German and Linguistics, MA (Hons)

German is the most spoken first language in Europe and the third most popular language to learn worldwide. This flexible programme allows students to study German while building a social scientific understanding of language, making it an excellent joint honours option. It combines the exploration of a modern language in its cultural context with the analysis of meaning through sounds, words, and structures. Relevant linguistics courses cover the speech sounds, variations, and historical development of world languages.Over four years, including a year abroad, students develop professional German skills in reading, listening, writing, translating, speaking, and presenting, alongside studies of German literature, film, and theatre in historical and political contexts. Beginners start with German 1A, while more experienced students take German 1B. By the final year, participants achieve advanced linguistic, critical, and analytical skills for projects like dissertations. Linguistics investigates how language functions in society, evolves, and is acquired by children, with opportunities to test hypotheses using specialised equipment.Edinburgh, a vibrant cultural hub, offers an ideal setting for this programme, with German taught since 1894. The four-year structure provides flexibility to select courses aligned with personal interests and career goals, including a full year abroad for study or work.