Spanish and Latin American Studies BA
London, Bloomsbury
Spanish and Latin American Studies BA (2024)
This four-year programme combines the study of Spanish language and its varieties with modules in the literature, film, history and cultures of Spain and Latin America, from the early modern period to the present day.
If you are interested in Portuguese, you may study it from beginner level alongside Spanish on this programme.
Study mode
Duration
UK tuition fees (2023/24)
Overseas tuition fees (2023/24)
Programme starts
September 2023Application deadline
25 Jan 2023UCAS course code
Entry requirements
- Grades
- ABB
- Subjects
- Spanish grade A required.
- GCSEs
- English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 5.
Contextual offer information
- Grades
- BBC more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- Spanish required at grade B.
- GCSEs
- English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 5.
- Points
- 34
- Subjects
- A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects including Spanish at grade 6, with no higher level score below 5.
Contextual offer
- Points
- 30 more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- A total of 15 points in three higher level subjects including Spanish at grade 6, with no higher level score below 5.
UK applicants qualifications
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
Equivalent qualification
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Pass in Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 30 credits at Distinction, 12 credits at Merit and 3 credits at Pass in the Level 3 units. Please note, where subject specific requirements are stipulated at A level we may review your Access to HE syllabus to ensure you meet the subject specific requirements prior to a final decision being communicated.
Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A levels at grades ABB. Spanish A level grade A required.
A,B,B at Advanced Highers (or A,B at Advanced Higher and B,B,B at Higher). Spanish grade A at Advanced Higher required.
D3,M1,M1 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects. Spanish at D3 required.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
International applications
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
Access and widening participation
UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. If you are eligible for Access UCL you do not need to do anything in addition to the standard UCAS application. Your application will be automatically flagged when we receive it.Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates
The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.
Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.
For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.
English language requirements
The English language level for this programme is: Level 4
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Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.
Course overview
The integrated study of language, literature, history and film is the hallmark of this degree. You are required to take modules to the value of 120 credits each year comprising an introductory core module in Year 1, Spanish language modules (with the option of also studying Portuguese), as well as choosing from a wide range of optional modules in all years on subjects including Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American literature, history, and film.
You will also take comparative modules allowing you to study subjects like literature, art and culture in a wider, cross-cultural frame.
You will be exposed to broad cultural movements, issues and approaches and be able to draw on the full range of specialisms within the School.
What this course will give you
UCL is a leading, exceptionally well-connected centre for Hispanic and Latin American studies, with a wealth of expertise in all areas and periods. Portuguese and Brazilian studies are a recent and thriving addition, with expertise ranging from Renaissance Portugal to Modernist Brazil and Lusophone Africa.
You will have high-quality language instruction combined with innovative, research-led cultural teaching. Literature: Cervantes through Borges to contemporary fiction; Film: Buñuel to current Latin American trends; and History: Cortés through Andean cultures to 20th century dictatorships.
Your third year is spent in a Spanish-speaking country, an experience which benefits your linguistic and cultural understanding. We have links with leading universities in Spain and Latin America.
You will benefit from the resources of the UCL and Senate House libraries, the Instituto Cervantes, Canning House, and numerous Spanish-speaking embassies. London hosts the UK's largest Hispanic community and provides a wealth of cultural events, from film festivals to literary evenings.
Teaching and learning
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Upon successful completion of 360 credits, you will be awarded a BA (Hons) in Spanish and Latin American Studies.
Modules
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.
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Please click here for a current list of undergraduate modules across the School.
During your third year you will undertake a course of study at a university in a Spanish-speaking country. We currently have links with universities in Spain, Mexico, Chile and Argentina.
Optional modules
Optional modules
Your learning
Language teaching takes place in small classes. There is an emphasis on the interaction between teacher and student to ensure the scope and pace of learning meets your needs. You will also attend lectures and small-group seminars in which the literary, historical and cultural elements of your studies will be discussed. Extra resources including conversation groups, personal tutorials and other activities are available.
During Terms 1 and 2, approximately 35% of a student's time is spent in lectures, seminars or tutorials and the remainder in independent study. There is minimal teaching during Term 3, which focusses on examinations and assessment.
Assessment
You will be assessed through a combination of written and oral examinations, essays, language work, projects and other coursework. Additional weight will be given to your achievements in the later years of your programme.
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.
The foundation of your career
Fluency in Spanish or Portuguese opens up exciting career possibilities around the world with graduates having an understanding of literature, culture, media, politics and business across the continents. Beyond the Americas and the Iberian Peninsula, Spanish and Portuguese are fast-growing languages in many other parts of the world, including the UK.
Career pathways include teaching, finance, journalism, law, education, commerce, arts administration, the civil service, the media, or translation and interpreting. The pursuit of further study is also an option open to you.
Employability
In addition to your language competence, you will develop skills in close and critical reading, research and writing methods, the analysis and communication of complex materials and the ability to organise your time. These skills will be of value in your future employment.
Fees and funding
Fees for this course
| Fee description | Full-time |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees (2023/24) | £9,250 |
| Tuition fees (2023/24) | £26,200 |
The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2023/24 academic year. The UK fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2023/24 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate/funding-your-studies.
Additional costs
The Study Abroad year will incur additional travel and living costs which vary depending on destination and what you choose to do during the year.
Additional funding may be available via the Turing Scheme, although please note that this is an external scheme so cannot be guaranteed.
In addition, please note that if you wish to study abroad during your programme at UCL, this is likely to incur additional costs. Studying abroad may cost between £200–£1,000 per month depending on where you choose to study. The cost of studying abroad can be difficult to predict as it will depend on your priorities and choices. There is more information available on the UCL Study Abroad website.
A guide including rough estimates for these and other living expenses is included on the UCL Fees and funding pages. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).
Funding your studies
Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.
Scholarships
The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.
Next steps
How to apply
Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
Selection
For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.
Our admissions process aims to assess your linguistic abilities and attainments as well as your cultural awareness, motivation for study and intellectual potential. We may interview candidates by telephone in order to establish a level of language ability.
Applicants must have A level or equivalent knowledge of Spanish. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are a native speaker of Spanish.
If your application demonstrates that your academic ability and motivation make you well-suited to our degree and you receive an offer, we shall invite you to a Post Offer Open Day. There, you will be able to experience the sort of teaching we offer and the lively atmosphere of the department.
Got questions? Get in touch
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