This two-year course will help students develop the skills to communicate successfully in the German-speaking world. Through the course's module on German culture, students will gain a deeper insight into a region that plays a vital role in central Europe's intellectual and economic life, as well as in its cultural history.

In its language and culture elements, the course aims to excite students’ curiosity for other cultures since German is not only the official language of Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein, but is spoken in regions of France, Italy, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Poland and many other East European countries.

The course aims to equip students with appropriate written and oral skills in German. Much emphasis will be placed on teacher-student interaction, peer interaction, continuous assessment, written assignments, oral assignments, oral presentations and feedback to students. Students will begin with the basic elements of German grammar and vocabulary and will progress to the study of a selection of social and cultural issues in the contemporary German-speaking world.

By the end of each term, students will have learned to converse on, and comprehend, a variety of topics in situations that are normally encountered in a modern German-speaking environment. There are six modules on offer throughout the two-year programme. Students must successfully complete three modules per year.

Curriculum Information

We strive to provide a comfortable, interesting, respectful and progressive learning space for people undertaking the Diploma in German. The online delivery of the course enables people to integrate learning German into their busy lives from the comfort of their homes/offices – without having to worry about traffic or parking. It also enables people to meet others with similar interests. We usually strive to organise a campus meeting for those interested, but this is individual for each cohort. 

Classes are held online Wednesday evenings (6:30 – 9:30pm approx.). All modules in the Diploma are individually assessed. The assessment for each module takes the form of written assignments, oral assignments or presentations during the semester and a written examination at the end of the semester. The overall written grade is a combination of continuous assessment and the exam. There will be an oral exam at the end of semester 2 of each year.

The teaching method is mainly based on a communicative approach, which focuses on teaching language structures through conversation and exercises rather than on memorising forms. This approach helps students develop productive skills (speaking and writing) as well as receptive skills (listening and reading), as vocabulary and grammar activities progress from controlled and form-focused to open-ended and interactive.  Whenever useful, grammatical structures are contrasted with parallel structures in English.

Students are encouraged to spend time at home incorporating language practice in their everyday routines and availing of the self-access language-learning facilities at the University.

As this course is delivered via Blended learning most of the material is delivered online, please visit to our Online Learning webpage for further details on what is required to participate in a blended learning course.

Stephanie Burke
Email: stephanie.burke@universityofgalway.ie

If you do not meet the standard entry criteria for this course, you may gain entry through our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy. Applicants may also be able to earn module exemptions based on their prior learning. Find out more here.

Communication skills, analytical and critical thinking, problem-solving skills, intercultural competence, cognitive flexibility, enhanced memory and learning strategies, independent learning, teamwork and collaboration, presentation and public speaking skills.

Entry requirements for part-time students can be found here (i.e. age, English language requirements etc.). There are no specific entry requirements for the Diploma in German.

Applications are made online via the University of Galway Applications System. This course is listed under Adult Learning Undergraduate\Postgraduate, CPD, Micro-credentials & Summer School Applications.

A fee scholarship of up to 30% may be available for students who wish to upskill for the purposes of re-employment. For more information download the 2025_26 Fees Scholarship Form.