Can I write the MA German Language and Culture dissertation in German?

Yes — and many students do. The MA German Language and Culture dissertation can be written in German or English depending on your subject and intended audience. Some students write in German for German-studies subjects and in English for translation or comparative subjects.

What level of German do I need for the MA German Language and Culture?

Strong CEFR B2 toward C1 — comfortable across the four skills, able to discuss complex topics in German. The MA German Language and Culture takes you to C1 toward C2 over the course.

Does the MA German Language and Culture cover Austrian and Swiss German?

Yes. The MA German Language and Culture is explicitly DACH-region in scope — Austrian and Swiss German cultural production, regional language variation and the comparative politics of the three states sit alongside German content.

Is the MA German Language and Culture useful for translation work?

Yes. The substantial translation portfolio module is a credible foundation for moving into freelance translation or pursuing a specialist translation Master's afterward. Many MA German Language and Culture graduates work as translators while or after studying.

What fees, scholarships and instalments are available?

Fees for the MA German Language and Culture vary by mode, intake and student status. LSJHML offers automatic scholarship review for every applicant, instalment plans and a small early-application discount. Contact admissions for the current schedule.

MA German Language and Culture in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MA German Language and Culture at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a one-year UK postgraduate degree for advanced German users — Bachelor's graduates with German, working translators, bilingual journalists and DACH-region specialists. The course is taught in dialogue with the Goethe-Institut and the Chartered Institute of Linguists.

You will work at CEFR C1/C2 in German, study contemporary cultural production across Germany, Austria and Switzerland, undertake structured translation work, and produce a 12,000–15,000-word dissertation in German or English on a German-studies question of your own.

Key Features

UK Master's degree — one year full-time or two years part-time, with online and distance routes available.
Near-native German — advanced reading, writing, listening and speaking at CEFR C1 toward C2.
DACH cultural studies module — contemporary literature, cinema, media and political culture across Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Translation portfolio — substantive German-to-English work across journalistic, literary and professional material.
Industry-led seminars from working German-English translators, bilingual journalists and DACH-region specialists.
12,000–15,000-word dissertation in German or English on a German-studies question, supervised by a named tutor.

What You Will Learn

The MA German Language and Culture is structured around the four capabilities a Master's-level user of German needs — read, write, listen, speak at near-native standard — plus advanced cultural literacy and translation craft. You finish able to operate professionally in German, read and analyse contemporary DACH cultural production, produce publishable translations, and write a Master's dissertation in German or English.

Near-native German across the four skill areas.
Contemporary DACH literature — novel, lyric, drama, life-writing from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
DACH cinema and media — contemporary film, television, podcast and press culture.
DACH political culture — comparative analysis of contemporary politics across the region.
Translation craft — register, idiom, cultural transposition, fidelity vs readability.
German for specific purposes — business German, academic German, legal and technical registers.
Comparative cultural analysis — DACH in European context.
Dissertation research methods — research design, methodology, academic writing in German or English.

Who This MA Is For

Bachelor's graduates with German or equivalent advanced learners ready for Master's-level study.
Working German-English translators wanting a structured Master's credential.
Bilingual journalists, editors and content strategists working with DACH-region material.
UK-based professionals working with German clients, suppliers or markets at senior level.

Career Pathways

The MA German Language and Culture supports progression into senior Germany-facing professional roles in the UK and abroad. Typical post-MA destinations include:

German Translator (senior agency or in-house role, literary translation)
Bilingual Editor (DE/EN) (publishing house, academic press, journal)
German Teacher (sixth form, university, language school)
DACH Region Account Manager (international business, consulting, technology)
Cultural Affairs Officer (Goethe-Institut, German embassy, cultural exchange body)
Bilingual Journalist (UK or German press, broadcaster, podcast)

The MA also supports doctoral research in German studies or progression into senior in-house bilingual roles.

Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 honours degree with German (or international equivalent), OR a 2:2 in any subject with two years of relevant professional experience using German.
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
Personal statement (max 1 page) outlining your motivation, German background and intended specialism.
Two academic or professional references.
Short written sample in German required at application.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.