German ranks in the world’s top 20 languages and in Europe, more people speak it as their first language than any other. Germany is also one of the most economically and politically influential countries in the European Union. As such, it is often studied from a political science perspective, making German and Politics an excellent joint honours combination.

Across all four years of our programme, including a year abroad, your studies will give you the chance to gain professional skills in all aspects of German, including:* reading and listening * writing and translating * speaking and presenting As well as language learning, you will also explore German-language literature, film and theatre. You will study these in the context of historical and political developments, from the eighteenth century to contemporary times.You will begin to understand how German speakers interpret the world through their language and historical context. Courses explore political issues such as:* the legacy of the Holocaust * migration * minority culturesOn joining us, complete beginners take our German 1A course. Students with prior experience of learning the language typically take German 1B.By your final year, you will have developed the linguistic, critical and analytical skills to the standard of completing a dissertation or long essay.

Politics studies the theory and practice of how societies are governed. How do our political institutions create collective rules, who has the power to make them, and what are the consequences of political decisions? What is the nature of a just society, and how do we get there?Drawing on the expertise of leading academics and researchers in the field, you will explore the origins and present-day contexts of societal conflicts about power, participation, and resources. You will not only study the processes of governance at the local, national, and international levels, but also the morality of political action, and the limits of freedom and justice.

As a world-leading festival and capital city, Edinburgh is a fantastic place to study a language in its cultural context and alongside politics. We are unique in Scotland in offering students a full academic year abroad within the four-year honours programme, regardless of whether you spend the year studying or working. Our programme is flexible. In Years 1 and 2, as well as studying German and Politics, you will choose option courses from a range of disciplines. You will then specialise as you progress through your honours years. When you graduate, you will have the combination of broad cultural education and specialist knowledge valued by employers worldwide.