Venues

Central Campus

Content

For centuries, German-speaking cultures have had a profound international influence. Over one-third of Europeans speak German as their first language, and the language ranks in the world's top 20. It is particularly important within business and politics.

Across all four years of our wide-ranging programme, including a year abroad, your studies will give you the chance to gain professional skills in all aspects of German, including: reading and listening; writing and translating; and speaking and presenting.

As well as language learning, you will also explore German-language literature, film and theatre. You will study these in the context of historical and political developments, from the eighteenth century to contemporary times.

By your final year, you will have developed the linguistic, critical and analytical skills to the standard of completing a dissertation in German.

History

In History, you will study the human past more broadly, interacting with evidence in primary form, and through critical reading of a wide body of historical writing.

History at Edinburgh is distinctive for its range of historical themes, chronological periods and geographical areas. Beyond German history, you can take courses in the history of other cultures and civilisations. You can choose from courses covering: the early Middle Ages to the most recent past; and Britain and Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

Further, our courses offer a rich variety of approaches to the past, including: political history; cultural history; social history; economic history; intellectual history; gender history; and global and transnational history.

Entry Requirements

2026 entry requirements

Standard entry:
4 Highers at ABBB (first sitting) or 4 or 5 Highers at AABB/ABBBB (two sittings) plus National 5 in a language other than English at B and English at C.

Widening access entry:
4 Highers at ABBB (two sittings) plus National 5 in a language other than English at B and English at C. Highers at BBB must be achieved in one sitting.