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German and History (BA) (UCAS RV21)

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Discover more about our German and History degree at Warwick

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RV21

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Bachelor of Arts (BA)

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4 years full-time, normally including a year abroad

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26 September 2022

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Modern Languages and Cultures

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University of Warwick

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A modern languages degree equips you with excellent communication, research, critical and evaluative skills, all of which are highly sought after by employers. German and History (BA) combines in-depth study of German language and culture with a wide range of historical subjects.

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This degree combines in-depth study of German language and culture with a wide range of historical subjects.

Alongside German language, you can profit from the many synergies that exist between the two departments. You can study topics relating to post-1918 German culture (the Weimar Republic, National Socialism, and German society and culture since 1945), or aspects of 18th and 19th century German culture (the Age of Enlightenment and the Age of Revolution).

Your studies in History will additionally enable to you to explore the history of the European and non-European worlds.

You will normally spend your second or third year abroad, consolidating and enhancing your learning.

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In your first year, you will take language classes designed to develop your knowledge and understanding of written and spoken German. You will also choose between two cultural modules, focusing on either the history and culture of German society since 1945 or German culture in the late eighteenth century. Both of these modules provide an excellent foundation for studying further aspects of German history, culture, and society in the later stages of your degree.

In History, you will take a core History module called Making of the Modern World, this contextualises later modern history by providing a framework in which major historical processes of the later modern era are studied on a worldwide scale. You will also be able to choose between optional modules in early modern or modern history.

In intermediate and final year, in addition to core and optional modules in History, you will go on to develop your language skills in more advanced language modules and your own particular interests beyond the language.

Our modules reflect the research specialism of academics in the German department and cover a broad range of subjects in German culture, society, literature, politics, business, philosophy, film, and history. You can also opt to study some of our interdisciplinary cross-School modules.

You can choose to spend your year abroad studying at a university in a German-speaking country or on a British Council Assistantship or a work placement.

Currently, during the year abroad, students usually attend a residential orientation course in Germany at Easter time. Led by departmental staff, who travel out to lead the event, the course offers skills development, pastoral care, careers advice, and guidance on final year study.

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We employ a variety of teaching styles within the School of Modern Languages including:

Lectures
Seminars (consisting of around 15 students and focussing on student participation)
Written and spoken language classes in small groups

You will spend the rest of your time:

Studying independently
Preparing for classes
Reading
Analysing materials set for study
Writing essays
Working on your language skills

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Seminars generally involve around 15 students.

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12 hours per week (15 hours per week in first year).

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We will track your progress through:

Language assignments
Essays
Presentations
Portfolio submissions
Examinations (written and oral)

To help you improve your skills you will receive detailed and personalised feedback throughout your course.

Your intermediate- and final-year marks each contribute 50% of your final degree classification.

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Study abroad

We strongly recommend that you take a year abroad as part of your modern languages degree, if you are able to. If you are unable to take a year abroad you will move to a three-year. You will be required to complete further language reinforcement work. You will also be encouraged to spend time abroad in other ways, during vacation times.

You will usually spend your year abroad doing one of three things:

Working as a language assistant teaching English in a primary or secondary school
Studying full-time at a partner university in your chosen country
On a work placement

Find out more about flexible Year Abroad options.

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A level typical offer

AAB to include A in History and B in a modern or classical language.

A level contextual offer

We welcome applications from candidates who meet the contextual eligibility criteria and whose predicted grades are close to, or slightly below, the contextual offer level. The typical contextual offer is ABB including B in History, B in a modern foreign language or Latin/Ancient Greek. See if you’re eligible.

General GCSE requirements

Unless specified differently above, you will also need a minimum of GCSE grade 4 or C (or an equivalent qualification) in English Language and either Mathematics or a Science subject. Find out more about our entry requirements and the qualifications we accept. We advise that you also check the English Language requirements for your course which may specify a higher GCSE English requirement. Please find the information about this below.

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IB typical offer

36 to include 5 at Higher Level in a modern or classical language and 6 in Higher Level History.

IB contextual offer

We welcome applications from candidates who meet the contextual eligibility criteria and whose predicted grades are close to, or slightly below, the contextual offer level. The typical contextual offer is 34 including grade 5 in Higher Level History, 5 in a Higher Level modern foreign language or Latin/Ancient Greek. See if you’re eligible.

General GCSE requirements

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We welcome applications from students taking a BTEC alongside an A level in a modern or classical language and A level History

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Year One

Modern German Language 1

You will develop your translation, grammatical and speaking skills in German, and in doing so broaden your vocabulary and range of idiom, expression and awareness of various stylistic registers. You will work in a pair or group on a media project under the supervision of a tutor, which will contribute to your end-of-year mark in spoken German.

Modern German Language for Beginners

As a beginner in the acquisition of the German language, you will cover the main linguistic skills in speaking, listening, writing and reading. You will focus on gaining grammatical accuracy as well and communicative fluency and competence. By the end of the year, you will be expected to be able to sustain everyday conversations in German, read authentic texts such as newspaper articles, follow the gist of TV extracts and be able to write an intermediate range of texts in German. You will also work on basic translations to and from German as a means of consolidating your knowledge.

Making of the Modern World

We live in the here and now. But what got us here? This module studies the string of major social, political, and cultural developments that established our modern world. Radical (and not so radical) ideas from the Enlightenment, the industrial revolution’s structural transformations of how we work, build and buy things, and the struggles and stumbles of imperialism, capitalism and globalisation have gone far to set terms of life in the twenty-first century. The module will also help you develop your critical voice as a historian while asking comparative questions about historical difference across the world.

Power and Passion: The Making of Modern German Culture

Starting with the study of the social milieu of late 18th century Germany, you will consider the cultural and intellectual changes of this period, and in particular the rise of the middle classes in the Age of Enlightenment. You will engage with the work of the globally significant writers of this period, including Goethe and Schiller, and study the light they cast on the emerging middle-class consciousness just prior to the cataclysmic changes of the French Revolution of 1789.

Intermediate Year

Modern German Language 2

In this second-year module, you will increase your general and specialised vocabulary in German through translation into English and German, essay-writing in German, spoken and listening comprehension, and work on business-related materials. In pursuit of these aims, you will learn to identify and rectify grammatical problems, and gain increased sensitivity towards language in general, and an awareness of register, semantics and style in particular. You will also gain important research skills, including correct use of dictionaries.

Modern German Language 2 (Post-beginners)

You will increase the range of your general and specialised vocabulary in German, improve your speaking, listening and comprehension skills, and develop your ability to translate from German, including through a sound knowledge of grammar, register, semantic nuances and style. There will be opportunities to write in German and to work on business-related materials.

Reason, Romantics and Reactions. Germany in the Age of Revolution

You will get to grips with the emerging sense of German nationhood, against the background of the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars. You will study concepts such as the state, the nation and the classical ideal as an aesthetic and political model through the work of authors such as Goethe, Schiller and Hölderlin, before exploring German Romanticism up to its critical reappraisal in the 19th century. You will develop your appreciation of the role of the artists in the German Weltanschauung and the rise of nationalism to broaden your understanding of how literature reflects different models of progress and anticipates social and political change.

Read more about Reason, Romantics and Reactions. Germany in the Age of RevolutionLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2022/23 year of study).

A selection of optional modules in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures (30 credits) and in History (60 credits)

Final Year

Modern German Language 3

In this third-year module, you will use vocabulary of increasing sophistication in both general and specialised fields, and improve your skills in spoken and written German and translation. You will improve your listening and reading comprehension skills, and learn to identify and rectify grammatical problems. An important aim of the course is to cultivate sensitivity towards language in general, and an awareness of register, semantics and style in particular.

A selection of optional modules in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures (30 credits) and in History (60 credits)

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Find out more about fees and funding.

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There may be costs associated with other items or services such as academic texts, course notes, and trips associated with your course. Students who choose to complete a work placement or study abroad will pay reduced tuition fees for their third year.

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