Czech and German

Czech and German sit at the heart of Central Europe, two languages whose speakers have lived alongside each other for centuries in some of the most historically complex and culturally rich territory in the world. German is one of the major European languages, with a literary and intellectual tradition of global importance; Czech carries within it the history of Bohemia and Moravia, the reformations and counter-reformations, the Habsburg empire, the traumas of the twentieth century and a remarkable literary output that includes Kafka, Hasek and Kundera. Studying both at University College London gives you access to a region whose significance to European history and contemporary politics is hard to overstate.

This four-year full-time programme will develop your German and Czech to advanced levels, with close attention to literary and cultural texts, spoken and written language proficiency, and the historical, social and political contexts that give both languages their distinctive character. You will read literature, engage with film and other cultural forms, study the history of the Czech and German-speaking worlds, and develop the analytical and argumentative skills that come from sustained engagement with complex texts and ideas at a leading research university.

Graduates with high-level German and Czech combine two language competencies that are rare in the UK market. Career opportunities span translation and interpreting, the Czech and German business communities in the UK and Europe, journalism, the foreign office, international organisations, cultural institutions, academia and any sector with Central European operations or interests. The Central European expertise developed through this degree is particularly relevant in international law, finance, technology and media, where the Czech Republic and German-speaking countries are significant players.

Postgraduate study in German, Czech, Central European studies, translation or European history is also a natural pathway.