as varying modes of cultural expression (e.g. autobiography, film, myths). The core modules you will study introduce you to the notion of comparative writing and to what can be lost – and found – in translation. All students of comparative literature will take an extended writing module on a topic of their choosing, and you will also be able to develop your interests by choosing from a range of optional modules. Throughout, the emphasis is on comparative literature's ability to do justice to the interconnectedness of human experience.An integral part of the course is the opportunity for you to spend up to a year in a German-speaking country, either studying at a partner university, undertaking a work placement, or working as a British Council language teaching assistant. The fees charged for this year are greatly reduced from the usual amount, and you may have other income through funding schemes and/or earnings. The year abroad enables you to directly immerse yourself in the culture and develop your language to a near-native level. Modules in the second year will prepare you for studying abroad, equipping you with the skills and knowledge required to work and live in a different culture.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. You will also develop strong transferable skills in oral communication, research and writing, together with a high level of cultural literacy and critical sophistication.A joint degree with comparative literature will help you develop a range of transferable skills, including critical thinking; research and writing; ability to analyse a diverse range of materials; time-management; adaptability; and a high degree of cultural literacy.Overall, 94% of graduates from the Department of Languages and Cultures were in work or study six months after graduating (Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey, 2016/2017 (includes German, French and Italian Studies).