German and Serbian/Croatian

Studying two languages together at degree level is about far more than doubling your vocabulary. It trains a particular kind of mind, one that is comfortable moving between different conceptual worlds, alert to the assumptions built into language, and capable of understanding how culture, history and politics shape the way people speak, write and think. German is a major world language with a rich literary and intellectual tradition and central importance in European affairs.

Serbian and Croatian, closely related South Slavic languages, open access to the western Balkans, a region whose twentieth-century history is among the most dramatic and contested in Europe, and whose contemporary significance is growing.

At University College London, this four-year programme will take you to an advanced level in both languages, with sustained attention to grammar, translation, writing and oral expression. You will study literary texts, films, journalism and other cultural material in both languages, developing the ability to read closely and argue precisely about what you find. The programme also engages with the history, politics and cultural life of German-speaking countries and of Serbia and Croatia, giving you a grounded understanding of the societies whose languages you are learning.

UCL's resources and its location in London provide excellent opportunities to engage with speakers of both languages and with the wider academic communities that surround them.

Language degrees from a research-intensive institution like UCL are highly regarded across a wide range of sectors. Graduates go on to work in diplomacy, international organisations, journalism, translation and interpreting, law, finance, the civil service, cultural institutions and business. The combination of German and Serbian/Croatian is particularly distinctive, equipping you for roles that involve Central and South-Eastern European affairs.

Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in linguistics, translation, area studies or international relations. The degree develops your capacity for sustained independent thought in a way that proves valuable in almost any career.