Why study this course?
Students who spend a year on a work placement abroad not only gain valuable work experience as teachers and tutors, but also develop their linguistic skills, social and personal development, and self-confidence and understanding of Germany or Austria.
It is possible for students applying for the MA (Hons) in German to study or work abroad in a German-speaking country between their second and third year of study. This adds an extra year to the MA (Hons) course, making it a total of five years in length. Abroad options at partner universities are available in year three of the four-year MA.
Many UK students apply for a placement in a school through the British Council’s Language Assistantship scheme. Successful applicants go on to teach English at a school or college in Germany or Austria. Assistants are paid a salary locally, and, after attending a basic induction course in teaching resources and methods, are typically required to teach for 12 hours per week under the supervision of local staff at the educational institution employing them.
Other students organise an alternative work placement with the approval of the German Department. Previous students have worked in art galleries, publishing houses and various other sectors, including as in-house translators.
The year abroad experience is competitive and is not guaranteed. Places are granted on merit during the second year of study and do not take into account the initial UCAS application. If students are unsuccessful with their year abroad application, they will be moved to the four-year German MA single Honours degree programme.
To find out more information, please contact the Department of German.
Course details
The MA (Hons) in German with an integrated year abroad follows the same course structure as the German MA (Hons) degree, with the addition of a year abroad in between second and third years of study.
During the integrated year abroad, students are required to take the following compulsory module:
- German Integrated Year Abroad: language learning and cultural familiarisation through a work placement in a German-speaking country. Placements will be as language assistants in schools or on other assignments approved by the Department.
More information about the German modules currently on offer can be found in the module catalogue.
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Entry requirements
The entry requirements for German with a year abroad are the same as the German MA (Hons) degree.
To be eligible for German with a year abroad, students must gain Honours entry in all subjects that they intend on taking at Honours level. Students who do not achieve entry to Honours-level in their chosen subjects must withdraw from their selected year abroad destination at that point.
Beginners in German are normally expected to spend a year abroad in Germany to advance to Honours years (fourth and fifth year). If you are a beginner in German and another language (through a joint degree), please consult your year abroad coordinators in both departments.
For degrees combining more than one subject, the subject with the higher entry requirements determines the grades you need. You will also need to meet any further subject-specific entry requirements as outlined on their pages.
Joint Honours degrees
You can also take German (WIYA) as part of a joint Honours degree in which you will take core modules of your chosen subjects.
| Course name | UCAS code |
|---|---|
| Ancient History and German (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RVF1 |
| Arabic and German (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RTF6 |
| Art History and German (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RVF3 |
| Biblical Studies and German (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RVFP |
| Chinese Studies and German (With Integrated Year Abroad) | CW07 |
| Comparative Literature and German (With Integrated Year Abroad) | QR2F |
| Economics and German (With Integrated Year Abroad) | LRC2 |
| English and German (With Integrated Year Abroad) | QRH2 |
| Film Studies and German (With Integrated Year Abroad) | PR3F |
| French and German (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RRC2 |
| German and International Relations (With Integrated Year Abroad) | LRF2 |
| German and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RR32 |
| German and Management (With Integrated Year Abroad) | NRF2 |
| German and Mathematics (With Integrated Year Abroad) | GR21 |
| German and Medieval History (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RVFC |
| German and Middle East Studies (With Integrated Year Abroad) | TR62 |
| German and Modern History (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RVGC |
| German and Persian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | R26T |
| German and Philosophy (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RVF5 |
| German and Psychology (With Integrated Year Abroad) | CR8F |
| German and Russian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RRF7 |
| German and Social Anthropology (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RL26 |
| German and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RRF4 |
| German and Sustainable Development (With Integrated Year Abroad) | F884 |
| German and Theological Studies (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RVF6 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and German | RVG1 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Arabic and German | RT26 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Art History and German | RV23 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Biblical Studies and German | RV26 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies and German | CH07 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Comparative Literature and German | QR22 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and German | LR12 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) English and German | QR32 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and German | PR32 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) French and German | RR12 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) German and International Relations | LR22 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) German and Italian | RR23 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) German and Management | NR22 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) German and Mathematics | R2G1 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) German and Medieval History | RV2C |
| Master of Arts (Honours) German and Middle East Studies | TRP2 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) German and Modern History | RV21 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) German and Persian | R2T6 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) German and Philosophy | RV25 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) German and Psychology | CR82 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) German and Russian | RR27 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) German and Social Anthropology | LR62 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) German and Spanish | RR24 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) German and Sustainable Development | F888 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) German and Theological Studies | RVG6 |
"With" degrees
You can take German (WIYA) as part of a "with" Honours degree in which the majority of the course deals with the first name subject. St Andrews offers the following "with" degrees in German (WIYA):
- Economics with German (With Integrated Year Abroad) - UCAS code L1RF
- Master of Arts (Honours) Economics with German - UCAS code L1R2
"With" degrees taken with German are also available 'With Integrated Year Abroad'.
Careers
Modern Languages graduates have an extremely good record of employment after graduating, not only in all sectors that require advanced language skills but also in professional environments that demand good communication and analytical skills. Employers value language graduates because they demonstrate excellent communication, interpersonal and intercultural skills.
Many graduates whether in the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland or elsewhere, go on to:
- specialise in translation and interpreting services, in language teaching, journalism or other sector-specific careers
- join international institutions, charities and enterprises, working in international development departments, human resources, administration, media and communication jobs
- start a career in the banking and financial sector
- join the civil service, particularly in positions within the Foreign Office
- continue to study at postgraduate level across a range of academic and vocational subjects.
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.
What to do next
Online information events
Join us for one of our information events where you can find out about different levels of study and specific courses we run. There are also sessions available for parents and college counsellors.
Undergraduate visiting days
We encourage all students who are thinking of applying to the University to attend one of our online or in-person visiting days.
Contact us
- Phone
- +44 (0)1334 46 3663
- germanhod@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Address
- Department of German
Buchanan Building
Union Street
St Andrews
KY16 9PH
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