German Studies and English Language
UCAS Code: QR3F
Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
Access to HE Diploma
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
Extended Project
In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification provides to students for University study, we now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer. Eligible applicants would receive two offers, our usual offer plus an alternative offer of a B in the EPQ and one grade lower in their A level subjects
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE Maths C (or 4), English Language or English Literature C (or 4).
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Scottish Higher
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
This joint degree provides you with a solid grounding in the core mechanics and usage of language, and will enable you to write and speak confidently in German.
Join our friendly and dynamic Department of Modern Languages and European Studies and study in a lively, multilingual community with staff and students from all over the world. You will master the fundamental elements of the language, to the point where you will graduate with a near-native command of it. Our small language classes, led by native speakers, and direct access to expert staff for help and feedback ensures you develop your language skills to the best of your ability.
In addition to language, the German side of the degree offers optional modules with a particular 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 unification of East and West Germany in 1989. 98% of our research overall in modern languages and linguistics is rated as world leading, internationally excellent or internationally recognised (Research Excellence Framework, 2014), which feeds directly into your learning.
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.
Our Department of English Language and Applied Linguistics has been a leader in the field for 50 years. In English language, you will analyse language, its use in different social contexts and settings, on and off line, and how it is acquired and used by children and adults. During the degree you will develop your knowledge of grammar and phonetics in order to become a highly skilled user and analyst of the English language. Our method of applying the theory you learn to real-life situations will help you to understand that theory – and also show how the subject is directly relevant to many key issues in twenty-first-century society and the workplace.
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 institution through the Erasmus+ programme, undertaking a work placement or working as a British Council language teaching assistant. It allows you to directly immerse yourself in the culture and considerably develop 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 only 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.
**Careers**
By the time you graduate, you will be able to write and speak confidently in German, an immensely useful skill to have given that there is currently a great shortage of well-qualified linguists in the UK. As such, 98% of graduates from the Department of Modern Languages and European Studies are in work or further study six months after graduating (DLHE survey, 2015-16).
You will also develop transferable skills in analysis of language data, problem solving, team working and presentation skills. 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. Recent graduates have gained employment with Sony Europe, the Civil Service, Oxford University Press, Dow Jones and PwC.
Modules
Sample modules may include:
* Genre and context
* Poetry in English
* Research and criticism
* German language (at intermediate or advanced level)
* Icons of modern Germany
Check our website for more details on the course structure.
Tuition fees
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The Uni
University of Reading
Languages and Cultures

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See your living costsWhat students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
English language
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
German and scandinavian studies
Sorry, no information to show
This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
English studies
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
What do graduate employment figures really tell you?German and scandinavian studies
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
What do graduate employment figures really tell you?It's often said the UK doesn't produce enough modern language graduates, and graduates from German courses have a lot of options available to them when they complete their courses. The unemployment rates last year was lower than graduates in general. Nearly a quarter of working graduates from 2015 got jobs outside the UK — mostly as English teachers — which is much higher than for most subjects. The relative strength of the German economy means there will continue to be opportunities there in the future. But more graduates went to work in London, and those who want to stay at home to work find jobs anywhere where good communication skills are a must, particularly in education, in marketing, in the arts and in business and finance as teachers, writers, personnel officers, financial advisors, analysts, sales people and marketers.. But remember — whilst employers say they rate graduates who have more than one language, you need to have them as part of a whole package of good skills.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
English language
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£19k
£24k
£27k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
German studies
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£19k
£24k
£27k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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