German A level
Qualification: GCE A Level in German
Exam Board & Specification Code: AQA; 7662; Specification
Course Entry Requirements: 4 in English Language GCSE and 6 in German GCSE
Please make sure that you have understood the overall entry requirements to study at BHASVIC. These are available here and outline the GCSE grades you need to take up one of the Study Programmes at the college.
Length and size of qualification: 2 year single course
Timetable hours: 5.75 hours per week including language support sessions
Assessment method: 2 exams of varying length plus 1 oral exam
BHASVIC Department: Languages & Culture
What will I study?
You will learn to communicate fluently in the language both orally and in writing. You will read and listen to authentic material in order to develop your comprehension skills and to widen your knowledge of the culture. You will study topics, literary texts and films relevant to the country/countries where the language is spoken.
Is this course right for me?
Did you enjoy the language at GCSE? Do you want to become fluent and develop your linguistic and cultural knowledge? Good linguists are risk takers and naturally inquisitive. At this level you need to be rigorous in your learning and very accurate in your application of knowledge. This course will develop your language skills while giving you an insight into cultural and political issues in the German Speaking World.
Frequently asked questions
Students will be very fluent in discussing the 12 topics covered in the course and will have the ability to talk about film and literature too. They will have the language they need to understand and express arguments, points of view and convey quite complex ideas. They will have the grammar they need to be on the point of becoming fluent. In order to become fluent they will need to spend some time in a German speaking country, but they have all the skills they need to do this.
Yes. Many students with a German speaking parent or students who have lived in a German speaking country for some time choose to do this course in order to perfect their grammar and practise their language skills at a high level. This course also gives them a formal qualification. In any German A level class there can be up to 4 “bilingual” students. They work hard to achieve a high grade by learning subject specific vocabulary and improving their grammar.
This varies from year to year but there are usually 1 or 2 groups with a maximum of 22 in each.
We accept all students who have achieved a grade 6 at GCSE and we recognise that some of them will have struggled to achieve the grade 6 while others will be much more confident. We work with every student to move them on from their starting point, whatever that is.
Yes we do. Every student has different strengths and weaknesses, and no student arrives with all they need to do German A level. As above, we take students from their own starting point, we work out what they each need to do to move forward and we make sure they have the resources and support to improve in whatever aspect of the course they most need to work on.
Where next?
Language learning is inextricably bound up with history, culture, business and economics. There are well attested advantages of speaking more than one language. Linguists are increasingly in demand in many sectors of industry. You may consider a degree purely in languages / linguistics / European Studies, leading to a wide variety of careers including, but not limited to, translation, interpreting, teaching, publishing, journalism and marketing. A language can also be combined with most subjects at higher education level, for example law, international relations, politics, media, business or sciences. Awareness of a foreign language is also an asset when applying for apprenticeships. Jobs where this is particularly useful are Cabin Crew, Travel Services, Customer Service and Relations, Events Assistants and Public Services. Useful websites to research careers and wider progression options could include Planit plus, All About Careers and The Apprenticeship Guide.
Apply View DepartmentLast year, 30 BHASVIC students went onto study Languages & Culture-related degrees at 18 different universities.
These included degrees as varied as at universities as far away as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Sheffield and the University of London Institute in Paris. Our students often gain very attractive offers from prestigious universities including Oxbridge) who are keen to recruit to Language courses.
Should I study Languages & Culture at degree level?
Would you like to develop your written and spoken language skills so you could live or work in another country? Are you interested in learning about history, literature and culture? Usually around eight hours of classes a week, including tutorials & lectures. Assignments are often translations or comprehensions. Courses often include time abroad studying or teaching.
There is a huge range of Languages & Culture related degrees including:
You can choose to study languages or a closely related or combined subject, for example
- Business
- Philosophy
- Maths
- Politics
- Literature
Entry Requirements
A-levels (or equivalent) usually required
An A level in your chosen language
Top Universities for Languages & Culture
Cambridge, Durham, Oxford, St Andrews, Kings College
Warwick, Exeter, Stirling, Glasgow – all very high student satisfaction scores
Lancaster, Bath, Sheffield, Kent - all with top graduate prospects
Many of our students choose a combined degree - applications from our students have included:
- German and English Literature
- Modern Languages (French with German)
- International Management and Modern Languages - Spanish
Example entry requirements (please check):
A-Level/BTEC equivalents:
Lancaster French Studies ABB
Reading French & International Development BBB
Oxford French AAA
Nottingham French Studies (Foundation) BCC
Swansea German & History BBB
Sheffield Japanese Studies with Year Abroad AAB
Leeds German ABB
Central Lancs TESOL & Spanish 104-112 UCAS points
Nottingham Hispanic Studies (Foundation) UCAS Points: 88-123
Nottingham German (Foundation) BCC
Some examples of Languages & Culture-related degrees that our BHASVIC students have gone onto study in the past few years are:
- Arabic and Islamic Studies
- Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
- Business Management / Spanish
- European Studies: French Pathway with a Year Abroad
- Film Studies and Spanish
- French and Italian (4 years)
- French and Russian (4 years)
- French Studies with History
- French Studies with International Relations
- French with Business Management
- Geography with Study Abroad in a Modern Language
- German and History
- History and Spanish
- History of Art and Italian (4 years)
- International Business with Spanish
- International Relations and Languages
- Japanese Studies
- Korean Studies
- Law with Hispanic Law (4 years)
- Music and Spanish
- Politics and Chinese
- Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies
- Translation (Spanish)
How BHASVIC helps: We have a wide range of information and resources to support students applying for university including subject area guides, personal statement and UCAS resources, super-curricular activity guides, open day and bursary information. We also cover university research, careers, art foundation and all other destinations in depth in tutorial and students can choose an appropriate pathway for them in the second year from UCAS, Employability & Enterprise, Visual Arts, Oxbridge and Medics. Our Spring Futures Fair brings in a huge number of university visitors with workshops and information stands and departments will bring speakers in wherever possible.
Language skills are in demand and can be used in almost any career, particularly in businesses that trade internationally
Jobs where a Languages & Culture degree would be useful include:
Jobs in which gaining a degree in Languages would be useful include:
- Broadcast journalist
- International aid/development worker
- Logistics and distribution manager
- Patent examiner
- Private tutor
- Sales executive
Career Prospects
It's often said the UK doesn't produce enough modern language graduates, and graduates from French, German, Italian and Spanish courses have a lot of options available to them when they complete their courses.
The general theme is that some graduates go to that country to work, often as English language teachers; some go into further study, often to train as teachers or translators; most get jobs in the UK in education - as language tutors, unsurprisingly - or translation. Modern language students can also be in demand in business roles where communication and language skills are particularly useful, such as marketing and PR. Employers say they rate students who have more than one language, but remember you need to have them as part of a whole package of good skills.
Local Market
Speak German?The demand for linguists is increasing and Job site ‘Indeed’ reports that German has exceeded French as the language most needed by employers. Chinese is the third most popular language.
Examples of apprenticeships and opportunities include:
- Freelance Bilingual Language Teacher
- Spanish Speaking Credit Specialist
- Bookseller - French dept The European Bookshop
How BHASVIC helps: We have an excellent Careers Hub and careers advisors who are available for appointments through student services. Local jobs are advertised and they will advise on skills and specialist areas such as degree apprenticeships. Students can choose an appropriate pathway for them in the second year from UCAS, Employability & Enterprise, Visual Arts, Oxbridge and Medics. Our Spring Futures Fair brings in a huge number of careers & apprenticeship visitors with workshops and information stands and departments will bring speakers in around the subject area.
You will gain many transferable skills studying Languages & Culture that will be valued in the workplace including:
Communication (written and verbal), analysing language, attention to detail, presentation skills, flexibility and adaptability, resilience, problem solving, cultural awareness, confidence.
Local Skills
The Local Skills agenda considers job prospects and employment in our local area of Sussex. Many of our students will contribute to the National Skills agenda and go onto find a career in a wide range of sectors. For students in Sussex our local skills are identified as the following sectors:
- Construction
- Creative & Cultural
- Digital (includes IT and Technology)
- Engineering & Manufacturing
- Healthcare (includes Bio Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical)
- Visitor & Hospitality
- Land-based (includes Agriculture and Viticulture)
- Green Skills
Degree choices that match the Creative & Cultural Local Skills agenda our BHASVIC students went onto study include:
- Arabic and Islamic Studies
- Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
- English and French Law (4 years)
- French and Beginners' Russian
- Law and Spanish
- Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies
Career choices that match the Creative & Cultural Local Skills agenda our BHASVIC students went onto work in include:
- Translator
- Civil Service
- Teaching
- Journalisms
- PR
How BHASVIC helps: Skills Week in A1 helps students build skills in the workplace and a focus on developing skills through tutorial in A1 and A2 supports students in writing outstanding Personal Statements and CVs. We know our students have already gained a wide variety of skills at home and with extra-curricular activities and will increasingly take up jobs. Our focus is on supporting them to evidence skills already gained, identify gaps and ensure that they transfer that to CVs and applications. This is in partnership with every curriculum area.