German Studies
A welcoming community and friendly department, we offer research and teaching expertise about the rich, inspiring and challenging legacies of the German-speaking world.
Passionate, research-inspired teaching
In the School of Modern Languages, we're passionate about all aspects of German, Austrian, and Swiss cultures. We provide cutting-edge language pedagogy and put research-inspired teaching at the heart of our degree programmes.
You'll join a culture of critical thinking. We'll encourage you to question:
- received opinions
- ideologies
- intellectual comfort zones
You'll learn to reflect on the importance of cultural differences.
Undergraduate study
Degrees in German or with a German component are in high demand in a wide range of professions. Studying languages at university provides enriching cultural and intellectual experiences enabling you to pursue interesting and promising careers.
We offer an extensive and flexible choice of subject combinations. For example, you can: combine German with French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese or Japanese; or study German with Business or Linguistics.
In the School of Modern Languages, classes focus on themes that:
- develop a deeper understanding of German-language cultures
- refine your linguistic and intellectual skills
- work on your abilities to navigate transcultural challenges
There's so much more to studying German at university than just learning a language. We offer foundations in:
- linguistics
- literature
- visual cultures
- history
- cultural studies
As you progress through the degree, you can then choose to specialise.
You'll be taught entirely in German in some lectures and seminars. In others, you'll actively practice German skills through:
- engaging with German texts
- practising your written German
- leading discussions in German
One of the attractions of studying languages at our university is the opportunity to spend a year abroad. Immerse yourself in German culture, while developing your language fluency. You can choose to:
- undertake a work placement in industry
- work as an assistant teacher
- study at one of our partner universities as an exchange student
We have exchange links with many universities in Germany and Austria, including:
- Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz
- Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
- Martin Luther Universität Halle Wittenberg
- Ruhr-Universität Bochum
- Universität Augsburg
- Universität Rostock
- Universität Oldenburg
Postgraduate study
Take your language study further by taking one of our postgraduate programmes.
Postgraduate Taught
If you enjoy translating, you can apply to study our Translation and Localisation MA.
Postgraduate Research
We offer a one-year German MLitt research degree that allows you to focus on a particular area of German studies.
We also offer specialised research degrees in Translation Studies (MLitt) and Film Studies (MLitt).
Our MPhil and PhD research programmes allow you to specialise in German. You can also specialise in translating and interpreting.
We offer three MPhil and PhD programmes:
Extra-curricular activities
You'll have lots of opportunities outside of the classroom to improve your spoken German, to immerse yourself in German culture and to reinforce your language studies.
The DAAD-Lektor(in) organises a wide range of activities such as:
- a regular Filmabend
- an annual Weihnachtsfeier
- monthly get-togethers of staff and students over a beer at the German Stammtisch
In the past, students have produced their own film about German-British cultural encounters in a film workshop.
Newcastle's independent Tyneside Cinema frequently shows films from German-speaking countries.
We also publish a regular newsletter about our activities.
A snapshot of our history
In the School of Modern Languages, we're committed to continuing a proud history of more than a century of teaching German language and culture. We've more than sixty years of an academic curriculum in German Studies.
We've taught German language at Newcastle since the 19th century.
Over the years, more than 90 professors, lecturers and Lektors have worked in the German Studies department.
In 2009, we celebrated 50 years since the first Chair of German Studies was introduced at Newcastle University.