UCAS code R220
German is a major language of business, commerce and science, as well as the gateway to understanding a vibrant modern multicultural society with a rich and complex past and influential cultural output. We will help you not only to become highly proficient in writing, reading, speaking and listening to contemporary German, but also to understand the society, history, politics, linguistics, culture, literature and cinema of Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
German graduates are some of the most highly sought after by employers, and our German students are particularly well-placed to achieve their full potential in the workplace.
Whilst the perfection of language skills is at the heart of modern languages degrees in Liverpool, all of our degrees demand full intellectual engagement with a wide selection of areas in German studies. We research and teach German history, culture, literature and film from the 19th to 21st centuries, as well as linguistics, translation, and much more.
Our students participate in a number of extracurricular activities, including the regular writer-in-residence programme, the annual translation workshop organised across the Department, a weekly ‘Stammtisch’, and the student-led German-language online publication. They regularly win prestigious DAAD Summer School Grants.
Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.
Student must take either GRMN100B or GRMN100U.
Students with A level German or equivalent should normally take GRMN100U. Students with no previous experience of learning German, or with qualifications below A level, should normally take GRMN100B.
Students without formal qualifications (GCSE or A level), but with prior knowledge of a language and/or higher levels of linguistic ability on account of heritage, extended periods of residency in a relevant country, or similar experience and exposure, may be permitted to take a higher-level language module, subject to agreement of the relevant Subject Lead.
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change. This course has been updated for 2027 entry as part of a review of all our programmes. This review has considered refining study pathways, strengthening links with employers, integrating generative AI, developing students’ research skills, and enhancing alignment with our research strengths. Please note, as at all times, the University reserves the right to make reasonable changes, including to content, entry requirements, or fees, or to discontinue programmes. Applicants will be informed of any significant change.
Language modules should continue from those taken in year one (i.e. students who took GRMN100B should take GRMN200I; students who took GRMN100U should take GRMN200A).
Students take 30 credits of optional modules in semester one and 15 credits of optional modules in semester two.
MODL200 is a placement module for which you can register directly. You will be contacted in due course with details of a placement.
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change. This course has been updated for 2027 entry as part of a review of all our programmes. This review has considered refining study pathways, strengthening links with employers, integrating generative AI, developing students’ research skills, and enhancing alignment with our research strengths. Please note, as at all times, the University reserves the right to make reasonable changes, including to content, entry requirements, or fees, or to discontinue programmes. Applicants will be informed of any significant change.
Required Year Abroad during which students can opt for one of three pathways, which have different forms of assessment.
The Year Abroad carries 120 credits (at Level 5) and counts for 10% of the final degree classification.
Students should spend a minimum of seven months in a German-speaking country, and can also choose to split this between two different pathways. Where students are unable to complete the minimum term abroad due to exceptional travel or international restrictions, an alternative Year Abroad programme will be put in place which meets the same learning outcomes.
Students who are unable to meet the minimum term abroad for personal reasons should discuss this directly with the Director of the Year Abroad. If learning outcomes cannot be met, students will need to transfer onto a three-year programme of Modern Language Studies.
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change. This course has been updated for 2027 entry as part of a review of all our programmes. This review has considered refining study pathways, strengthening links with employers, integrating generative AI, developing students’ research skills, and enhancing alignment with our research strengths. Please note, as at all times, the University reserves the right to make reasonable changes, including to content, entry requirements, or fees, or to discontinue programmes. Applicants will be informed of any significant change.
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| PROFICIENT GERMAN (GRMN300P) | 30 |
| DISSERTATION (MODL307) | 30 |
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change. This course has been updated for 2027 entry as part of a review of all our programmes. This review has considered refining study pathways, strengthening links with employers, integrating generative AI, developing students’ research skills, and enhancing alignment with our research strengths. Please note, as at all times, the University reserves the right to make reasonable changes, including to content, entry requirements, or fees, or to discontinue programmes. Applicants will be informed of any significant change.
If you split your degree between German and another subject area, you will study a German language module, at beginners or advanced level, and a cultural module per semester, alongside two other modules in your other subject.
If you combine German with a non-language subject, you will spend the year abroad in a German speaking country as an assistant in a school, as a student at a university or on a work placement. If you combine German with another language, you will split the year between two countries.
You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and small-group language classes in a supportive environment where regular feedback is provided on assessed work. Language teaching takes place in small groups with first-language speakers of German, and focuses on developing skills in speaking, listening, reading, writing, translation and interpreting.
Students are encouraged to become independent learners through engagement with digital learning materials, language laboratory activities, and a wide range of German-language cultural resources. Teaching in cultural and historical modules combines lectures with seminar discussion, presentations and collaborative activities.
A year abroad in a German-speaking country provides valuable opportunities to enhance language proficiency, intercultural understanding and professional skills. Students are also supported through the Language Lounge, Academic Advisors, library resources and dedicated study skills support.
Performance throughout the programme is carefully monitored through a combination of continuous and formal assessment. Language modules include a variety of written and oral assessments such as class tests, presentations, translations, coursework, oral examinations and written examinations. Assessment is designed to evaluate students’ ability to understand, communicate and use German effectively in a range of contexts.
Other modules use a mixture of essays, source analyses, presentations and project work. Students may also complete a range of authentic assessments, including reports, podcasts, videos and other practical tasks designed to develop professional and digital skills. Feedback is provided throughout the programme to support student progress and development.
The year abroad contributes 10% of the final degree classification, with second-year work contributing 20% and final-year work contributing 70%. Final-year students also complete an independent research project.
At Liverpool, we take a distinctive approach to education through the Liverpool Learning Framework. This means teaching that is engaging, inclusive and designed to help you succeed during your studies and beyond.
You’ll develop specialist subject knowledge alongside the skills employers value most, including:
Our curriculum is characterised by the three Liverpool Hallmarks:
We also embed key priorities across our curriculum, including AI literacy, employability, and sustainability, helping you prepare for the future and make a positive impact in the world.
We’re committed to creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment where every student can thrive.
Studying with us means you can tailor your degree to suit you. Here's what is available on this course.
University of Liverpool students can choose from an exciting range of study placements at partner universities worldwide.
Broaden your world by spending an additional year of study at a partner university abroad following your second year of study.
Every student at The University of Liverpool can study a language as part of, or alongside their degree. You can choose:
With a combined degree, you can study two subjects as part of the same degree programme.
Teaching is delivered by the Department of Languages, Cultures and Film, who bring together experts in a wide range of disciplines. A cutting edge research programme and award-winning teaching provide great opportunities to study all aspects of language and culture within a global context.
From arrival to alumni, we’re with you all the way:
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Engage with topical historical, cultural and topical debates.
Studying German goes beyond preparing students for a specific career, as the skills learned offer many possibilities. The Higher Education Statistics Agency consistently records high employment levels for language graduates, and the employability of graduates in German is excellent.
You will be equipped for graduate opportunities requiring competence in German, breadth of outlook, sympathetic understanding of other cultures, efficient selection and deployment of information from written sources, critical and evaluative judgements and excellent standards of literacy.
We have excellent links with a wide-range of German employers across all sectors: from financial to energy companies, manufacturers to retailers, including
These links are used frequently to help students find work placements on the Year Abroad or to secure graduate jobs.