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Spanish and Philosophy BA

London, Bloomsbury

Our Spanish and Philosophy degree offers huge scope for developing in-depth, comparative and intercultural approaches to the humanities with a focus on Philosophy, as well as near-native language skills. You will also be able to choose from a wide range of modules including literature, linguistic traditions, history, sociology, philosophy, art, film or other aspects of the cultures associated with Spanish.

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
Duration
4 academic years
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£9,535
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£29,800
Programme starts
September 2025
Application deadline
29 Jan 2025
UCAS course code
R4V5

Entry requirements

A levels IB Diploma Other qualifications
Grades
AAA
Subjects
Spanish required at grade A.
GCSEs
English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 4.

Contextual offer information

Grades
ABB more about contextual offers
Subjects
Spanish required.
GCSEs
English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 4.
Points
38
Subjects
A total of 18 points in three higher level subjects including Spanish grade 6, with no higher level score below 5.

Contextual offer

Points
34 more about contextual offers
Subjects
A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects including Spanish grade 6, with no 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

Pass in Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 33 credits at Distinction and 12 credits at Merit, all from 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.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

D3,D3,D3 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects. Spanish required.

A,A,A at Advanced Highers (or A,A at Advanced Higher and A,A,A at Higher). Spanish required at grade A required at Advanced Higher.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A levels at grades AAA. Spanish required at grade A.

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.
Check your Access UCL Scheme eligibility

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

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

Your degree will be studied on a 50/50 ratio between Spanish and Philosophy.

In your first, second and final year you will take language modules in Spanish and the literature, culture, history and linguistics related to it, as well as modules in Philosophy (see the UCL Philosophy webpages for further details about studying Philosophy at UCL).

You will spend your third year abroad in a country where Spanish is spoken, studying at a university, or doing a work placement. You will achieve the same linguistic competence regardless of whether you start a language from beginner level or have previous knowledge of it.

What this course will give you

We provide an ideal environment for language study. UCL offers an unparalleled range of languages and state-of-the-art facilities, including a well-equipped language learning suite, and many of our academic staff are renowned leaders in their fields.

The Year Abroad gives you the chance to attend a university or work overseas. During this time you will finesse your language skills in Spanish and gain valuable experience which will enhance future learning as well as career prospects.

UCL has a very international population meaning you will meet people from all over the world, which provides numerous opportunities to practise and speak Spanish with native speakers and learn about the associated culture and societies from them.

UCL Philosophy is a prestigious department and you will be learning from some of the pre-eminent thinkers in the field. The department has a strong research culture in areas including Ethics, Metaphysics and the Philosophy of Mind.

Our location in London provides access to frequent and varied cultural events, a huge range of museums, galleries, specialist libraries and bookshops, theatres, cinemas, cuisines and cultural societies. As a UCL Philosophy student, you will also be able to attend the meetings of the Royal Institute of Philosophy, the Aristotelian Society and the Institute of Philosophy, all located nearby. Undergraduate students also run active departmental societies housed by the Students' Union.

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 480 credits, you will be awarded a BA (Hons) in Spanish and Philosophy.

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 is 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.

You will spend the first two years at UCL gaining expertise in the productive and receptive skills of Spanish, gain a more developed understanding of the literature, cinema, politics, linguistics, history, culture and society of the countries where Spanish is spoken, as well as study modules in Philosophy.

There is a compulsory Year Abroad in Year 3, during which you will spend your time in a country where Spanish is spoken. You may study at a partner university or undertake an approved work placement. The final year is based at UCL where you will continue to study a range of advanced-level modules on language, applied language (such as translation), literature, history, film and linguistics. A final-year dissertation module is available should you wish to undertake a self-initiated project, which builds on the independent research skills developed over the course of your programme of study.

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

Compulsory modules


Introduction to Spanish and Latin American Studies


Optional modules







How to Read Film: Critical Analysis and Key Concepts



Compulsory modules



Optional modules






Philosophy and Public Policy

Changing Beliefs






Compulsory modules




Compulsory modules



Optional modules




Latin American Cinema: History, Politics and Aesthetics II


Your learning

Your language classes focus on developing the active skills of speaking, listening, writing and reading through a variety of methods and media. You will be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars, as well as undertaking web-based study and group work.

We are keen to ensure that students feel part of our community at UCL and therefore offer programme-specific core modules in Year 1 that students take together with their respective cohort. These offer a broad sense of their chosen discipline and an opportunity to share learning experiences. They also support students to make informed choices for their future years of study to carve out a degree pathway that suits them. Please visit our Undergraduate Modules page for more details.

Teaching in UCL Philosophy meanwhile is based on lectures and seminars that complement each other. In your first year, you will be introduced to the basic elements of philosophical reasoning through lectures, seminars and small-group tutorial classes. In Years 2 and 3, your chosen modules will be taught by an expert from within our department through a combination of lectures, related seminars and classes.

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 focuses on examinations and assessment.

Assessment

Modules are assessed by a mixture of written and oral examinations, essays and other forms of coursework.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Virtual Open Event: Modern Languages and Cultures (AM)

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Join at us at this online event to learn more about the range of Modern Language and Culture undergraduate programmes offered at UCL. Colleagues from the School of European Languages, Culture and Society (SELCS) and the School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES) will outline the programmes offered and the benefits of studying a language or culture. There will be time for questions.

Online - Open day

Virtual Open Event: Modern Languages and Cultures (PM)

—

Join at us at this online event to learn more about the range of Modern Language and Culture undergraduate programmes offered at UCL. Colleagues from the School of European Languages, Culture and Society (SELCS) and the School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES) will outline the programmes offered and the benefits of studying a language or culture. There will be time for questions.

Online - Open day

Comparative Literature information video

Watch this video to find out more about School of European Languages, Culture and Society at UCL, including entry requirements, course structure and other helpful information. Recorded Spring 2024.

Watch on demand event

The foundation of your career

Popular career paths for modern language graduates include teaching and education (12.3%), publishing, journalism or translation (11.8%), accountancy and financial services (11.2%), media (4.8%), law (2.7%), PR, advertising, marketing (2.1%) and the civil service (1.6%)*. Employers of our graduates include KPMG, Bloomberg, BBC, Business Insider, Deutsche Bank, Houses of Parliament, Ipsos MORI, L'Oreal, London Theatre Company, Lonely Planet, Teach First, PwC and UK Government.*

Some graduates pursue careers that make special use of their language skills, including translating, interpreting and teaching, while others continue with graduate training, further study or academic research (4.8%).*

The discipline of philosophical training, and in particular its emphasis on rigorous argumentation, logic, and clarity of thought and expression, makes philosophy graduates highly suitable for a wide variety of careers.

Many recent UCL graduates have excelled in the legal profession, training as both solicitors and barristers. Others have entered sectors such as publishing (Oriel Square), journalism (TLDR News), finance (Bank of England, Deloitte, Deutsche Bank), the civil service and UK Government (Cabinet Office, Department for Education). Philosophy graduates are also sought after as programmers and systems analysts (Godija), while a good proportion of students go on to further study in philosophy.*

*Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates in the 2017-2021 cohorts.

Employability

There are many career opportunities for UCL's modern language and philosophy graduates. We seek to embed within our teaching the acquisition of transferable skills such as leadership, teamwork and communication skills as well as linguistic and cultural knowledge.

78% of graduates from the School of European Languages, Culture and Society (SELCS) and 80% of graduates from UCL Philosophy were in work, further study or due to start work or study, 15 months after graduation.* 

*Graduate Outcomes survey

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £9,535
Tuition fees (2025/26) £29,800

Fees are for Undergraduate 2025/26 entry and are for the first year only. Fees for subsequent years may be subject to increase: Student Terms and Conditions. UK fees are in line with the Government announcement on fee cap increases and are subject to the passing of secondary legislation. Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2025/26 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.

Additional costs

The department strives to keep additional costs low. Books and journal articles are usually available via the UCL Library as hard copies or via e-journal subscriptions.

In addition, please note that if you 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.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

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

Your application

We seek to select candidates who, in addition to academic achievement, have the motivation and passion for language learning, for inter-cultural inquiry, and who have a deep commitment to developing and finessing their language proficiency to an advanced level.

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 cultural awareness and intellectual potential. We may interview candidates by telephone in order to establish a level of language ability.

If your application demonstrates that your academic ability and motivation make you well-suited to our degree and you receive an offer, then we shall invite you to a Post-Offer Open Day, where you will experience the sort of teaching we offer and life in the departments.

Download prospectus

Got questions? Get in touch

School of European Languages, Culture and Society
School of European Languages, Culture and Society

selcs-cmii.enquiries@ucl.ac.uk

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