German/ Theatre Studies

German and theatre studies is an unusual combination that offers genuine intellectual depth in both directions. German is a major European language, spoken across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and carries one of the world's great literary, philosophical, and theatrical traditions, from Goethe and Schiller to Brecht, Kafka, and the extraordinary output of twentieth-century German-language culture. Theatre studies examines performance as an art form and a cultural practice, encompassing dramatic literature, theatre history, directing, acting theory, stage design, and the live event as a distinctive mode of human communication.

The two disciplines illuminate each other: the German-language theatrical tradition is central to European and world theatre history, and theatre provides a lens through which German literature and culture come alive.

At the University of Glasgow, this five-year full-time programme develops high-level German language skills alongside rigorous engagement with theatre studies. You will study German from the foundational level upwards, or build on existing knowledge, engaging with the language in all its richness and developing the ability to work with texts and media in German. Alongside this, you will explore theatrical traditions, performance theories, and dramatic literature, developing both analytical and creative capabilities.

The programme includes a sandwich year with work placement, giving you professional experience in a relevant context during your studies.

Graduates are well placed for careers in performing arts organisations, arts management, cultural diplomacy, education, translation and interpreting, journalism, and roles across the cultural and creative sectors. The combination of German language expertise and theatre knowledge is particularly valuable for work with European arts organisations and in cultural contexts where engagement with German-speaking countries is relevant. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in German, theatre studies, translation, or cultural management.