German

German is one of the most widely-spoken languages in Europe. On an Open University German course you will explore how the language is spoken not only where it is the most common language – such as Germany itself, Austria and Switzerland – but also in other German-speaking communities and places where it is a minority language. By learning of the many different cultures, language varieties and accents within the German-speaking world you will develop a deeper understanding and confidence in the language.

Where will your German language studies take you?

If you complete an OU degree course in German, we can guide you along pathways to our MA in Translation Studies, MA in Applied Linguistics, and further onward to doctoral-level studies. And, of course, adding German language to your CV can open up all kinds of employment opportunities: our German courses focus on skills which are transferable to a variety of workplaces, such as intercultural communication and digital literacy; having German language skills and an understanding of German cultures on your CV can open up all kinds of employment opportunities.

Access the resources that work best for you

Our German language students cross all boundaries of age, background and experience, and so we provide a range of resources that you can choose to best fit with your lifestyle. These include:

  • Audio-visual resources produced in-house to engage and motivate you and help you learn in a ‘real-life’ environment
  • Live tutorials covering wide range of topics and interest areas for students from different backgrounds and age groups
  • Online forums and chat rooms that invite you to interact with fellow students in a friendly, supportive and safe academic community
  • Learning materials and learning support accessible to all, regardless of your background, disabilities or environment
  • Please note that from October 2023, level 2 languages modules will no longer offer an integrated week-long residential school in Germany; instead, the online version of the school will remain as a fully integrated and compulsory component of these modules. Students will have a choice of attending an intensive online school (which will take up one full study week), or a more extended online school (which will run over a longer period).

Our team represents a range of national and academic backgrounds and prides itself on creativity in curating courses and materials, including initiatives unique to the German programme such as ‘pop-up’ learning events, all inspired by ongoing research into the language.

Short courses to whet your appetite

As well as undergraduate modules in German, we also have a range of short courses to bring you up to speed on the basics of German and introduce you to some cultural aspects of countries where German is spoken. Short courses are 16 weeks long and are offered at Beginner and Intermediate levels. You can also try a taster version for free on OpenLearn.

With the Open University, you can choose to study German alongside Spanish or French, or you can combine German with another subject, such as Business, Law or English, to enhance the range of your skills. You can also take German modules as part of a multidisciplinary qualification, such as a humanities degree, or an Open Degree.

Ready to start learning German? Take a look at our Courses.