Politics and German

Politics and German is a combination that reflects the central importance of Germany to European and global affairs. Germany is Europe's largest economy, the most populous member state of the European Union, and a nation whose twentieth-century history, from the Weimar Republic through National Socialism to division and reunification, has shaped the political landscape of the continent in ways that continue to reverberate today. Politics gives you the analytical tools to understand how governments work, how international institutions function, and how political ideas develop and compete.

German opens direct access to the culture, literature, and politics of a nation that sits at the heart of almost every major European debate.

At the University of Manchester, this four-year full-time degree includes a sandwich year and work placement opportunities, giving you professional experience alongside your academic studies. You will develop genuine proficiency in German, from language classes and conversation work through to engagement with literary and political texts in the original. The politics strand covers political theory, comparative politics, international relations, and European and global affairs, with Manchester's strong research environment in political science and its international outlook informing the depth and breadth of the curriculum.

The combination of language competence and political analysis is particularly valuable for careers with a European or international dimension.

Graduates of Politics and German programmes pursue careers in the European institutions, diplomacy, international business, journalism, law, public affairs, the civil service, and academic research. Germany's economic significance and political centrality in Europe make the language a genuine asset in business and organisational contexts as well as cultural and diplomatic ones. Many graduates continue into postgraduate study in politics, European studies, international relations, German studies, or law, and the combination is excellent preparation for competitive graduate schemes in the public and private sectors.