BA German and Comparative Literature
Queen Mary University of London
About this course
BA (Hons) in German and Comparative Literature, a German and Modern Languages degree focused on cultural traditions and literary connections. The course includes a compulsory year abroad spent studying or working overseas. No prior knowledge of German is required, and time is split equally between both subjects. The first year establishes foundational study through Brief Encounters: Around The World In Short Stories, Beyond Compare: Literature Across Borders, Knowledge and Power, Culture and Language, and a German language module streamed according to entry level. The second year continues with Adventures in World Literature and German II, alongside optional modules such as Literatures of the Postcolonial World, Literature and Philosophy, Madness, Past and Present, and Translation: Principles and Practice. The final fourth year comprises Literary Culture in the Digital Age and German III, with further optional choices including Afropean Identities, Avant-Garde Theatre in Europe, and Cultures and Languages in Switzerland – Diverse and Intertwined.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A-Level: Grades BBB at A-Level. IB: International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum of 30 points overall, including 5,5,5 from three Higher Level subjects. BTEC: See our detailed subject and grade requirements. Access HE: We consider applications from students with the Access to Higher Education Diploma. The minimum academic requirement is to achieve 60 credits overall, with 45 credits at Level 3, of which 15 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher. Applications are considered on a case by case basis. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not make offers of study purely on the basis of meeting grade requirements. GCSE: Both GCSE English and Maths at grade C or 4 or an acceptable equivalent will be required. EPQ: Alternative offers may be made to applicants taking the Extended Project Qualification. For further information please visit: qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry/epq. Contextualised admissions: Our standard contextual offer: BCC at A-Level. Our enhanced contextual offer: CCC at A-Level. More information on our contextual offer criteria can be found on our contextualised admissions page . Please note that General Studies and Critical Thinking are excluded from any A-Level offer and cannot be considered.
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What students say
Based on about 16 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 95%
- Learning opportunities: 91%
- Assessment and feedback: 90%
- Academic support: 98%
- Organisation and management: 89%
- Learning resources: 92%
- Student voice: 85%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 40 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 5%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 20 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 50%
- Further study: 25%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 25%
- Teaching Professionals: 15%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Sales occupations: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 75%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 60%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 55%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 110 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 2%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 1%
- East Midlands: 1%
- West Midlands: 1%
- East of England: 14%
- London: 63%
- South East: 9%
- South West: 4%
- Wales: 2%
- Scotland: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 45 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 90%
- Baccalaureate: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Brief Encounters: Around The World In Short Stories
- Beyond Compare: Literature Across Borders
- Knowledge and Power
- Culture and Language
- German language module (streamed according to entry level)
- Adventures in World Literature
- German II
- Literatures of the Postcolonial World
- Literature and Philosophy
- Madness, Past and Present
- Translation: Principles and Practice
- Literary Culture in the Digital Age
- German III
- Afropean Identities
- Avant-Garde Theatre in Europe
- Cultures and Languages in Switzerland – Diverse and Intertwined
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA German and Comparative Literature at Queen Mary University of London earn?
The median salary is £33,000 after 15 months, £25,000 after 3 years, £31,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £25,500 and £41,000. The £31,000 median after five years is £1,500 less than the UK median for German and Scandinavian studies.
What do graduates of BA German and Comparative Literature at Queen Mary University of London do next?
75% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2022-23).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA German and Comparative Literature at Queen Mary University of London?
95% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2024-25.
What grades do I need for BA German and Comparative Literature at Queen Mary University of London?
The typical offer is BBB at A level, or 30 points in the IB. The average entrant had 136 UCAS points.
Does BA German and Comparative Literature at Queen Mary University of London include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory year abroad.
How many students continue on BA German and Comparative Literature at Queen Mary University of London?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.