Spanish

Spain and the countries of Latin America together form a key economic and political presence on the international scene, and are known for their extraordinary cultural diversity and fascinating history.

Studying Spanish at Reading is a life-changing experience that gives you an in-depth knowledge of the Spanish language and more broadly of the diverse cultures of the many countries around the globe where Spanish is spoken. You can study a wide range of optional modules in Spanish and Latin American culture, history, literature, politics and film with staff who are internationally recognised experts. The 2022 National Student Survey results are out and 90% of students agreed that our staff are good at explaining things.

You will spend up to a year in a Spanish-speaking country (our year abroad destinations include placements in Latin America as well as Spain), studying at a partner institution, undertaking a work placement or working as a British Council language teaching assistant. This allows you to immerse yourself in the culture and develop your language to a high level. The core language module in the second year will equip you with the skills and knowledge required to work and live abroad.

Our staff are active in research, and 98% of our modern languages and linguistics research has been classed as world leading, internationally excellent or internationally recognised (Research Excellence Framework 2014 - Modern Languages and Linguistics.)

You can study Spanish as one of the options in our BA Modern Languages programme: either on its own, in combination with another language, or with another subject, such as Economics, English, History, International Relations or Business.

In each year you will study a Spanish language module (starting from beginners, intermediate or advanced level in the first year, and achieving near-native fluency in the final year). Alongside the language module, you will take a number of cultural modules (the exact number of cultural modules you can take depends on whether you are studying Spanish on its own, or in combination with another language or another subject). Examples of current modules include:

• Icons of Spain and Latin America: From conquest to independence; from revolution to globalisation
• Introduction to Spanish and Latin American Culture
• Culture & Revolution in Modern Latin America
• Literature and Society in the Modern Hispanic World
• Modern and Contemporary Spanish Narratives
• Transatlantic Exchanges: Latin America in the Global Nineteenth Century
• Narrating the Colombian Conflict
• Spanish Language for Management and Business
• Writers and Publishers in Spain

Our modules are inspired by the research expertise of our staff, who bring their in-depth knowledge of, and their passion for, Spanish and Latin American Studies into the classroom. In the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019-20, overall, 88% of graduates from Languages and Cultures are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation*. 

For more information about this programme and entry requirements, please check our website.

*Based on our analysis of HESA data © HESA 2022, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20; includes all Languages and Cultures responders.