BA German and Arabic
About this course
German and Arabic is one of the most geopolitically significant language combinations a student can study, spanning two of the world's most influential linguistic and cultural worlds. German, the dominant language of Central Europe, is the vehicle of one of history's richest philosophical and literary traditions and today the working language of the European Union's largest economy. Arabic, spoken by more than 400 million people as a first language and serving as the liturgical language of Islam, is one of the oldest continuously written languages in the world and the key to understanding the cultures, politics and intellectual traditions of the Middle East and North Africa. Combining them is demanding, intellectually rewarding and professionally distinctive. At the University of Oxford, this four-year full-time programme is taught by faculty of world standing in both German and Arabic studies. Oxford's Faculty of Oriental Studies and its Faculty of Modern Languages each bring specialist depth to their respective disciplines, and the combination is offered within an environment that takes both languages with equal seriousness. The typical entry tariff is around 184 UCAS tariff points, reflecting the academic level expected at Oxford. You will develop proficiency in modern spoken Arabic and the classical literary language alongside high-level German, engaging with literature, history, culture, politics and philosophy in both languages. Arabic study at Oxford involves both the classical tradition and modern standard and colloquial varieties, and you will engage with texts ranging from medieval Islamic philosophy to contemporary Arabic fiction and journalism. Graduates of this combination are exceptionally well placed for careers in international diplomacy, intelligence and security services, international law, business in the Middle East and German-speaking markets, journalism, think tanks and academic research. The combination of German and Arabic is genuinely rare among UK graduates, and that rarity confers a significant advantage in fields where both languages have value. Roles in government, international organisations, oil and energy companies, humanitarian and development organisations, and global financial institutions active in both European and Arabic-speaking markets all benefit from this pairing. Postgraduate study in Arabic and Islamic studies, German, international relations or Middle East politics is a natural next step.
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