German and Italian

Specialise in a combination offering a unique blend of academic, professional, and cultural benefits. Studying German and Italian can prepare you for a career in international relations, diplomacy and European policy-making.

You'll develop a full range of language skills in German and Italian, both languages of great literary and historical traditions. Study flexibly, selecting the languages and topics that suit your personal and professional goals, and learn from leading experts in their fields.

You will also experience the exciting opportunities offered by a Year Abroad, with the opportunity to submerge yourself in the cultural and educational environments of your chosen languages.

Explore our engaging range of modules, which may include:

Cultures of protest and terror in West Germany, 1967-1977

Sex, Seduction and Submission: gender in German literature from 1900 to today

Desire, Disease and Decay: Thomas Mann and his world

Icons of Italy

Visions of Italy: Modern Italy in the Making

Dante: Word, Music and Image

And cross-departmental modules which may include:

Constructions of gender, sexuality and race  

Cross-cultural Cinema: Migration and Displacement

Thinking Otherwise: Decolonial approaches to contemporary thought and culture

Introduction to Linguistics

From Text to Tech: Digital Approaches to Languages and Cultures

The Romance languages: structure, variation and change

There's an extensive range of language combinations available to you within our Modern Languages department.

Why study this course?

Experience a new approach to language learning with our CLIL (Content Language Integrated Learning) teaching method - study topics of cultural significance in your target language, designed and delivered by expert researchers.

Teach, study or complete a work placement abroad, immersing yourself in German and Italian.

Enjoy focused academic contact – We pride ourselves on competitive contact hours. These take place in small groups, encouraging active language learning through engagement with cultural material.

Learn in a vibrant city that is culturally, ethnically and religiously diverse. Join our language and culture-based societies to further enhance your skills and contribute to the student-led Linguist Magazine.

12th for German in the Complete University Guide by subject (2024)

11th for Italian in the Complete University Guide by subject (2024)