Postgraduate study

Explore your own area of interest and expertise in German studies in a Masters by Research or PhD programme.

What's it like to study here?

One of the University of Edinburgh’s larger Modern Language subject areas, German has earned its place as a significant centre for research, supporting a broad range of cultural and literary research themes, from the medieval period to the present.

Join our community and undertake a specialised research project under the guidance of experienced and well-published supervisors. We supervise Masters by Research (MScR) and PhD students.

If you are looking for taught study, our team contribute to a number of interdisciplinary masters programmes such as Intermediality, Comparative Literature, and Translation Studies.

As part of our community, you will have lots of opportunities to share ideas, learning and creative work. Activities range from a regular seminar series in European Languages and Cultures (with talks by staff, research students and visiting speakers), to film screenings and workshops.

Collections and resources

The University of Edinburgh contains exceptional resources for study and research in German, including the expansive Karin McPherson collection of GDR writing.

Based in the Main University Library, our Centre for Research Collections is unique in the UK, bringing together a collection of more than 400,000 rare books, six kilometres of archives and manuscripts, and the University’s collections of art, historical musical instruments and other objects.

As a student here, you’ll also be within a short walk of the National Library of Scotland, which has outstanding German-language holdings and is a copyright library, meaning it has the right to receive a copy of every book published in the UK and Ireland.

We maintain close links with the Goethe-Institut in Glasgow, one of an international network of centres promoting German language and culture, and with the German Consulate here in Edinburgh.

What can I study?

MSc by Research in German

Combining training in research skills and methods with your own supervised research, this Masters programme enables you to explore an area of interest in German studies through assessed coursework and a 60-credit dissertation of 15,000 words. You'll find a full list of our areas of expertise on the University's Degree Finder.

Full-time, one year (all students) ꟾ part-time, two years (eligibility criteria apply)

Find out more about our MSc by Research on the University of Edinburgh Degree Finder

PhD in German

Join our community and undertake a specialised research project under the guidance of experienced and well-published supervisors. Working with colleagues elsewhere in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, and across the wider University, we are able to support PhD theses crossing boundaries between disciplines and/or languages. You'll find a full list of our areas of expertise on the University's Degree Finder.

Full-time, three years (all students) ꟾ part-time, six years (eligibility criteria apply)

Find out more about our PhD on the University of Edinburgh Degree Finder

Taught masters (MSc) programmes

A number of our School's interdisciplinary taught masters programmes include the option to focus on German literature and culture, including in comparison or in translation.

Full-time, one year (all students) ꟾ part-time, two years (selected programmes only - eligibility criteria apply)

Browse a range of taught masters (MSc) programmes

Entrance requirements, fees, funding and more...

You can find out about entrance requirements, start dates, fees and scholarship opportunities for all these postgraduate programmes on the University of Edinburgh’s Degree Finder. Degree Finder links straight through to EUCLID, the online system for applying to postgraduate programmes at the University.

Applications to start a programme in September 2025 will open in October 2024.

Find out more and apply on the University of Edinburgh Degree Finder

Not sure which programme is right for you?

We're happy to help you decide.

Email us about taught postgraduate study

Email us about postgraduate research

Funding

Find out more about funding for postgraduate study

Are you currently studying with us?

There’s lots more information for taught and postgraduate research students on our LLC Student Information Hub. You will need your student log in to access the site.