What Will You Study
This four-year degree is provided jointly by our Department of Linguistics and English Language and our Department of Languages and Cultures.
It’s a stimulating blend of academic study and hands-on experience gained through a year abroad, and 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. We offer courses on Spanish and Mexican history, culture, politics and social background. You’ll also learn how the English language functions, studying traditional linguistic areas such as lexis, grammar and phonetics. In your second year, you’ll study core modules such as English Phonetics, Spanish language skills and Power and Resistance in Spain and Spanish America. You’ll also choose from options ranging from The Language of Advertising to Stylistics.
The aim of your third year, which is spent living abroad, is to deepen your intercultural sensitivity and your command of the language. You can study at a partner institution or may have the opportunity to 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, and help ensure that you are ready for your year in Spain. On your return to Lancaster, your fourth year allows you to develop your Spanish to Common European Framework of Reference for Languages C1/C2 levels. You can also specialise in particular fields of study. Modules include Advanced English Phonetics, Game of (Spanish) Thrones and Contemporary Cities in Literature and Film. You could also choose to complete a dissertation on a topic you would like to explore in-depth. Given the size of the department, our academics will be able to supervise most topics that fit your interests.
Related Courses
- Chinese Studies and French Studies : BA Hons
- Chinese Studies and German Studies : BA Hons
- Chinese Studies and Spanish Studies : BA Hons
- Criminology and French Studies : BA Hons
- English Language : BA Hons
- English Language (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- English Language (Study Abroad) : BA Hons
- English Language and Creative Writing : BA Hons
- English Language and Creative Writing (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- English Language and French Studies : BA Hons
- English Language and German Studies : BA Hons
- English Language and Linguistics : BA Hons
- English Language and Linguistics (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- English Language and Linguistics (Study Abroad) : BA Hons
- English Language and Literature : BA Hons
- English Language and Literature (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- English Language in the Media : BA Hons
- English Language in the Media (Study Abroad) : BA Hons
- English Language in the Media (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- French Studies : BA Hons
- French Studies and Computing : BSc Hons
- French Studies and English Literature : BA Hons
- French Studies and Film : BA Hons
- French Studies and Geography : BA Hons
- French Studies and German Studies : BA Hons
- French Studies and History : BA Hons
- French Studies and Linguistics : BA Hons
- French Studies and Mathematics : BA Hons
- French Studies and Philosophy : BA Hons
- French Studies and Politics : BA Hons
- French Studies and Spanish Studies : BA Hons
- French Studies and Theatre : BA Hons
- French Studies with Italian : BA Hons
- German Studies : BA Hons
- German Studies and Computing : BSc Hons
- German Studies and English Literature : BA Hons
- German Studies and Film : BA Hons
- German Studies and Geography : BA Hons
- German Studies and History : BA Hons
- German Studies and Linguistics : BA Hons
- German Studies and Mathematics : BA Hons
- German Studies and Philosophy : BA Hons
- German Studies and Politics : BA Hons
- German Studies and Spanish Studies : BA Hons
- German Studies and Theatre : BA Hons
- German Studies with Italian : BA Hons
- Linguistics : BA Hons
- Linguistics (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Linguistics (Study Abroad) : BA Hons
- Linguistics and Philosophy : BA Hons
- Linguistics and Philosophy (Placement Year) : BA Hons
- Management and French Studies : BA Hons
- Management and German Studies : BA Hons
- Management and Spanish Studies : BA Hons
- Modern Languages : BA Hons
- Modern Languages and Cultures : MLang Hons
- Psychology and French Studies : BA Hons
- Psychology and German Studies : BA Hons
- Psychology and Linguistics : BA Hons
- Psychology and Spanish Studies : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and Computing : BSc Hons
- Spanish Studies and English Literature : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and Film : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and Geography : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and History : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and Linguistics : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and Mathematics : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and Philosophy : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and Politics : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and Theatre : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies with Italian : BA Hons
Modules
Year 1
- English Language
- Part I Spanish Studies (Advanced/CEFR: B1)
- Part I Spanish Studies (Beginners to CEFR: A2)
- Developing Academic Practice
- English Grammar
- English Phonetics
- Second Year Programme for Academic Skills, Employability and International placement preparation
- Shaping Contemporary Spain and Latin America: Moments and Movements
- Spanish Language: Oral Skills (CEFR: B2)
- Spanish Language: Oral Skills (post Beginners/CEFR: B1)
- Spanish Language: Written skills (CEFR: B2)
- Spanish Language: Written Skills (post Beginners/CEFR: B1)
- Child Language Acquisition
- Corporate communication
- Cross-cultural encounters in World Literatures
- Discourse Analysis: Looking at Language in Use
- Dissertation Preparation
- Economic and Social Change in France, Germany and Spain since 1945
- Independent Study
- Introduction to Computational Linguistics
- Language and Identity in France, Germany and Spain
- Language and Pedagogic Practice
- Language Origins and Evolution
- Literacy and Education
- Placement module
- Professional Contexts for Modern Languages
- Society on Screen: The Language of Film
- Sounds of the World's Languages
- Structures of the World's Languages
- Stylistics
- The Language of Advertising
- Understanding culture
- Understanding Media
- Advanced English Phonetics
- Corpus-based English Language Studies
- Spanish Language: Oral Skills (CEFR: C1/C2)
- Spanish Language: Written Skills (CEFR: C1/C2)
- Autocrats, Caudillos and Big Men: Understanding Dictatorship and its Cultural Representation in the 20th Century
- Cognitive Linguistics
- Contemporary Cities in Literature and Film
- Dissertation
- Forensic Linguistics
- Full Unit Dissertation
- Game of (Spanish) Thrones: Treachery, War and Exile in Spanish Poetry (13th-20th c.)
- Imagining Modern Europe: Post-Revolutionary Utopias and Ideologies in the First Half of the Nineteenth Century
- Language and Identities: Gender, ethnicity and class
- Language Change in English and Beyond
- Language in the Workplace: Topics in Professional Communication
- Language, Culture and Thought
- Latin America and Spain on Film: Violence and Masculinities
- Mirrors across Media: Reflexivity in Literature, Film, Comics and Video Games
- Psycholinguistics
- Schools Volunteering Module
- Social movements and committed writing in Mexico since 1968
- The Prosecution of 'Otherness' in Europe: Witchcraft, Heresy and Inquisition (14th -17th C)
- Topics in Phonetic and Phonological Theory
- Translation as a Cultural Practice
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. 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 the structured nature of the programmes: Architecture, Law, Physics, Engineering, Medicine, Sports and Exercise Science, Biochemistry, Biology, 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
Language study is not just about facts, but learning a range of skills in data management and analysis, the evaluation of evidence, and the synthesis and presentation of results. These are the kinds of skills that today’s employers value.
The jobs that our graduates are interested in include:
- Journalism, media and publishing
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Translation
- Teaching (primary, secondary, and English as a foreign Language abroad)
- Speech Technology
- Public Relations
- Management
Some of our graduates continue their studies at Lancaster or other institutions and undertake postgraduate studies or professional training in the field of languages or linguistics.
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
We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2018-19 entry fees have not yet been set.
As a guide, our fees in 2017-18 were:
| UK/EU (2017-18) | Overseas (2017-18) |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £18,700 |
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.