University undergraduate students studying in the Monica Partridge Building Digital Hub. Friday November 5th 2021.Khaqan Khan (red jumper) and Megan Mahoney (blue top).

German and Contemporary Chinese Studies BA

University Park Campus, Nottingham, UK

Course overview

Develop a deep understanding of the languages, societies, histories and cultures of two of the world's most influential economic powerhouses and open up world-wide opportunities post-graduation.

In addition to targeting your language skills, this course offers you a rich variety of modules in German and Austrian histories and cultures while allowing you to uncover the complexities of contemporary Chinese politics, society and identities.

Many of our students say the year abroad is their course highlight. Not only do you have the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in both the German and Chinese languages and cultures, but spending time abroad can make you more independent and confident. Taking yourself out of your comfort zone won’t only benefit your degree, it’ll shape the person you are to become.

Modules

Mandatory

Year 1

German 1

Mandatory

Year 1

Introduction to German Studies

Mandatory

Year 1

German 1: Beginners

Mandatory

Year 1

Introduction to German Studies

Mandatory

Year 1

Culture and Society of Contemporary China

Mandatory

Year 1

Mandarin Chinese for Beginners

Mandatory

Year 1

Mandarin Chinese for Intermediate Level

Mandatory

Year 1

Mandarin Chinese for the Advanced Level

Optional

Year 1

Deutschland Heute

Optional

Year 1

Hitler and the Third Reich

Optional

Year 1

Sex, Gender and Society in Modern Germany

Optional

Year 1

From Dictatorship to Democracy

Optional

Year 1

Language Meaning, Variation and Change

Mandatory

Year 2

German 2

Mandatory

Year 2

German 2 - Beginners

Mandatory

Year 2

Leben und Arbeiten in Deutschland: Introduction to Contemporary Germany

Mandatory

Year 2

Mandarin Chinese for Research

Mandatory

Year 2

Mandarin Chinese for Proficiency Level

Mandatory

Year 2

Mandarin Chinese for Intermediate Level

Mandatory

Year 2

Mandarin Chinese for the Advanced Level

Mandatory

Year 2

China Beyond the Headlines

Optional

Year 2

Life and Demise of the GDR

Optional

Year 2

The Language of German Media - Linguistic and Journalistic Perspectives

Optional

Year 2

Introduction to Literary Translation

Optional

Year 2

Reason and its Rivals: From Kant to Freud

Optional

Year 2

German National Socialism (1933-1945): Hitler and the Third Reich

Optional

Year 2

National Socialist Germany

Optional

Year 2

From Dictatorship to Democracy

Optional

Year 2

Sex, Gender and Society in Modern Germany

Optional

Year 2

Exploring the German Archive: Ideology and State in Newspaper Cuttings and Family Papers

Optional

Year 2

History of German language from early beginnings to the present day

Optional

Year 2

Teaching and Learning Foreign Languages

Optional

Year 2

Contemporary Translation Studies

Optional

Year 2

Work placement

Mandatory

Year 3

Year abroad

Mandatory

Year 4

German 3

Mandatory

Year 4

Mandarin Chinese for Research

Mandatory

Year 4

Mandarin Chinese for Proficiency Level

Mandatory

Year 4

Mandarin Chinese for the Advanced Level

Optional

Year 4

Vergangenheitsbewältigung und Nationale Identität: Geschichte und Gedächtnis nach dem Holocaust

Optional

Year 4

Exploring the German archive: ideology and state in newspaper cuttings and family papers

Optional

Year 4

Widerstand und Opposition in der DDR

Optional

Year 4

'Heimat' in the German Cinema

Optional

Year 4

Communicating and Teaching Languages for Undergraduate Ambassadors

Optional

Year 4

Twentieth Century German Theatre: From Avant-garde to Virtual World

Optional

Year 4

German Studies Dissertation

Optional

Year 4

China in the Media: A Clash of Narratives

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About modules

The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. This content was last updated on Thursday 11 May 2023.

When you begin studying at university, you will probably find that you cover material much more quickly than you did while studying for your A levels. The key to success is preparing well for classes and then taking the ideas you encounter further in your own time.

Lectures – provide an overview of what you are studying, using a variety of audio and visual materials to support your learning.

Seminars and workshops – give you the chance to explore and interact with the material presented in lectures in a friendly and informal environment. You will be taught in a smaller group of students, with discussion focusing on a text or topic you've previously prepared.

Workshops are more practical, perhaps through exploring texts, working with digital materials, or developing presentations.

Tutorials – individual and small-group tutorials let you explore your work with your module tutor, perhaps discussing plans for an essay or presentation, or following up on an area of a module which has interested you.

eLearning – our virtual-learning system, Moodle, offers 24-hour access to teaching materials and resources.

Peer mentoring

All new undergraduate students can opt into our peer mentoring scheme. Your peer mentor will help you settle into life at Nottingham, provide advice on the transition to university-level study and help you access support if needed.  

The majority of the language teaching you will experience on this degree will be led by native speakers.

Class sizes vary depending on topic and type. A weekly lecture on a core module may have 50-60 students attending while a specialised seminar may only contain 10 students.

Teaching quality

Our staff know that studying complex subjects can sometimes seem challenging (they've all been where you are!). Their contributions to high quality teaching and learning are recognised through our annual Lord Dearing Awards. View the full list of recipients.

Teaching methods

  • Lectures
  • Oral classes
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Workshops

 

You will be assessed by a wide variety of methods, consisting mainly of coursework and exams, but you may also be tasked with commentaries, dissertations, group work, in-class tests, portfolios and presentations.

Each module has its own methods of assessment and we strive to make these as varied as possible so that everyone can perform to the best of their abilities. When choosing optional modules, you will be able to see how the module is assessed in advance.

Assessment methods

  • Dissertation
  • Essay
  • In-class test
  • Oral exam
  • Portfolio (written/digital)
  • Presentation
  • Written exam
  • Commentary

As well as scheduled teaching you’ll carry out extensive independent reading and research. A typical 20 credit module involves between three and four hours of lectures and seminars per week. You would ideally spend 8-10 hours doing preparation work. Your lecturers will usually be academic staff.

 

Undergradute student studying in the George Green library, University Park. November 5th 2021.

Studying languages can open up a world of opportunities. From banking to charities and from teaching to MI5, businesses and organisations across the globe seek to employ language specialists.

During this degree you’ll be able to choose from a wide range of modules, allowing you to tailor your studies around personal interests. In doing so you’ll start to identify potential career paths and begin to discover your areas of professional interest.

In addition to language skills, you’ll develop transferable skills highly sought after by employers such as confident communication skills, strict attention to detail and the ability to work within different cultures and organisational styles.

“My [language] studies have helped me to develop excellent communication skills, as well as helping me to hone my reading, writing, listening and speaking skills for both my target languages.  I have also become a much more resilient learner, being able to persevere when things start to get tough and independently solve issues where possible.”  Charlotte Allwood , French and Contemporary Chinese Studies BA

Find out more about careers of Modern Language students

Average starting salary and career progression

78.9% of undergraduates from the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual salary for these graduates was £24,904.*


*HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022. The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on graduates working full-time within the UK.

Studying for a degree at the University of Nottingham will provide you with the type of skills and experiences that will prove invaluable in any career, whichever direction you decide to take.


Throughout your time with us, our Careers and Employability Service can work with you to improve your employability skills even further; assisting with job or course applications, searching for appropriate work experience placements and hosting events to bring you closer to a wide range of prospective employers.


Have a look at our careers page for an overview of all the employability support and opportunities that we provide to current students.


The University of Nottingham is consistently named as one of the most targeted universities by Britain’s leading graduate employers (Ranked in the top ten in The Graduate Market in 2013-2020, High Fliers Research).

I chose to continue studying German at university due to the length of time I have been speaking the language and I wished to continue it further at a higher level. I chose to study Mandarin due to the number of jobs that often seek Mandarin speakers and also due to my interest in Chinese culture. The two languages and cultures are very different but at the same time they complement each other due to those differences.

Charlotte Green

German and Contemporary Chinese Studies BA

Course data