German Studies and Geography

BA Hons

  • UCAS code LR72
  • Entry year 2024 or 2025
  • A level requirements ABB
  • Duration Full time 4 years

This course has Clearing vacancies for 2024

Apply now to make the most of your grades at a Top 10 UK university, with guaranteed accommodation in your first year.

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Overview

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Gain an in-depth understanding of the German language, culture and society, while developing your geographical skills, learning from world-renowned lecturers and taking part in exciting international fieldtrips.

This exciting programme will allow you to gain a detailed understanding of geography, while giving you the skills and knowledge to engage with the discipline in preparation for a placement year overseas in a German speaking country. During the four years, you will be able to draw on expertise from two specialist departments: The School of Global Affairs; and Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC).

Situated between the idyllic rural settings of the north and the bustling cities of Liverpool and Manchester, Lancaster’s location enables us to explore some of the most unique areas of geographic interest in the UK. You will gain a wealth of hands-on experience with field trips to places such as the Yorkshire Dales, Cumbrian coast and Lake District, as well as international locations such as Croatia.

You will develop a fundamental understanding of human geography in your first year Geography modules. These modules equip you with a well-rounded introduction to some of the key themes in geography, as well as providing you with the skills used by geographers to analyse problems in both the human and physical aspects of the discipline. In addition, you will take language classes, determined by your current level of ability.

Specialisation begins in second year, enabling you to choose topics that match your particular interests. Core modules will focus on practical work, equipping you with a range of analytical and research skills, while optional modules feature cultural and political geography. You will also benefit from specialist German modules, which will develop your communication skills further and broaden your social, political and cultural understanding of Germany.

Additionally, you will also take a specialist module that will prepare you for your year abroad. This module will allow you to select what activities you will take part in, explain the British Council English Language Assistantship scheme, and introduce you to academia and work overseas. You will also gain valuable employability skills, as well as advice on welfare and wellbeing.

You will spend your third year working or at one of our partner institutions in a German speaking country, where you will practise and develop your language abilities, while continuing to enhance your geographical skills and knowledge. This year, you will analyse the social, cultural, political and economic issues related to the area, complementing both your German and geography studies.

Returning to Lancaster for your fourth year, you will undertake an extended essay, guided by your academic supervisor, which offers a chance to investigate, in depth, a topic of your choice related to both aspects of your joint degree. While completing the essay, you will use the key research, analytical and academic writing skills you have learnt throughout your degree.

You will also be offered further optional module choices, which could include the study of Global Consumption, Urban Infrastructure in a Changing World, and the Geographies of Health, and there will be fieldwork opportunities in locations such as Croatia.

In addition to your subject knowledge, you will gain communication and IT skills, and will become familiar with data handling and environmental sampling and analysis. Throughout your degree, considerable weight is placed upon enhancing your employability and such skills are greatly valued by potential employers.

Assessment

We offer flexible programmes with a strong emphasis on practical learning. You will engage in a wide range of classroom and lab-based modules that span the breadth of geographical topics and infuse content from humanities and social sciences. Your work will be regularly assessed by a combination of classroom and workshop-based assignments, in addition to written examinations and project reports.

Beginners Languages

Studying a language from beginners level is somewhat intense in nature so we only allow students to study one language from beginners level. Please bear this in mind when looking at our first year module options. If you apply to study a degree with a language from beginners level, your optional modules will only include higher level languages and modules in other subject areas.

Careers

Our programmes maintain an excellent record for graduate prospects spanning a wide range of career opportunities. Recent examples of career opportunities have included entering the profession of Planning Officer, Environmental Consultant, Geographical Information Systems Officer, Weather Forecaster, Emergency Planner or Landscape Architect.

Additionally, should you wish to pursue a career abroad, our degree will have prepared you with an exceptional ability in the German language and you will also have gained a rigorous understanding of life overseas.

Alternatively, many of our graduates choose to continue their studies to postgraduate level and pursue a career in academia, research and teaching, among other options.

Our goal is to empower all our graduates with the skills, confidence and experience they need to achieve a successful career. You will be offered a wide range of support, helping you realise your career ambitions and providing you with the skills to reach your full potential.

We offer a variety of extra-curricular activities and volunteering opportunities that enable you to explore your interests and enhance your CV. Our weekly careers bulletin and careers blogs are written by student volunteers, and inform you of all careers events. The Green Lancaster programme run by the Students Union offers placements with external organisations, allowing students to gain volunteering experience at weekends by working in the local community, taking part in a wide range of activities and developing their practical skills.


Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, but that you also graduate with relevant life and work based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.

Entry requirements

Grade Requirements

A Level ABB

Required Subjects A level Geography is recommended, or alternatively one of the following subjects: Anthropology, Classics, Economics, English Literature, History, Philosophy, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology, World Development. A level German, or if this is to be studied from beginners’ level, AS grade B or A level grade B in another foreign language, or GCSE grade A in a foreign language. Native German speakers will not be accepted on this scheme.

GCSE Mathematics grade C or 4, English Language grade C or 4

IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements webpages.

Other Qualifications

International Baccalaureate 32 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects including Geography or alternative cognate subject at HL grade 6 and appropriate evidence of language ability

BTEC Distinction, Distinction, Merit in a related subject but may additionally require a supporting A level in Geography or alternative cognate subject at grade B. We further require appropriate evidence of language ability. Please contact the Admissions Team for further advice.

We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualification. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions webpages.

Contact Admissions Team + 44 (0) 1524 592028 or via ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

Course structure

Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and some which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

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Fees and funding

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.

Our Undergraduate Tuition Fees for 2024/25 are:

Home International
£9,250 £26,213

Fees and funding information

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Scholarships and bursaries

You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

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