BA (Hons) Arts - German

Key facts

• The German economy is among the strongest in the world, and German graduates are currently in particularly high demand in Ireland
• The department offers small teaching groups, individual attention and access to native speakers
• Students can live abroad for a full academic year, acquire language skills, gain experience, maturity, independence and adaptability
• The study of language, literature, history, culture and film develops critical thinking, analytical and intercultural communication skills

German is the most widely-spoken language in the European Union and was recently designated the most important language for business in the UK.

Studying German opens the gate to the intellectual, economic and cultural riches of Central Europe (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). It is the language of international icons in, for example, the areas of:

• philosophy (Kant, Marx, Heidegger)
• literature (Goethe, Kafka)
• music (Mozart, Bach, Beethoven)
• film (Fassbinder)
• theatre (Brecht)
• psychology (Freud)
• science (Einstein) 
• religion (Luther)

While studying German with the aim of using it professionally later on, you will become aware of how important it is to be knowledgeable about the language within the cultural and historical contexts of the German-speaking countries.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

Study abroad

If you are studying through the BA International, you will spend Year 3 studying at one of our partner universities abroad. The Department of German has a wide range of partner institutions in Germany, including the Universities of Cologne, Leipzig, Konstanz, Hanover, Munich, Potsdam, Bonn, Rostock, Marburg, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Bochum) and Austria (Vienna, Klagenfurt).

Students spend Year 3 at one of these institutions. Your stay is organised by the International Education Office of UCC, academically supervised by the German Department, and supported by the EU’s Erasmus scheme. The year abroad is always perceived as an exciting and beneficial experience.

Work placement

The College of Arts offers a work-placement module. The final year module, PX3000, offers students the opportunity to gain recognition for work experience undertaken during the course of their studies.