French and German

French and German is one of the most classically prestigious modern languages combinations, giving you access to two of Europe's great literary and cultural traditions and to the two most widely studied foreign languages in UK schools. French is spoken across five continents and is a working language of the European Union, the United Nations, and many international organisations. German is the most widely spoken native language in Europe, the language of Goethe, Schiller, Kafka, and Brecht, and the medium of one of the world's major economies and one of the most significant traditions in European philosophy and science.

Studied together, they offer a deep and wide-ranging engagement with European culture, history, and ideas.

At the University of Manchester, this four-year full-time programme develops high-level proficiency in both French and German alongside a rich engagement with the literary, cultural, and intellectual traditions of the French-speaking and German-speaking worlds. Manchester has a strong tradition in both French and German studies, with research expertise spanning literature, linguistics, film, and cultural history. The degree includes a sandwich year abroad, giving you extended time living and studying in France or francophone countries and Germany or German-speaking countries, which is essential for developing the genuine fluency and cultural confidence that the programme aims to produce, as well as a work placement.

You will develop skills in close reading, translation, linguistic analysis, and critical argumentation in both languages.

Graduates from French and German go on to careers in diplomacy, the civil service, international business, translation and interpreting, journalism, education, publishing, European institutions, the arts and cultural sector, law, and many other fields where the ability to operate in two major European languages is a professional asset. Some graduates pursue postgraduate study in French, German, comparative literature, European studies, or translation, while others move directly into professional roles in Europe or internationally.