History and German
History and German is a combination that opens particularly rich possibilities, given that Germany and the German-speaking world have been at the centre of European history in ways that no serious historian of modern Europe can afford to ignore. The German language gives you direct access to primary historical sources, historiographical debates conducted in German and a contemporary culture whose engagement with its own past is among the most serious and sustained in the world. At the University of Manchester this four-year programme draws on two strong departments to develop you as both a rigorous historian and a high-level German speaker.
You will engage with the breadth of historical inquiry at Manchester, choosing from aspects of ancient, medieval, modern, economic, social and cultural history, and including the history of science, technology and medicine among the possible areas of focus. The German strand develops your language skills to a high level alongside knowledge of German-speaking culture, literature and history from the eighteenth century to the present. A sandwich year and work placements are built in, giving you professional experience in relevant contexts before you graduate.
The combination of historical analytical skills and German language proficiency makes you particularly well suited for roles that require serious engagement with the German-speaking world and its history.
Graduates of history and German work in research, journalism, the civil service, European and international organisations, publishing, education, heritage and cultural institutions. The language element opens additional doors in German companies with UK operations, Anglo-German cultural and diplomatic organisations, and roles where access to German-language sources, documents or interlocutors is genuinely valuable. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in history, German, European studies, translation or journalism, using the combination of analytical depth and linguistic capability as a foundation for specialist work.