German and History
German and history make a particularly coherent pairing because Germany sits at the centre of so many of the most significant events in European and world history over the past two centuries: the Reformation, the French Revolutionary period, the unifications of the nineteenth century, the World Wars, the Holocaust, the Cold War division, and reunification. Studying German gives you linguistic and cultural access to a rich tradition of literature, philosophy, and thought, while history provides the frameworks to understand the forces that have shaped Europe and the world. Together they develop close reading, analytical thinking, and the ability to interpret complex evidence.
This four-year full-time degree at the University of Aberdeen combines two subjects in which the institution has a strong research reputation, giving your studies depth and scholarly rigour. You will develop your German to a high level of academic and professional proficiency, engaging with literary and cultural texts alongside linguistic study. The history component spans European and world history, equipping you to trace long-term patterns of change and to understand how events and structures interact.
A year abroad is integrated into the programme, giving you the opportunity to spend an extended period in a German-speaking country, an experience that is transformative for language learning and cultural understanding alike. The typical entry tariff is 168 points.
German and history graduates carry a combination of skills, close reading, source analysis, linguistic proficiency, clear writing, and cultural adaptability, that opens a wide range of career paths. Many work in journalism, international organisations, the foreign office, education, publishing, and translation. Business roles with an international dimension, particularly those connected to Germany, Austria, or Switzerland, are natural destinations.
The degree also provides a strong foundation for postgraduate study in German studies, European history, international relations, or law.