German with Polish

German with Polish at Oxford is an unusual combination that brings together two major Central European languages and literary traditions, opening up a region of enormous historical depth and contemporary significance. German is the most widely spoken first language in the European Union, the language of Goethe, Kafka, Thomas Mann, and Brecht, and a major language of philosophy, science, and international business. Polish is the most widely spoken Slavic language after Russian, with a literary and cultural tradition that has been forged in some of the most extreme historical circumstances of the modern era, including partition, occupation, and the extraordinary persistence of Polish cultural identity through adversity.

At Oxford, this four-year programme requires intensive work in both languages from the start, developing advanced reading, writing, and oral proficiency in both German and Polish alongside literary and cultural study in each. You will read major works of German and Polish literature in the original, engage with film, cultural history, and criticism, and develop the close reading and analytical skills that Oxford's tutorial system is designed to cultivate at a high level. The combination of a major Germanic language with a major Slavic one gives you a uniquely wide perspective on European linguistic diversity and cultural history, and the scholarly resources available at Oxford in both fields are exceptional.

Polish expertise is particularly rare among UK graduates, and the addition of German makes this a profile that stands out sharply in any competitive field. Graduates pursue careers in diplomacy and international relations, European institutions, law, journalism, business, translation, academic research, and cultural organisations. Those with knowledge of both German and Polish are especially well placed for roles connecting Central and Eastern Europe with Western European institutions and markets.

Postgraduate study in German studies, Slavonic studies, or European languages and cultures is a natural further direction.