Key information
Duration: 1 year full time or 2 years part time
Institution code: R72
Campus: Egham
UK fees*: £5,006
International/EU fees**: £26,400
The course
German Studies (MA by Research)
Our research staff are experts in German literature, culture, film and history; their research and teaching both include, and move beyond, the more traditional areas of German studies, making Royal Holloway an ideal place to study for a postgraduate degree in German.
This degree enables you to independently explore your area of interest in real depth, it can also provide you with the chance to test or try out an area of study in preparation for doctoral study. Whilst you will be working independently, you won’t be alone, you will receive specialist one-to-one tuition throughout your degree. You will work closely with your specialist supervisor, or supervisors, to develop a clearly defined research topic and complete a 30,000-40,000 word dissertation.
You will be part of our research-led environment in which academic staff are working at the frontiers of their subjects. The breadth of our teaching and research expertise means that we are able to provide the latest thinking, expert support and intellectual challenges. Our cutting-edge work ranges from the medieval to the 21st century and spans literature, cinema, thought and the visual arts. We offer postgraduate supervision by scholars of national and international standing in a large range of fields from the 18th to the 21st century, with emphasis on the Enlightenment and Goethe (including gender and political issues), realism and 19th-century women’s literature, film and literature in the Weimar Republic, Modernism and the European avantgarde, Austrian literature, post-war German cinema, contemporary women’s literature and gender studies. Our academics would be pleased to hear from anyone interested in postgraduate research in their areas of expertise.
We sometimes make changes to our courses to improve your experience. If this happens, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.
Teaching & assessment
The taught course will be assessed by a presentation. The dissertation will be examined by an internal and an external examiner. There is no viva voce.
Entry requirements
2:2
UK Bachelor honours degree or equivalent in Literature, Fine Art, Media or a related subject.
Relevant professional qualifications are also considered.
Applicants may be invited to an interview.
Applicants are advised to contact a potential supervisor in support of the research topic but this is not essential. However, a research proposal is required as part of the application.
International & EU requirements
Bachelors Degree/ Bachelor Honours Degree: GPA 2.6
Masters degree: GPA 3.0/ 80%
Diplomë e Integruar e Nivelit të Dytë:or Diplomë e Nivelit të Parë: 7/10, or Master i Shkencave në Mjekësi të Përgjithshme / në Mjekësi Veterinarë / ne Stomatologji: 7/10
Licence, Diplôme, Diplôme d'Études Supérieures, Diplôme de Docteur en Pharmacie: 11/20
Batxelor: 5/10
Grau de Licenciado/a: 13/10
Bachelor degree from The University of the West Indies: GPA 2.5
Título, Grado de Licenciado/A: 6/10
Specialist Diploma, (Diplom bakalavri astichan), Bachelor degree from American University of Armenia: 70%, GPA 3.0 out of 4, or 14 out of 20
Bachelor degree (Honours) with a 2:2, or a Bachelor degree (Ordinary) with a Pass with 57% overall.
Bachelor degree or Fachhochschuldiplom/Diplom (FH): Bestanden- PASS, Befriedigend - Satisfactory, or 3 out of 5
Bachelor degree (Bakalavr) or Specialist Diploma with 3.5 out of 5 or 70% overall.
Bachelor degree from The University of the West Indies: 2:2, GPA 2.5
Bachelor degree: 2.6/4 or 3.2/5 or 65%
4 year Bachelor degree from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) with a First Class Division or a Masters Degree following a 3 or 4 year degree.
Specialist Diploma 6/10, or Bachelor Degree 8/10
Bachelor degree with grade 12 overall or the Licentiaat or Licence and other two cycle diplomas with grade 12 overall.
Bachelor degree from The University of the West Indies: 2:2 or GPA 2.5
Diplôme d'études Approfondies/Supérieures/Master: 13 out of 20
Bachelors degree: 60%
Licenciado/Titulo de.... :60%, or Titulo de Bachiller Universitario: 70%
Diploma Visokog Obrazovanja Diploma Visokog Obrazovanja / Diplomirani with Grade 8
Bachelors or Masters: 60%
Título de Bacharel/ Titlo de... 6.5/10
Bachelor degree from The University of the West Indies: 2:2
Bachelor (Honours) Degree: Lower Second Class, or Bachelor (Ordinary) Degree GPA 2.5/5
Bakalavar or Diploma of Completed Higher Education with a Grade 4 out 6 overall.
Diploma d’Etudes Approfondies: 13/20
Diplome d’Etudes Approfondies: 70%
Masters degree: 60%
12/20 or GPA 2.5/4
4 year Bachelor degree with 62%, a GPA 2.5 out of 4, Grade 6 out of 12 or grade C+ overall OR 3 year Bachelor degree with 73%, a GPA of 3.1 out of 4, Grade 8 out of 12 or grade B overall, depending on the grading scheme.
Grau de Licenciado/a: 13/20
The University of the West Indies, or University of College of the Cayman Islands: 65%
Diplome d’Ingenieur (non-honours): 14/20
Diplôme d'Etat de Doctorat en Médecine, Diplome d'Etudes Approfondies 13/20
Grado de Licenciado en..., or Grado de Bachiller: 4.6/7
4 year Bachelors degree with an overall 65% to 70% or GPA of 2.8 to 3.0 out of 4.0 depending on the institution.
Licenciado en, Licenciado en, or Diploma de: 3.5/5
Licenciado, Bachiller: 7.5/10
Diplôme d'études supérieures spécialisées, Diplôme d'études approfondies, Diplôme d'Etat de docteur en Pharmacie: 13/20
3 out of 5 overall in the Baccalaureus Prvostupnik or Visoko Obrazovanja/Level VII/1 (second level degree obtained on completion of 4-6 year course).
Titulo de Licenciado/ Arquitecto / Inginiero / Doctor: 3.5/5
Overall 6.5 out of 10 or a GPA of 2.5 out of 4 in a Bachelor degree from a public university, Ptychion (from University of Cyprus) or Bachelor degree awarded by a private institution (the programme must be accredited by the Ministry of Education and Culture).
Bakalar with dobre (good), score of 2 or Grade C overall.
Diplome d’Etudes Speciales, Diplome d'Etudes Approfondies, Maistrise/Diplome d'Ingenieur/Diplome d'etudes superieures:
7 from 13 points grading system or 4 from 7 points grading system in a Bachelor degree, Candidatus Philosophiae or Professionbachelor.
Diplome d'Ingenieur Bien, or Maitrise/ Master: 14
The University of the West Indies: Lower Second Class Honours, or BSc in Nursing from Dominica State College
Licenciado/Titulo: 75%
Titulo de Licenciado/a from Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa'e
Titulo de Licenciado/ Titulo: 7/10 OR 70%
University bachelors degree with a GPA of 2.4 overall or 65% overall
Licenciado/ Titulo de: 6.5/10
Masters Degree: 2.6/4
71-80%, 3 or C overall in a Bakalaurusekraad/Diploma, Magister or Magistrikraad
2.5 out of 4
Bachelor Degree: 2.5 or overall grade Satisfactory
GPA of 1.4 where marks are in 1 - 3 system or GPA of 2.5 where marks are in 1 - 5 system in a Kandidaattii/Kandidat or Maisteri/Magister
Licence awarded from 2009 with grade 10-11.99 or Maitrise (pre-Bologna) with grade 11
Diplome D'Ingenieur, or Maitrise: Bien
Master's degree: 60%/ GPA 2.7/4.3
Bakalarvis Khariskhi: 71%
Grade 3 overall in a Bachelor, Fachhochschuldiplom or Magister Artium
Bachelor degree with a Second Class Lower Division overall.
6 out of 10 overall in a Diploma from the Faculties of Engineering and Agriculture or a Ptychion (Bachelor degree) awarded by an AEI.
Bachelor degree from The University of the West Indies: GPA 2.5
Licenciado/ Titulo: Pass mark of 51% University: 60% or Pass mark of 61% Universities: 70%
Diplôme d'Etat de docteur en médecine, or Diplome d’Etudes Superieures/Maitrise/Diplome d’Etudes Approfondies : 14/20
65%, or 3.0 out of 4
Titulo de Licenciado/a/Grado Academico de Licenciatura: 70%
Bachelors degree degree with a Second Class Honours, Lower Division.
Egyetemi Oklevel /Foiskola Oklevel/ Alapfokozat with 3 out of 5 overall.
Baccalaurreatus with grade 6.5 out of 10 overall or Kandidatsprof / Cadidatus Mag with 6 out of 10 overall.
Bachelor degree with 55% to 60% overall or a CGPA of 5.5 to 6 out of 10 overall depending on the NIRF 1-100 institution ranking
Bachelor degree or Diploma IV with overall GPA of 2.8.
Bachelor Degree/Professional Doctorate with 12 out of 20 overall.
Bachelor’s degree (four years) with 70% overall.
Bachelors degree with at least 65% overall depending on the mark scheme.
Diploma di Laurea or Licenza di Accademia di Belle Arti with 80 out of 110 overall.
Bachelor degree (when accredited by the University Council of Jamaica, or when awarded by the Council of Community Colleges of Jaimaica): Second Class Lower Division
Bachelor degree (Gakushi) with a B overall, dependent on the mark scheme.
Bachelor degree: GPA 2.8 out of 4, Good, C, 68%
Bakalavr or Specialist Diploma with 3.5 out of 5, 75% or 2.67 out of 4.33, or 2.67 out of 4 overall.
Bachelor degree with a Second Class Honours (lower division) overall.
Bacelor/Bachelor Degree: C - Good
Bachelor degree with B or a GPA of 2.6 overall.
Specialist Diploma, Bachelor Degree, Masters Degree: 3.0 out of 4 or 4.0 out of 5
Masters degree: C or GPA 2.0
Bakalaura Diploms or Professional Bakalaura Diploms with Grade 6 overal.
Bachelor Degree/ Licence: 70%
Masters Degree: 65%
Master's degree: 70% or GPA 2.4 out of 4.0
Bachelor Degree of Medicine/Surgery/Architecture/Engineering: 65% or 2.6/4
Dipl Ing (FH) or Dipl Arch (FH) from Liechtenstein Technical College with a Grade 4.4/6 overall.
7 out of 10 overall in a Bakalauras or Specialist Diploma.
Bachelor or Diplome d'ingenieur industriel: 14/20
Licenciatura: Lower Second Class Honours or GPA 2.5
Diplome d'Ingenieur: 13/20
Masters Degree: 60%
Bachelor degree with Class 2 Division ii, B or 2.6 out of 4.0 overall.
Bachelor degree (Maldives National University): GPA 2.5
Diplôme d'Etat de docteur en Pharmacie: GPA 15 out of 20
Honours degree with a Second Class (Lower Division) overall.
Maitrise: 13/20
Bachelor Degree: Class II division II
Titulo de Licenciado/Titulo: GPA 7 out of 10 or 70%
Diplomă de Licenţă: 7/10
Bachelor degree (awarded after 2012): 80 out of 100
Masters Degree: 70%
Diploma o završenim osnovnim akademskim studijama: Grade C
Licence/Licence d'Etudes Fondamentales/Licence Profesionnelle: GPA 111 out of 20
Grau de Mestre: 12/20
Master's degree: 60%
Bachelor Honours / Professional Bachelor degree: 60%
Bachelor degree (4 years) or Master's degree (following a 3-year Bachelor degree): 65%
Bachelor degree or Doctoraal with Grade 6.0 out of 10 overall.
Bachelor degree Honours or Ordinary with an overall Grade C+ or Grade 3 out of 9 points grading system.
Licenciado/Titulo: 80%
Diplôme d'études Approfondies or Diplôme d'études Supérieures Spécialisées: 15 out of 20
Bachelor degree with a Second Class Honours, Lower Division or overall GPA of 2.4 out of 5.
Visoko Obrazovanja with 7 out of 10 overall.
Bachelor degree GPA 2.6 to 2.8 depending on your institution.
Bachelor degree, Candidatus Magisterii, Sivilingeni-r (siv. ing.) (Engineering degree ) or Sivil?konom (siv. ?k.) (Economics degree) Grade D or 3.25 where 1 is the highest.
Bachelor degree with an overall GPA of 2.6/4
4 year Bachelor degree or combined bachelors degree and Master degree for the duration of 4 years with 58% - 65% or a CGPA of 2.8 - 3.2 overall depending on your institution.
Bachelor degree: GPA 3.0 out of 4.0, 80%, B
Licenciado/ Titulo: 70%
Bachelor Honours Degree: Class II, Division B
Titulo de Licenciado/ TItulo: 3.5/5
Grado Academico de Bachiller: 13/20
Bachelor degree (awarded from 2022): 2.5/4, or Masters degree: 2.5/5
Licencjat, Inzynier or Bachelor with grade 4 out of 5
Diploma de Estudos Superiores Especializadoswith grade 14 overall or Licenciado with grade 13 overall.
Bachelor degree: 70/100 or GPA 2.0 out of 4.0
Bachelor degree with an overall GPA of 2.8 overall.
Maitrise: 13/20
Diploma de Licenta, Diploma Inginer or Diploma de Arhitect with 7.0 out of 10 overall.
Bakalavr Bachelor degree or Specialist Diploma with 3.5 out of 5 or 70% overall.
Bachelor Honours Degree: 13/20
Bachelor degree when studied at University of South Pacific, Samoa: GPA 2.5
Licenciatura: 13/20
Bachelor degree with 65%, 3.25 out of 5.0 or 2.5 out of 4.0 overall.
Diplom Visokog Obrazovanja (second-level degree obtained on completion of a four to six-year course) with 7 out of 10 overall.
Bachelor Degree: Lower Second Class
Bachelors Degree (Honours): Lower Second Class
Bachelor degree (from a public university) with a Class II (lower) overall.
Bakalar or Magister / Inzinier with vel'mi dobre (very good) or Grade 2 overall.
Diplomirani / Diplomirani Inzenir from Visoko izobrazevanje, University Diploma or Visoko Obrazovanja (until 1999) with 7 out of 10 (8 for Visoko Obrazovanja) overall.
Bachelor degree when studied at University of South Pacific, Vanuatu: GPA 2.5
Bachelor (Honours), Bachelor or Professional Bachelor degree with 60% or Second Class Lower Division.
Bachelor (Haksa) degree with 3.0 out of 4.5, 2.9 out of 4.3 or 2.8 out of 4.0.
Bachelor Honours degree: 2.5/4.0 Division Two Lower
Licenciado, Titulo de Ingeniero or Titulo de Arquitecto with 6 out of 10.
Bachelor degree from The University of the West Indies: GPA 2.5 Second Class Honours, Lower Division
Bachelor degree from The University of the West Indies: GPA 2.5 Second Class Honours, Lower Division
Bachelor degree from The University of the West Indies: GPA 2.5 Second Class Honours, Lower Division
Bachelor Honours Degree: 60%
Bachelor degreee, Masters Degree, MO-B Akte Diploma: Met Genoegen (Good)
Bachelor degree: 70%
Bachelor degree from National University or Private University with 68% to 73% or GPA 2.8 to 3.0 depending on your institution.
Specialist Diploma: 3.5/5
Bachelor degree with a 2nd Class Honours (Lower) overall.
Bachelor degree GPA 2.4 to 2.6 depending on your institution.
Diplôme d'études supérieures, Diplôme d'études approfondies: 13/20
Bachelor or Masters degree from the University of the South Pacific: 70%/ B+
Bachelor degree (when accredited by the Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT)): Lower Second Class Honours
12 out of 20 (Assez Bien)
Bachelor degree GPA 2.6 to 2.8 depending on your institution.
Ýokary bilim hakynda şahadatnama: 3.5/5
Bachelor degree (accredited by the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica)
Bachelor degree: Class II Lower/ Honours Lower/ 3.0-3.9/ B
Bachelor degree (post 2007) or Specialist Diploma (after 1991) with a Grade 3, 9 out of 12 or 3.5 out of 5 overall.
Bachelor degree with 80%, a GPA of 2.8 out of 4, C+ or Good overall.
Bachelor degree with a GPA of 2.6 overall.
Bachelor Honours Degree: GPA 2.5 or Second Class Honours, Lower Division
Titulo de Licenciado/Titulo: GPA 7/12
Diplomi: 70%
Kandidatexamen with at least a Pass (godkand) overall.
Bachelor degree when studied at University of South Pacific, Vanuatu: GPA 2.5
Titulo de Licenciado/Titulo: 70% or 11 from high ranking institution
Bachelor degree or Bang tot nghiep dai hoc with 6.5 out of 10.
Masters Degree: 63%
Masters Degree: 55%
60%-64%, Second Class Honours, Lower Division
English language requirements
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. Writing 7.0. No other subscore lower than 5.5
- Pearson Test of English: 67 overall. Writing 76 no other subscore lower than 59.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL iBT: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 26.
- Duolingo: 120 overall, 135 in Literacy, 135 in Production and no sub-score below 100.
Your future career
On graduating you will have a proven ability to undertake focused research, improved your written and oral presentation skills, and honed skills in critical analysis. In addition, you will have an understanding and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights in literature, film, cultural studies or the visual arts. All of the these skills will be appealing to employers and enable you to pursue your chosen career. Alternatively, you will also be in a strong position to continue onto doctoral study, having demonstrated that you have the self direction, originality and initiative required.
In recent years a number of our Languages, Literature and Culture postgraduates have gone on to successful academic careers both in Britain and internationally in the fields of languages, critical theory and film.
Postgraduates have also embarked upon many interesting and successful careers outside academia – in the UK, continental Europe and the United States – including journalism at The Independent, work for NGOs, trade sales, publishing, professional translating, teaching, opera direction, museum curatorship, creative arts, and librarianship.
Fees, funding & scholarships
Home (UK) students tuition fee per year*: £5,006
EU and international students tuition fee per year**: £26,400
Other essential costs***: There are no single associated costs greater than £50 per item on this course
How do I pay for it? Find out more about funding options, including loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries.
* and ** These tuition fees apply to students starting their course on a full-time basis in the academic year 2026/27. Students studying on the standard part-time course structure over two years are charged 50% of the full-time applicable fee for each study year.
Royal Holloway reserves the right to increase all postgraduate tuition fees annually. For further information, see fees and funding.
** These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2026/27 academic year, and are included as a guide. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing, have not been included.
