German and History, MA (Hons)

Course summary

For centuries, German-speaking cultures have had a profound international influence. German ranks in the world’s top 20 languages and in Europe, more people speak it as their first language than any other.Studying German and History helps us understand the contemporary world, as well as shedding light on the past. On our flexible joint honours programme, you have the opportunity to develop advanced language skills in German while discovering how the German-speaking world, and other cultures around the globe, have shaped modern civilisation. GermanAcross all four years of our programme, including a year abroad, your studies will give you the chance to gain professional skills in all aspects of German, including:

• reading and listening

• writing and translating

• speaking and presenting

You will spend a year of the programme studying and using your German abroad. Alongside your language studies, in German classes, you will explore and compare historical and cultural developments in the German-speaking world from different perspectives. This will enable you to critically appraise topics such as:

• German identities

• Encounters with non-Germans

• Nationalism and anti-nationalism

• Nature and culture

• Minority cultures

• Migration in the German-speaking world

HistoryBeyond German history, you can choose to take courses in the history of other cultures and civilisations, from ancient Rome to the modern United States. From the early Middle Ages to the most recent past, the Edinburgh experience is distinctive for its range of historical themes, chronological periods and geographical areas of study. Work in history takes the form of interaction with evidence in primary form and through critical reading of a wide body of historical writing. We use a rich variety of approaches to the past, including political history, cultural history, social history, economic history, intellectual history, gender history, and global and transnational history. You will also be able to study topics such as the history of science, architecture and Western medicine. Why EdinburghAs a world-leading festival and capital city, and home of two World Heritage Sites, Edinburgh is a fantastic place to study a modern language in its cultural context and alongside History.German has been taught here since 1894, making it one of the first European languages to be offered at Edinburgh. We have excellent resources for the study of History and German, including access to unique archival sources within the library's special collections.Studying over four years enables you to choose courses, including from other disciplines, that match your own interests, expertise and employability needs. It gives you the blend of specialist skills and Intercultural Competence valued in a range of careers around the globe.We are unique in Scotland in offering students a full academic year abroad within the four-year honours programme, regardless of whether you spend the year studying or working.

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