Portuguese/German

Portuguese and German brings together two European languages of very different but equally significant reach. Portuguese is a global language, spoken by around 250 million people across Portugal, Brazil, Mozambique, Angola and other Lusophone communities worldwide, making it one of the most widely distributed languages on Earth. German is the most widely spoken native language in Europe, the language of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and a major carrier of literary, philosophical and cultural traditions of profound importance.

Studying both equips you with genuine cross-continental linguistic capability and access to a remarkable range of cultural traditions.

At the University of Glasgow this five-year, full-time programme develops your Portuguese and German to a high level of proficiency, moving from grammatical foundations through to advanced literary, cultural and contemporary engagement in both languages. The German strand offers a wide spectrum of teaching ranging from the eighteenth century to contemporary culture, while the Portuguese strand develops your engagement with both European and Brazilian contexts and the literary and cultural traditions they have produced. The programme includes a sandwich year and a work placement, giving you direct professional experience in a German or Portuguese-speaking environment and the opportunity to develop your linguistic skills in authentic professional contexts.

Graduates of Portuguese and German programmes are exceptionally well placed for careers in translation and interpreting, international business and trade with German or Lusophone markets, diplomacy and the foreign office, journalism, broadcasting, education, NGOs, international development and the civil service. The rare combination of Portuguese and German opens doors in Brazil's rapidly growing economy as well as in Europe's largest economy and the Portuguese-speaking world. Postgraduate study in languages, translation, area studies or international relations is a natural next step for many.