What drives students to study German at university level? Although motivational research has been booming in recent years, students' motivation to pursue a modern foreign language beyond school level has not received much attention in the UK. This article sheds light on the various reasons that drive students in the UK to pursue a modern foreign language at university level. The results presented here are part of a longitudinal study on motivational processes of first year students studying German at two major universities. A mixed methods approach was used, employing quantitative and qualitative methods. Pedagogical implications for both schools and universities are discussed. (Contains 2 tables and 1 note.)