Course summary

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 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. 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.