Spanish Studies and Politics

BA Hons

  • UCAS code RL42
  • Entry year 2025
  • A level requirements ABB
  • Duration Full time 4 years

Overview

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Lancaster’s joint Spanish Studies and Politics degree is taught by the School of Global Affairs in conjunction with the Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion.

Your Spanish Studies programme enables you to acquire high-level language skills and gain a thorough understanding of the historical, cultural, social, and political backgrounds of the Spanish-speaking world in a global context.

Your first year comprises an exploration of the Spanish language and its cultural context as well as the Politics core module, which introduces you to key themes such as the theory and practice of liberal democracy, globalisation and threats to international security. In addition, you will study minor subjects that complements your degree, which may be another language.

Building on your language skills in Year 2, you will study the culture, politics and history of the Spanish-speaking world in more depth, as well as selecting modules which are international in scope and promote a comparative understanding of Europe and beyond. In Politics, you will be able to choose from a broad range of options.

Spending your third year abroad in a Spanish-speaking country gives you the opportunity to develop your language proficiency while deepening your intercultural sensitivity. You can study at a partner university or conduct a work placement.

In your final year, you consolidate your Spanish language skills, and study specialist culture and comparative modules. You will also select from Politics modules.

You can find some examples of optional modules in the Course Structure section below.

Beginners Languages

Studying a language from beginners level is somewhat intense in nature so we only allow students to study one language from beginners level. Please bear this in mind when looking at our first year module options. If you apply to study a degree with a language from beginners level, your optional modules will only include higher level languages and modules in other subject areas.

Careers

A degree in languages can help you to develop rich interpersonal, intercultural, cognitive and transferable skills that combine well with the broader knowledge of international issues and social systems you’ll acquire through studying Politics. Graduates have gone on to careers in the civil service, government, public affairs, accountancy, IT, business development, events management, finance, journalism, publishing, research and sales, as well as teaching and translation both in the UK and abroad.

Many graduates continue their studies at Lancaster in areas such as humanities and interdisciplinary research, making the most of our postgraduate research facilities. There are a diverse range of master's programmes on offer in Politics, as well as options to study Translation or Languages and Cultures at postgraduate level.

Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, but that you also graduate with relevant life and work based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.

Entry requirements

Grade Requirements

A Level ABB

Required Subjects A level Spanish, or if this is to be studied from beginners’ level, AS grade B or A level grade B in another foreign language, or GCSE grade A or 7 in a foreign language. Native Spanish speakers will not be accepted onto this scheme.

IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements webpages.

Other Qualifications

International Baccalaureate 32 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects including appropriate evidence of language ability

BTEC Distinction, Distinction, Merit accepted alongside appropriate evidence of language ability

We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualification. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions webpages.

Contact Admissions Team + 44 (0) 1524 592028 or via ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

International foundation programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Contextual admissions

Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.

Course structure

Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and some which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

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Optional

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Optional

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Fees and funding

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.

Our Undergraduate Tuition Fees for 2025/26 are:

Home International
£9,250 £24,700

Fees and funding information

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Scholarships and bursaries

You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.

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