AS German

Please refer to EN's Entry Requirements Guide for specific advice on our Admissions Policy. This guide is supplied at interview to prospective students and is also available to Schools & Careers Advisers.

The course concentrates on the mastery of German and it demands a high level of interest in a wide range of modern issues and current affairs. AS/A Level German is suitable for those students who have enjoyed previous study of German and who wish to extend that study, opening up excellent prospects for European careers. You will have access to specialist computer applications, literature and a range of foreign language films. You will learn about Germany and gain valuable insights into the culture of the country. The four skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking will be practised in each lesson. Not only will you achieve an advanced level of German, you will also develop a deeper understanding of society and global issues.

Benefits of obtaining a German A-Level Qualification

German is spoken as a first language by over 100 million people, and is widely used as a second language, especially in Eastern Europe.

Having an A-level qualification in German has a number of benefits:

Opportunities at university: your opportunities to study German at university in the UK are not just confined to studying German history or literature. UK universities offer combined degrees with subjects such as business studies and management, mechanical engineering, law, politics and even film studies. Many of these courses include studying a term or even a year in Germany as part of a degree and provide new graduates with a distinct advantage when applying for jobs.

Career opportunities: A recent survey and report by the UK's leading employers' organisation, the CBI, entitled ‘Educating for the Modern World’, highlighted the increasing importance of language learning to enable a post-Brexit UK to secure global trading deals. The report highlighted German as the language most valued by UK managers. Germany is one of the UK’s most important trading partners and the largest worldwide exporter of goods including vehicles, chemicals and metals. German companies such as Audi, Bayer and Siemens are leaders in the world.

Science and Research: German is the second most commonly used scientific language. Germany is the third largest contributor to research and development and offers research fellowships to scientists from abroad.

Cultural understanding: Learning German provides you with an insight into the way of life and the arts in German speaking countries and broadens your horizon. German is the language of Goethe, Kafka, Mozart, Bach and Beethoven. German-speaking writers, thinkers and artists have long been and continue to be at the forefront of intellectual life, and German literature, art, cinema and philosophy is influential worldwide.

Travel: Make the most of your travels not only in German-speaking countries, but in many other European countries where German is widely spoken, especially in Eastern Europe.

The course concentrates on the mastery of German and it demands a high level of interest in a wide range of contemporary issues and current affairs. AS/A Level German is suitable for students who have completed their German GCSE at a Higher Level. The course is divided into two main subject areas (themes). Within each theme you will study the following topics:

- The changing role of the family (Familie im Wandel)

- The use of IT in daily life (Die digitale Welt)

- The importance of fashion and music (Jugendkultur)

- German festivals (Feste und Traditionen)

- German art and architecture (Kunst und Architektur)

- Specialist study of Berlin (Berliner Kulturleben)

- Study of a German film (Goodbye Lenin)

Grade 6 in GCSE German and at least a Grade 5 in GCSE English Language. An average GCSE score of 5.50 or higher.

You will achieve a high level of literacy and fluency in German and will gain a deeper understanding of German society and the issues affecting it. Being able to speak a modern foreign language is a valuable skill which many employers look for and many universities now offer degrees which feature a language combined with nearly any other discipline. Many students who have studied languages have excellent communication skills and an ability to create and maintain a coherent and cohesive argument, qualities which often lead to enhanced job prospects.

An A level in German can lead to a diverse array of careers such as Translation, International Aid and Development worker, Broadcast Journalist, Marketing Executive, Investment Banker, Tourism and jobs in national intelligence and security.