German

Programme overview
Staff and postgraduate students in the Department of German pursue research across a broad spectrum of German studies, covering many aspects of language and linguistics, literature, history and culture from the early modern period to the present day. We have particular expertise in modern literature (the novel, poetry and drama, especially in the classical age, the early 20th century and the post-Wende period), the history and politics of Germany and Austria since 1800 (particularly of the political East), German children's literature, and comparative literature. We also benefit from strong links with Augsburg, Graz, Heidelberg and Kiel, as well as research centres in Germany, especially the Deutsches Literaturarchiv in Marbach am Neckar.
We welcome applications from students wishing to pursue custom-designed research programmes in any of the above areas. Interdiscplinary and cross-language research is particularly encouraged and well supported across the School of Modern Languages and the wider Faculty of Arts. Our postgraduates are fully integrated in a professionally and personally supportive departmental and school community.
You will be part of a departmental reading/study group, and you will have the opportunity to present your work at departmental or school-level research events and colloquia elsewhere in the Faculty of Arts. We support you in the development of a full range of academic skills, including publication, and may be able to offer undergraduate teaching to doctoral students after their first year.
Special research facilities foster interdisciplinary collaboration between all departments through a series of research seminars and other events. In addition, the Multimedia Centre is a specialist language centre comprising a language laboratory, media suite, a library of foreign films, newspapers and magazines, and an 18-seat screening room.