All students taking a degree programme in modern languages spend one year of their programme, normally the third, living abroad. If you study German in combination with another modern language you will be able to choose in which country you wish to spend most of your year abroad, although you will be strongly encouraged to spend at least one month in a country where your other language is spoken. Alternatively, you may decide to spend six months in one country and six months in another. The year abroad has a credit rating of 120. The Department of German helps students to prepare for their year abroad and remains in regular contact with students while they are away.
German language is taught through two types of class.
Students also organize a German play each year and produce a student magazine in German. Modules other than German language are taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials and seminars. In the first year, tutorials offer students the opportunity to discuss texts and to present short talks in small groups under the guidance of a tutor, who monitors their progress over the whole year. Students in the first year also work on group projects, which develop a more independent approach to learning. Lectures complement the work done in first-year tutorials and for the group projects.