German

German is one of the most widely spoken languages on earth, and a major community language in Australia.

The German-speaking countries lie at the heart of Europe, and Australia welcomes tens of thousands of tourists from those countries every year. Germany has one of the strongest economies in the world, and is a leader in many areas of technology and culture.

Why Choose

Whether you have studied German at high school or never studied it at all, it is possible for you to study German at UQ. Learning to speak the language and to understand the German culture will give you a competitive edge in the 21st century. It will also enable you to read the works of great thinkers and writers in the language in which they are written.

German language skills are an asset in many careers, including international relations, engineering, international business, tourism, teaching, sciences manufacturing, tourism and hospitality, diplomacy, the media, the public service, teaching, the arts, and of course translating and interpreting.

As Germany is a major global agent in economics and culture, skills in intercultural communication are constantly increasing in importance and a full appreciation of cultural differences is essential to understand global economic, social and political issues.

Undergraduate

Bachelor of Arts
- German Major
- German Minor (visit Courses and Programs for further details)
Bachelor of International Studies
- German Major
Diploma in Languages
- German Major
Dual Degrees

Honours

Pathways

Students may study German courses as electives in their degree or complete a German Major.

German Majors can be undertaken at:

Introductory level (that is little or no previous knowledge of German or students who completed Year 12 German no more than five years ago)
Post-secondary level. For students who have successfully completed Year 12 German no later than five years ago

Separate course starting points apply for students in each category.

A pathway that shows courses over 3 years is available.

View pathway

Courses available in each stream are also listed on UQ's Courses and Programs site.

Unsure where to start?

Go to our online language course placement advisor and answer a short questionnaire. In most cases the system will recommend the starting course you should enrol in. For more complex cases, you will be advised how to proceed.

Language Course Placement Advisor

Looking for an elective course?

Courses concerning culture, literature, and history can be studied as electives within your degree, or some may count towards the Major. To find out more about the other courses offered, please consult the Courses and Programs site.

Postgraduate

What our graduates are doing

Energy research in Germany

Larissa completed an Engineering/Arts dual degree at UQ in 2015, majoring in Mechanical Engineering and German. She spent a semester abroad at the Technical University of Munich and also studied an Arts Honours year, majoring in German translation. In 2015 year, she commenced a PhD in the field of solar thermal energy at the University of Newcastle, in cooperation with the CSIRO.

"Choosing to study German at UQ was one of the most rewarding experiences of my time at UQ. Undertaking an extended major in German, followed by an Honours year, meant that I received an excellent education in the language, literature and culture of the German-speaking countries.

I made lifelong friends who shared my passion for German, both in classes at UQ and while on exchange. Due to my language skills, I was able to obtain an internship at an energy research firm in Germany and this experience helped me to get where I am today: researching new methods for solar thermal energy storage. In the future, I would love to return to Germany or Austria for scientific conferences or even a research position" she says.

Larissa has a Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Arts (German) in Honours from The University of Queensland.

Get Involved

As a student at UQ, you have many opportunities to get involved and enhance your language learning experience, including exchange, joining clubs and participating in conversation classes.

Events

There are a number of school events held throughout the year such at public lectures, seminars and conferences which students are encouraged to attend. Details for these events are published on the School Events page.

Exchange opportunities

Going on exchange will allow you to further advance your linguistic proficiency while living and studying abroad. UQ has agreements with Universities in over 40 countries around the world, including many in German speaking countries at Universities such as:

See UQ Abroad for information about the exchange program.

In 2015 German student Rachel went on exchange to Humboldt University in Germany as part of her Bachelor of Arts degree. Read her story here.

Clubs and societies

Joining a club or society is a great way to learn new skills and meet new like-minded people. There are over 190 affiliated clubs and societies at UQ. The German Club is one such club who encourage students of German studies to join to enhance their language skills, cultural awareness and appreciation, and historical knowledge. Visit clubs and societies for a full list, and find one that interests you.

Study