French and German

French and German together cover two of the most important languages in European history, culture and contemporary life, and studying both at degree level gives you access to extraordinary literary, philosophical and intellectual traditions. French, spoken by more than 300 million people worldwide and the working language of many international institutions, is the medium of a rich tradition stretching from Montaigne and Racine through Baudelaire and Proust to contemporary French and Francophone literature and thought. German, the most widely spoken first language in the European Union, carries an equally weighty intellectual heritage including Kant, Goethe, Brecht and a distinctive tradition in sociology, philosophy and literary criticism.

At the University of Edinburgh, this four-year full-time programme follows the Scottish honours structure, developing your proficiency in both languages to a high level while also engaging seriously with the histories, cultures and societies of the French-speaking and German-speaking worlds. Edinburgh's School of European Languages and Cultures has established faculty in both French and German studies, providing specialist teaching in each tradition. The typical entry tariff for this programme is around 168 UCAS points.

You will study both languages through reading, speaking, writing and listening, engaging with literary texts, cultural history and contemporary societies in each language alongside the linguistic work. The programme is likely to cover significant literary and cultural movements in both traditions, from the French Revolution and German Romanticism to post-war French philosophy and contemporary German literature. Edinburgh's international environment enriches the experience of language study further.

Graduates of French and German programmes are well placed for careers in international business, diplomacy, the European institutions, translation and interpreting, publishing, journalism, law and academic research. The pairing is particularly valued in the European context, where both languages are routinely used in professional and political settings. Many graduates enter teaching, cultural organisations, the civil service and sectors such as finance, consulting and technology where European connections are commercially significant.

Postgraduate study in either language, European studies, translation or comparative literature is a natural continuation.