German and Comparative Literature

German and comparative literature at Queen Mary University of London is a degree that takes seriously both the practical command of a major world language and the intellectual richness of literary study conducted across cultural and linguistic boundaries. Studying German at Queen Mary involves intensive engagement with the language alongside learning about the cultures and histories of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. You develop a high level of linguistic competence together with analytical skills and an understanding of intercultural issues.

Comparative literature asks how literature looks different when you approach it across languages and traditions rather than within a single one.

This four-year full-time degree develops your German language proficiency to a high level, giving you the ability to read, write, speak, and understand German in academic and professional contexts. Alongside the language work, you will study German literature from different periods and alongside other literary traditions, developing your critical and analytical skills as a reader of texts across cultural contexts. Queen Mary's London location gives the programme access to a rich academic and cultural environment, and the comparative literature dimension exposes you to a wider range of literary traditions than a single-language degree can offer.

Graduates of German and comparative literature programmes are well placed for careers in translation, interpreting, publishing, journalism, education, international business, diplomacy, the civil service, cultural organisations, and the arts. German is consistently in demand in the European and UK job markets, and the combination of linguistic precision and literary-critical thinking is valued across a wide range of professional contexts. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in German, comparative literature, translation studies, or linguistics, and some pursue academic research careers.

Others use the language skills as a platform for careers in European institutions, international law, or global media.