Arabic and Comparative Literature and German

Arabic, comparative literature, and German is a degree that brings three of the most intellectually demanding language and literary disciplines together. Arabic is the most widely spoken language of the Middle East and one of the six official languages of the United Nations, with a literary tradition stretching back over fourteen centuries and profound contemporary significance in political, cultural, and economic life. German is the most widely spoken native language in Europe and the language of one of the continent's most influential literary and philosophical traditions.

Comparative literature develops the conceptual tools to read across these and other traditions, examining how literary forms, themes, and cultural questions travel between languages and are transformed in the process.

At the University of St Andrews, this four-year full-time programme allows you to study Arabic in combination with German and comparative literature as a joint honours degree, offering the opportunity for comparative analyses between different languages, literatures, cultures, histories, politics, and economies. St Andrews does not offer Arabic as a single honours degree, which makes the combination format the natural way to pursue Arabic at the university, and the programme brings together the cultural breadth of Arabic and German study with the critical analytical framework that comparative literature provides. A year abroad gives you the opportunity to develop your language skills through immersion and to engage firsthand with the cultures your studies address.

With a typical entry tariff of 200 points, the programme is intellectually demanding and attracts students with exceptional linguistic commitment and scholarly curiosity. Graduates pursue careers in academia, translation, publishing, journalism, diplomacy, international organisations, and roles in business and the arts where rare language combinations and comparative cultural knowledge are valued.