German/History of Art
Studying German alongside the history of art brings together two disciplines with deep historical ties. Germany and the German-speaking world have been central to the development of European art, architecture and aesthetic theory from the Gothic through Romanticism to Expressionism and Bauhaus, and engaging with that tradition in its original language opens dimensions of understanding that translation cannot fully reproduce. At the University of Glasgow this five-year programme develops language proficiency alongside genuine knowledge of the history of visual art and architecture, drawing on one of Scotland's strongest modern languages departments.
You will develop your ability in German to a high level, engaging with literature, culture and contemporary society from the eighteenth century to the present. The Glasgow department's teaching spans a wide range of periods and genres, and you will learn to read and analyse German texts in their cultural and historical context. Alongside this, the history of art strand takes you through the major movements, media and methodological debates of the discipline, developing your skills in visual analysis and in interpreting works within their social, political and intellectual contexts.
The programme includes a sandwich year and work placements, providing opportunities for professional experience in cultural, curatorial, educational or commercial settings, which is particularly valuable in two disciplines where career paths often depend on contacts and direct experience.
Graduates of this combination are well placed for careers in museums, galleries and cultural institutions, particularly those with international collections or German connections. Publishing, arts journalism and cultural diplomacy draw others, as do roles in education and in the heritage sector more broadly. The language skills make graduates attractive to any employer with European interests.
Many go on to postgraduate study in German, art history, museum studies or European culture.