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German Studies at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

This Graduate Diploma in German Studies is ideal if you already have a university degree in another subject and want to refresh or expand your knowledge of German culture and language by taking advanced content and language modules. Why choose this course?

  • You will be taught the German language by highly experienced language teachers who are also native speakers of German.
  • You can choose from a range wide of German content courses covering areas such as nineteenth- to twenty-first-century literature, film, history or contemporary politics, which are taught in English or German.
  • This course also offers you comparative culture modules taught together with experts from other language areas at Birkbeck, which situate German culture and history within a wider European context.
What you will learn This course will build your competency in writing, speaking, reading and listening in the German language. You will immerse yourself in important aspects of Germany’s culture and history over the last 200 years and familiarise yourself with key German literary texts and films. This Graduate Diploma in German is also an excellent opportunity for you to hone or refresh your skills in essay writing, oral presentations and pursuing independent research. You can tailor the course to your interests and opt to write a dissertation on a topic related to Germany and German culture that you will develop with your academic supervisor. How you will learn You will learn in small-group seminars designed to encourage active student participation. The course is available to study full- or part-time with classes taking place in the evening. Some modules may also offer online as well as on-campus attendance, so you will be able to choose which suits you best. Highlights
  • This course is ideal if you wish to undertake Master's-level study in German but you require further training at undergraduate level before commencing postgraduate study.
  • You will be taught by specialists from a centre of teaching and research excellence that prides itself on research-led teaching in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Spanish, making it an outstanding multidisciplinary team.
  • You could be studying in a building that was once home to Virginia Woolf and frequented by members of the Bloomsbury Group. The building houses our own creative hub which includes the Peltz Gallery, the Gordon Square Cinema and a theatre and performance space.
  • We are also close to a number of cultural centres and research libraries relevant to German studies at advanced levels, such as Senate House Library, the German Historical Institute, the British Library and the Goethe Institute.
Careers and employability This Graduate Diploma in German provides you with excellent preparation for pursuing your studies further at postgraduate and later PhD level. On successfully completing this course you will have gained important transferable skills, including:
  • the ability to read and digest academic literature
  • confidence in participating in group discussions on topics related to your studies
  • the ability to express yourself succinctly
  • independent research skills
  • time-management and self-motivation.
Graduates can pursue career paths in international organisations or businesses, translating and teaching, research and journalism. Possible professions or fields of employment include:
  • academia
  • teaching
  • working in cultural institutions such as museums
  • journalism and publishing.
Graduates from this course have gone on to be employed at the Foreign Office, and in publishing houses, academic exchange institutions, secondary schools and IT companies.

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment method

Language modules are assessed by oral and written examination and, in some cases, by coursework. All other modules are assessed by a mixture of coursework and examination.

How to apply

International applicants

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

Entry requirements

Normally a second-class honours degree in a subject other than German or modern languages. Language skills in German equivalent to A-level plus one year (also equivalent to a pass in German 3). Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £3690 Year 1
Northern Ireland £3690 Year 1
Scotland £3690 Year 1
Wales £3690 Year 1
International £6780 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.
German Studies at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS