German and Spanish

German and Spanish is a degree that combines two of the most globally significant European languages and the extraordinarily rich civilisations that each carries. German is the most widely spoken first language in Europe, the language of philosophy, music, and literature from Goethe to Kafka, and central to understanding European history in its fullest complexity, including the democratic and cultural life of contemporary Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Spanish is one of the most spoken languages on earth, the language of five centuries of literature from the Golden Age to the Latin American novel, and increasingly important in global business, diplomacy, and everyday life across four continents.

Studying both means developing a genuinely international linguistic and cultural profile.

At the University of Manchester, this four-year, full-time programme develops advanced proficiency in both languages alongside serious engagement with the literatures, cultures, and contemporary societies of the German-speaking and Spanish-speaking worlds. You will move through language learning from advanced levels to near-fluency, combining rigorous language work with the study of literature, film, history, and contemporary politics in both traditions. Manchester's modern languages provision is research-active, and the programme benefits from specialists in both German and Hispanic studies.

The programme includes a sandwich placement year and work placement, typically involving time spent in a German-speaking or Spanish-speaking professional environment before your final year. This experience is central to developing the professional confidence and cultural fluency that the programme aims to produce.

Graduates work in translation and interpreting, international business, diplomacy, journalism, law, the cultural sector, and education. The combination of two widely spoken European languages is a distinctive professional asset. Postgraduate study in German, Hispanic, or European studies, or in translation and international relations, is a natural next step.