What Will You Study
This four-year combined degree is provided by our renowned Department of Languages and Cultures and the highly-ranked Department of Linguistics and English Language. A year abroad gives you a unique opportunity to be immersed in the language and culture. You don’t need to have studied Spanish before as we offer an intensive course for beginners.
In Spanish Studies we aim to help you become truly fluent. Taking Linguistics in tandem with Spanish Studies will give you increased awareness of the grammar of the language, and allow you to really understand the structure of both English, Spanish, and a wide range of other languages from around the world. We also offer courses on contemporary Spanish history and Spanish and Mexican culture. In your second year you’ll study modules such as The Structures of the World’s Languages and Spanish Language Oral Skills.
Your third year living abroad in Spain, Mexico, or South America will deepen your intercultural sensitivity and your command of the language. You can study at a partner institution, or carry out a work placement and practice your language skills in a real-world context. Staff members within the department will work with you to secure accommodation, ensuring that you are fully equipped before embarking on your year abroad.
On your return to Lancaster in the fourth year, you’ll specialise further. Choices include Cognitive Linguistics and Game of (Spanish) Thrones: Treachery, War and Exile in Spanish Poetry. You could also choose to complete a dissertation on a topic. Given the range of expertise within our department, our academics will be able to supervise most topics that fit your interests. We’ll assess your progress through coursework and exams in a caring, friendly atmosphere. You’ll have regular meetings with your academic advisors and a chance to join our highly active student society. The linguistic, communication and interpersonal skills you’ll acquire are highly prized by employers. The Linguistics element of your degree is of professional relevance in many areas, from education to business management, advertising to accountancy. The British Council, Civil and Diplomatic services, MI6, GCHQ, and other international agencies offer many interesting career paths for language graduates. Linguistic awareness is a real boost when working for international and multicultural companies and organisations, and we are confident our degree programme will set you up well for a career in these areas.
Modules
Year 1
Core
Optional
Year 2
Core
Optional
Year 3
Core
Year 4
Core
Optional
Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and others which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism. We divide academic study into two sections - Part 1 (Year 1) and Part 2 (Year 2, 3 and sometimes 4). For most programmes Part 1 requires you to study 120 credits spread over at least three modules which, depending upon your programme, will be drawn from one, two or three different academic subjects, some examples of which are listed below. These will be updated regularly as modules are confirmed for 2020 entry. A higher degree of specialisation then develops in subsequent years. For more information about our teaching methods at Lancaster please visit our Teaching and Learning section.
The following courses do not offer modules outside of the subject area due to structured nature of the programmes: Law, Physics, Engineering, Medicine, Sports and Exercise Science, Biochemistry (including with Genetics or Biomedicine), Biomedicine and Biomedical Science.
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.
Entry Criteria
Grade Requirements
A Level AAB
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 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 35 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects including appropriate evidence of language ability
BTEC Distinction, Distinction, Distinction 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
Careers
As well as language and subject-related skills, a degree in languages develops rich interpersonal, intercultural, cognitive and transferable skills that can be utilised across a variety of careers such as accountancy, IT, business development, civil service, events management, finance, journalism, publishing, research and sales, as well as teaching and translating both in the UK and abroad.
Recent Linguistics graduates have also gone on to work or train as speech therapists, teachers of English, computer programmers and consultants, bankers, personnel managers, and social workers.
For the last ten years, languages graduates from Lancaster have been in the top ten universities in the country in terms of their employment prospects. The Complete University Guide 2017 ranked Spanish Studies 1st and Linguistics joint 5th in the UK for graduate prospects.
Many graduates continue their studies at Lancaster, making the most of our excellent postgraduate research facilities. We offer Masters degrees in Translation, Languages and Cultures, Applied Linguistics, and Discourse Studies amongst others.
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.
Studying
Teaching and Learning Methods
At Lancaster we offer a broad range of learning environments designed to best support the requirements of your chosen degree programme. These may include lecture and tutorials, interactive workshops, laboratory sessions, other practical activities, student-led seminars and web-based delivery.
The modules which make up a programme of study are assessed using a variety of different methods, enabling students to demonstrate their capabilities in a range of ways. Typical coursework assignments include laboratory reports, essays, literature reviews, short tests, short and sharply focused critical reports, poster sessions and oral presentations. Formal examinations include short answer questions, essays and data analysis. Multiple choice formats are also employed where appropriate. Students are supported in the production of final year project reports and dissertations. Details of the assessment methods for individual modules can be accessed via the university's online module catalogue. In addition to these learning and teaching methods we encourage independent study, meaning you take responsibility for your own learning. For more information visit our Teaching Approach page.
Assessment Methods
We offer you a variety of stimulating and effective approaches to teaching, learning and assessment. This enables you and your tutors to explore the very latest thinking within your subject and develops your skills in problem solving, analysis and critical reflection, communication, application of knowledge and modern technologies.
As a University, we commit to providing all our undergraduates with a minimum number of contact hours per week, providing you with timely feedback on your work and a maximum number of 15 students per seminar group.
Fees
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 2020/21 are:
| UK/EU |
Overseas |
| £9,250 |
£18,700 |
Tuition fees for programmes are set annually for all new and continuing students. If you are studying on a course of more than one year's duration, the fees for subsequent years of your programme are likely to increase each year. Such increases are normally calculated based on increases in the costs incurred by the institution, or in relation to UK government regulations which set the maximum fee for certain categories of student.
For the majority of undergraduate students, the most recent annual increase was 2.8%. Any change in fee rates will be communicated to students and applicants prior to the start of the academic year in question, and normally at least eight months prior to enrolment. Further details can be found in our Terms and Conditions.
Channel Islands and the Isle of Man
Some science and medicine courses have higher fees for students from
the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. You can find more details here:
Island Students.
Funding
For full details of the University's financial support packages including eligibility criteria, please visit our fees and funding page
Students also need to consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation it may be necessary to take out subscriptions to professional bodies and to buy business attire for job interviews.
