Spanish

Spanish embraces the study of the languages, literatures and cultures of Spain and the wider Spanish-speaking world, with particular emphasis on Latin America.

You will immerse yourself in the Spanish language and culture, most significantly through a year spent abroad. Your studies will go far beyond the language and into the film, literature, history and culture of the Spanish-speaking world.

Programme structure

Year 1

The course you study in first year depends on how much Spanish you have studied before. If you have an SQA Higher or A-level in Spanish (grade A or B), you can opt for the Level-1 Language and culture course. This will build on your knowledge of Spanish and reinforce your awareness of linguistic structures, both spoken and written. On the cultural side, you will study a number of key genres (eg narrative, film, poetry, drama) and study texts and films in Spanish.

If you are a beginner or near-beginner in the language, provided that you have some previous successful language learning experience, you can take the Level-1 Beginners course, which will provide an intensive foundation in reading, writing and speaking Spanish. If you perform well on this course, you can progress to second year and beyond.

You will also study two other subjects of your choice in year 1: see Degrees in Arts, Science and Social Sciences.

Year 2

The first-year Language and culture course leads to Spanish 2, which extends and develops your linguistic skills and builds your knowledge of Spanish culture through the study of further texts and other cultural forms. Students progressing from the first-year Beginners course normally study additional Level-1 cultural materials alongside the Level-2 course.

You will also study two other subjects in year 2: see Degrees in Arts, Science and Social Sciences.

Year 3

It is essential that you spend your third year abroad to gain admittance to Honours. If you are taking Single or Joint Honours Spanish with a non-language subject, you would normally take up a language assistant role or exchange student placement in a relevant country.

If you are taking Joint Honours Spanish and another language, you may opt to spend your third year either in a Spanish-speaking country or in a country where the other language is spoken. In this case, you will spend at least the last three months of the second semester of your fourth year in a Spanish-speaking country.

Years 4 and 5

If you successfully complete the Spanish courses in years 1 and 2, you may progress to Honours. You will take Spanish as a core language, and select courses from a wide range of linguistic, literary, cultural and historic topics.

Special features

Excellent audio-visual and IT facilities are available to support both the language and the wider cultural elements of the programme.

At all levels, elements of tuition are given by native-language speakers of Spanish.

Our international links

The two most common ways to take the year abroad are to work as a language assistant in Spain or South America on a placement arranged through the British Council, or to go as an Erasmus or other exchange student to a university in a country of Spanish or Portuguese speech, which can include Brazil and Spanish America.

The University can provide support with arranging a placement with an exchange programme or other foreign placement of your choice.

Career prospects

Graduates with qualifications in modern languages and cultures have gone on to pursue rewarding careers in business and commerce, marketing, media, teaching, translating and interpreting, and the civil service.

MA

  • Spanish: R410
  • Archaeology/Spanish: RV44
  • Physics/Spanish: RF43
  • Spanish/Comparative Literature: RQ42
  • Spanish/Computing Science: RG44
  • Spanish/Digital Media & Information Studies: RG45
  • Spanish/Economics: RL41
  • Spanish/English Literature: RQ43
  • Spanish/French: RR41
  • Spanish/Geography: RL47
  • Spanish/German: RR42
  • Spanish/Greek: RQ47
  • Spanish/History: RV4C
  • Spanish/Italian: RR43
  • Spanish/Latin: RQ46
  • Spanish/Mathematics: RG41
  • Spanish/Music: RW4H
  • Spanish/Public Policy: RL44
  • Spanish/Scottish History: RV42
  • Spanish/Scottish Literature: RQ4M
  • Spanish/Sociology: RL46
  • Spanish/Theatre Studies: RW4K
  • Spanish/Theology & Religious Studies: RV4P

Academic entry requirements
for entry in 2014

MA

Highers: AAAA or AAABB (including English and a humanities subject or a language (including Gaelic) at grades A/B or B/A) in first sitting = unconditional offer.

Applicants who achieved AAAB or AABBB (including English and a humanities subject or a language (including Gaelic) at grades A/B or B/A) at their first sitting WILL receive an offer from the University. This offer may be conditional (on second sitting results) or unconditional, depending on how many applications are received from students who have attained these grades.

Additional offers, either conditional or unconditional, MAY be made to applicants who achieved AABB or ABBB at their first sitting. A decision re these applications will be made in March 2014 once all applications have been reviewed.

A-levels: AAB.

IB: A minimum of 34 points is required to be considered for an offer. Actual offers will specify subjects and grades to be attained at Higher Level.

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training):

  • overall score 6.5
  • no sub-test less than 6.0
  • or equivalent scores in another recognised qualification (see below)
     

Common equivalent English language qualifications:

  • ibTOEFL: 92; no sub-test less than 20
  • CAE (Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English): B minimum
  • CPE (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English): C minimum
  • PTE Academic (Person Test of English, Academic test): 60; no sub-test less than 59

Pre-sessional courses
The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the Language Centre Pre-sessional courses. We also consider other BALEAP accredited pre-sessional courses:

FAQs

What do I do if...

my language qualifications are below the requirements?

The University's Language Centre offers a range of Pre-Sessional Courses to bring you up to entry level. The course is accredited by BALEAP, the UK professional association for academic English teaching; see Links.

my language qualifications are not listed here?

Please contact the Recruitment and International Office: Elaine.Shortt@glasgow.ac.uk

If you require a Tier 4 student visa, your qualification must be one of the secure English language tests accepted by UK Border Agency:

my academic qualifications are below the requirements?

Glasgow International College offers Foundation courses to upgrade your academic qualifications.

Visa requirements and proof of English language level

It is a visa requirement to provide information on your level of English based on an internationally recognised and secure English language test. All test reports must be no more than 2 years old. A list of these can be found on the UK Border Agency website. If you have never taken one of these tests before, you can get an initial idea of your level by using the Common European Framework self-assessment grid which gives you a level for each skill (e.g. listening B1/writing B2 etc.) However, please note that this is not a secure English language test and it is not sufficient evidence of your level of English for visa requirements.

For further information about English language, please contact the Language Centre.

Tuition fees

How and when you pay tuition fees depends on where you’re from: see Tuition fees for details. If you’re from outside the EU, please see International students for more information.

Scholarships

We offer a wide range of scholarships to our undergraduates, including both home/EU and international students. The University is committed to supporting students and rewarding academic excellence. That’s why we’ve invested more than £1m in additional scholarship funding over the last year.
 
For a full list of scholarships including eligibility criteria and how to apply, please see:

How to apply ...