Music with German

Music with German is a degree that gives you a substantial grounding in musical study alongside genuine competence in one of Europe's most important languages, combining two disciplines that have a remarkably deep and productive connection. The German-speaking world, encompassing Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, has produced an extraordinary proportion of the Western classical repertoire, from Bach and Handel through Beethoven, Brahms, and Wagner to Mahler, Schoenberg, and beyond, and access to German opens the musical scholarship, manuscripts, letters, and critical writings that illuminate that tradition directly.

At Royal Holloway, this three-year full-time programme takes music as the major element, constituting approximately three-quarters of your studies, with German making up the remainder through core language modules. A sandwich year, year abroad, and work placements are available, giving you the opportunity to spend time in a German-speaking country, developing your linguistic fluency and your firsthand engagement with German musical culture. You will study music history, theory, analysis, and performance, developing a deep and well-rounded musical education, alongside German language study that takes you from your entry level to genuine communicative competence.

The combination produces graduates who can engage with the German-speaking musical world in a way that purely English-speaking musicians cannot.

Graduates go on to careers in music performance, music education, arts administration, music librarianship, musicology, arts journalism, and the creative industries. The German competence the degree adds is a significant advantage in contexts that involve European musical organisations, research in historical music, or engagement with the German-speaking music market. Many graduates pursue postgraduate study in music, musicology, performance, or German studies, and some go on to careers in academic research or musical performance at a professional level.