Skip navigation
Spanish and Latin American Studies at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
Apply

There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

Our Graduate Diploma in Spanish and Latin American Studies is ideal if you wish to familiarise yourself with and understand the rich cultural histories of Spain and Latin America, including Brazil, while also improving your Spanish and your research and study skills. The course has been designed for those who want to refresh their knowledge of Spanish and Latin American studies, including Brazilian studies, in preparation for a Master's degree, particularly if you have taken a break from studying and need to refamiliarise yourself with the field, or if you have a degree in a different but relevant subject area. The course will also suit international students who want to deepen their knowledge of Spanish language and Spanish and Latin American cultures while experiencing life and study in the UK, as well as teachers who want to refresh and deepen their knowledge, but who do not necessarily want to undertake a full MA quite yet. This course will help you reinforce your Spanish language skills at an advanced level and develop your analytical and critical skills in the study of Spanish and Latin American cultural forms, including art, film, history, literature, urban studies and linguistics. You will learn the latest theoretical approaches to cultural critique and explore a wide range of cultural forms within their social and historical contexts. This is an undergraduate-level qualification that will prepare you for postgraduate study. Graduate Certificates/Diplomas typically take one to two years to complete and are made up of two, three or four modules at final-year undergraduate degree level (worth 60, 90 or 120 credits). Highlights

  • Designed for students who require further training to progress to an MA course, such as Birkbeck's MA/MRes Modern Languages and Comparative Literatures.
  • You will be taught by specialists from a centre of teaching and research excellence that prides itself on research-led teaching in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Spanish, making it an outstanding multidisciplinary team.
  • Our affiliated research centre, the Centre for Iberian and Latin American Visual Studies (CILAVS), provides an important platform for this exchange.
Careers and employability Graduates can pursue career paths in international organisations or business, translation, teaching, media and creative industries, research or journalism. Possible professions include:
  • researcher
  • journalist
  • teacher
  • translator
  • academic librarian
  • archivist.
We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment method

Language modules are assessed via coursework that includes a project and other tasks, as well as oral and written in-class tests. Literature and culture modules are assessed via two essays of 2500-3500 words. You also undertake an 8000-word research project that allows you to explore in depth a topic that interests you.

How to apply

International applicants

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

Entry requirements

Applicants should have a second-class honours degree (2:2 or above) in an appropriate subject and will be expected to have language skills in Spanish equivalent to a high A-level or A-level + one year, or C1 (CEFR). Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £7380 Year 1
Northern Ireland £7380 Year 1
Scotland £7380 Year 1
Wales £7380 Year 1
International £13560 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.
Spanish and Latin American Studies at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS