German and Germanic Studies for undergraduates
German and the other Germanic languages, and the nations that speak them, are centred in the very heart of Europe. The ideas and cultures that originate there are some of the most influential on Earth.
Study with us and you'll become a fluent speaker of German and, if you wish, other Germanic tongues, too. But Germanic Studies at Sheffield isn't just a language factory. It's about grasping this core of thought and history that informs Germanic identities. It's about understanding the societies and living the cultures of 100 million European people. It's about enriching your vision of the world.
What we do is all about you
Sheffield's not a university where the top academics never get their hands dirty. You'll be taught by the best – so you'll become the best. And we're a department where staff and students work closely together, as members of the same team.
Our students are at the centre of everything we do. Join us and you won't just be a number on an exam paper. You won't be an anonymous customer or a box to be ticked. You'll be someone we value and know by name. You'll get close support from your personal tutor and belong to a community that learns together (and enjoys a sparkling social life together afterwards). You'll be right at the heart of our project, contributing to our research and the daily life of the department.
And here's the proof...
In 2011 the National Student Survey asked final-year students about their experience of university. A stunning 94 per cent of our students said they were satisfied with the quality of their course - while 97% said the staff of the Department taught well and made the subject interesting.
Your career: reaching the topIt's a difficult time to be building a career – but a degree from us will give you an excellent start. And we've got the figures to prove it again. The 2011 National Student Survey looked into what students do after their degrees. It found that 90 per cent of our recent graduates were either working or continuing their studies. Of these, 70 per cent were working in graduate-level jobs. This makes Germanic Studies graduates from Sheffield among the most employable in the country.
Dutch really helpsMany natives of the Netherlands speak English – but native English speakers who are fluent in Dutch are highly sought after by employers. Studying with us, and taking up the rare opportunity to learn Dutch, is another way our graduates get a head start in their careers. |
What kind of jobs?Many of our graduates go on to use their languages and cultural insights in teaching, translating and interpreting, both in the UK and Europe. But many work in other professions, where they may not be speaking other languages but are using their excellent all-round communication skills and powerful analytical thinking. These careers include law, journalism, broadcasting, accountancy, national government and business. |
 Your course: flexible and uniqueWhat else is special about Germanic Studies at Sheffield? As a department we're small enough to be personal, but big enough to be versatile. So we can offer you a choice of three languages, and the scope to choose from a wide range of other subjects. As well as German, we're one of very few British universities offering a degree in Dutch. And we're the only university in the world offering undergraduate degrees in Luxembourg Studies as well as modules in Luxembourgish language and culture. You can mix and match modules about language, culture, literature, politics, history, philosophy and film to design your own degree. You can add languages taught by other departments, such as Czech or Portuguese. Or you can study German alongside another non-language subject, from archaeology to mechanical engineering. Because you choose what to concentrate on, it'll be a degree that suits your own interests perfectly. It'll complement your strengths and it'll be completely unique. And it's another thing to help you stand out in the jobs market. |
Beyond the seminarJoin us and you'll have the chance to take part in a whole range of inspiring activities away from your regular learning. You could act in or help to produce a play with the:Acts, our departmental culture/theatre group. You could play in the Sauerkraut Cup – a football tournament contested annually by Germanic students from across the UK. Or you could contribute to citybooks, an amazing 'alternative travel guide' to Europe, compiled and published online by authors and photographers all over the EU. |
Your year abroad: the chance of a lifetime
If you study with us you'll spend your third year living and learning in Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium and/or the Netherlands. You'll be using and developing your language skills every day. So you'll make huge strides forward in your understanding. And you'll come back full of confidence, just in time for the start of your final year.
But it's far more than that. You'll get a real grasp of the culture you're studying. You'll build life skills and independence. You'll make friends and see incredible sights. You'll come back with a rucksack stuffed with a thousand stories. You'll have experiences that'll stay with you forever.