German and English Literature MA (Hons)

The University of Edinburgh

For centuries, both English and German-speaking cultures have had a profound international influence on literature. Today, more people speak German as their native language than any other in Europe, and it is the third most popular foreign language taught worldwide.

This joint honours programme aims to develop your critical, analytic, linguistic and creative skills by engaging with a broad range of texts in both English and German, and a variety of approaches to reading.

You do not need to have any prior knowledge of learning German. Through intensive classes on developing spoken and written skills, you will have the opportunity to quickly develop your understanding of the language.

German

Across all four years of our programme, including a year abroad, your studies will give you the chance to gain professional skills in all aspects of German, including:

• reading and listening
• writing and translating
• speaking and presenting

As well as language learning, you will also explore German-language literature, film and theatre. You will study these in the context of historical and political developments, from the eighteenth century to contemporary times.

On joining us, beginners take our German 1A course; students with prior experience of learning the language typically take German 1B.

By your final year, you will have developed the linguistic, critical and analytical skills to the standard of completing a dissertation or long essay.

English Literature

Based in the first UNESCO World City of Literature, you will study in the oldest department of English Literature in the UK, one of the longest established in the world.

You will gain the essential skills needed for the critical close reading of poetry, drama and prose and explore the cultural contexts of writing in English from the late Middle Ages to the present.

At honours level, you will select courses on the basis of your own interests in specific topics, periods or literary genres.

Combining literature with a language shows an openness to ideas and perspectives other than your own, an essential attribute in many careers and a global marketplace.

Why Edinburgh

As a world-leading festival city, Edinburgh is a fantastic place to study a language in its cultural context and alongside literature.

From the University's Special Collections to the National Library of Scotland, the city's resources for studying literatures, languages and cultures are exceptional.

Studying over four years gives you the blend of specialist skills and Intercultural Competence needed for a range of careers.

In Years 1 and 2, as well as your core subjects, you will choose option courses from a wide range of disciplines. You will specialise as you progress through your honours years, choosing courses that further match your own interests, expertise and employability needs.

You will spend Year 3 in a country where German is spoken. We are unique in Scotland in offering students a full academic year abroad within the four-year honours programme, regardless of whether you spend the year studying or working.