German and Russian

Explore a vast range of historical, cultural and literary topics alongside your chosen languages. In addition to its academic and cultural benefits, our programme will also give you competency in two of the most highly valuable languages for careers in international relations and diplomacy.

On this degree, you’ll study language and culture in ways that are intellectually stimulating, as well as helping you develop a full range of language skills. You’ll get the opportunity to apply these also in real-life situations – especially during your Year Abroad. At the same time, you’ll develop your analytical skills by taking courses on a wide range of topics related to the German and Russian, which are taught by leading experts in their fields.

Choose from a selection of exciting optional modules, which may include:

Writing identities in the German-speaking world

Business Russian

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

Audio-Visual Translation Project: Russian to English

Border Crossings: Word & Image in Twentieth- and Twenty-First Century Russophone Cultures

German First-World War writing

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 German and Russian, designed and delivered by expert researchers.

Teach, study or complete a work placement abroad - immerse yourself in the German and Russian languages.

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.

Join our language and culture-based societies to further enhance your skills - contribute to the student-led Linguist Magazine.

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

Top 100 for Modern Languages in the QS World Subject Rankings (2024)