Spanish and History

With BA Spanish and International Relations, develop a deeper understanding of the world in which we live through the study of international relations and Spanish.
Join our friendly and dynamic Department of Languages and Cultures, which offers the opportunity to study in a lively, multilingual community with staff and students from all over the world. We offer a flexible and supportive approach to learning which allows you to tailor your degree to your interests, including the opportunity to learn other languages.

Through this course you will become confident and highly skilled in written and spoken Spanish. You will master the fundamental elements of the language, to the point where you will graduate with a near-native command of it. Direct access to expert staff for help and feedback ensures you develop your language skills to the best of your ability.

In Spanish, you will learn the language in the political, social and cultural contexts of the countries in which it 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. These include comprehensive first-year modules including Icons of Spain and Latin America and Introduction to Spanish and Latin American Culture; second-year modules including Literature and Society in the Modern Hispanic World and Culture and Revolution in Modern Latin America; and final-year modules including Memory, Dictatorship and Cultural Resistance in the Southern Cone, Writers and Publishers in Spain and Testimonial Writing from Modern Latin America.

In International Relations, you will acquire a strong grounding in fundamental elements such as political ideas and international relations theory. You will spend most of your teaching time in small teaching groups, allowing you to interact directly with staff and add your own voice to the discussion. You will have the opportunity to study a wide range of specialist core and optional modules, which cover topical issues such as European political integration, international terrorism and the Middle East crisis. The course also delivers innovative modules in which you can take part in United Nations and Middle East simulations and gain an insight into the political process.

An integral part of the course is the opportunity for you to spend up to a year in a Spanish-speaking country, 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.

**Careers**

By the time you graduate, you will be able to write and speak fluently in Spanish – an immensely useful skill to have given that there is currently a great shortage of well-qualified linguists in the UK. The experience of studying or working abroad also distinguishes you from non-language graduates, providing evidence of self-reliance, adaptability and enterprise. You will also develop transferable skills in analysis of language data, problem solving, team working and presentation skills. You will be suitably equipped for a wide range of career paths in areas such as teaching, publishing, marketing, advertising, media and law.

Past students have put their political analysis skills to direct use in the home and European civil services, political research units, think tanks, non-governmental organisations and journalism.