German/Psychology

German and psychology is a combination that reflects two genuinely distinct but complementary ways of understanding human beings: through culture, language and history on one hand, and through empirical science on the other. German is one of the major languages of European culture and scholarship, with a literary and intellectual tradition, from Goethe and Schiller through Kafka and Brecht to contemporary German-language writing, that rewards study at every level. Psychology brings rigorous scientific methods to bear on questions of mind, behaviour, perception, emotion and social interaction that have fascinated thinkers for centuries.

At the University of Glasgow, the psychology component of this five-year programme is grounded in what the university describes as the scientific study of mind and behaviour: understanding how people think, act, react and interact, and applying that understanding to help individuals and address wider societal challenges. The German strand develops your linguistic competence alongside your knowledge of German-speaking cultures, literature, history and contemporary society. The programme includes a sandwich year and work placements, providing structured opportunities to develop professional experience alongside your academic study.

Five years allows the two subjects to be studied with real depth, so that you graduate with genuine command of both rather than a superficial grounding in each.

The combination develops intercultural literacy and sensitivity to language alongside the analytical and quantitative skills that psychology requires, making graduates distinctive in a range of professional contexts.

Graduates go on to careers in clinical or applied psychology (requiring further professional training), human resources, marketing and consumer behaviour, international business, education, mental health services, research, translation and interpreting, and cultural and media organisations. Further study in psychology, German, linguistics or a related discipline is also common for those who want to specialise or pursue academic careers.