French and Beginners German

French and beginners' German at Oxford is a programme that combines deep engagement with one of the great literary and intellectual traditions of Europe with the challenge of developing German from scratch to a high level of proficiency. French carries a uniquely rich cultural and literary heritage, from the medieval fabliaux and Renaissance humanists through the Enlightenment philosophes and Romantic poets to the existentialists and the nouveau roman. German, developed from beginner level across the four years, adds access to another of Europe's most important literary and intellectual traditions, from Goethe and Schiller through Kafka and Brecht to contemporary German-language writing.

At the University of Oxford you will receive training in written and spoken French alongside structured language development in German from beginner level, with both languages supported by study of literature, thought and culture across a range of periods and forms. The breadth of optional study available, including linguistics, philology, film, gender studies and advanced translation, means you can tailor the degree to your interests. The programme runs over four years full time and the high level of academic expectation at Oxford develops the close reading, careful thinking and precise writing that the most demanding professional and academic careers require.

Graduates of French and German from Oxford are valued in a wide range of careers, including the European institutions, international business, diplomacy, journalism, publishing, translation and interpreting, law, finance and education. The combination of French fluency and German proficiency is particularly sought after in organisations with interests across France and the German-speaking world. Postgraduate study in modern languages, European studies, translation or a related discipline is a well-established further route.