International Relations and Spanish BA

At Queen’s, this degree isn’t just about reading books and writing essays—it’s about living the subjects you study. From day one, you’ll take part in hands-on Spanish language classes, debate big international issues in small discussion groups, and get to grips with the same digital tools you’ll use in your future career. And of course, the highlight is your Year Abroad in a Spanish-speaking country, where everything you’ve learned in the classroom comes to life.

Here’s how that looks in practice:

• Year Abroad immersion – You’ll spend around eight months in Spain or Latin America, studying at a partner university, working, or teaching. This is your chance to live the language and culture every day while gaining valuable international experience.

• Interactive language learning – Expect translation workshops, oral classes, grammar sessions, and real-world Spanish texts and media. These are taught in small groups, so you get constant practice and feedback.

• Debates and group projects – Politics modules are taught through seminars and tutorials where you’ll discuss, present, and debate global issues with your peers—perfect for building confidence and communication skills.

• Digital tools for learning – You’ll use Queen’s Virtual Learning Environment (Canvas), online grammar platforms, and interactive web activities to keep developing your language and analytical skills outside the classroom.

• Work placements abroad – Many students choose paid internships or teaching assistantships during their Year Abroad, which means you’ll graduate with practical experience on your CV.

• Specialist facilities – You’ll have access to the Language Centre (with modern labs for translation and spoken Spanish practice) and one of the best university libraries in the UK, with extensive resources on Spanish and Latin American politics, history, and literature.

This degree opens the door to careers where language skills and global awareness really count. Many of our graduates go into roles like diplomatic and foreign affairs work, journalism and media, policy and research for government or NGOs, or translation and interpreting—all areas where your mix of political insight and Spanish fluency makes you stand out.

Here’s how Queen’s helps you get there:

• The Careers, Employability and Skills Centre gives you hands-on support with CVs, interviews, and placements, plus guidance for finding international career opportunities.

• Language graduates from Queen’s have a strong track record—past surveys show that almost all were in work or further study within six months of graduating.

• Salaries for language graduates are also competitive: a major UK study found they ranked among the top four highest-earning groups just a few years after leaving university.

• Your year abroad is backed by partnerships with organisations like Santander and the British Council, while employer links with companies such as Rolls Royce and PwC give added professional connections.

• Even without a formal accreditation body, the built-in year abroad, strong research training, and dual focus on politics and Spanish give you a qualification employers trust worldwide.

• Career paths are broad: many graduates go into media and communications, civil service, PR, education, tourism, business, and banking—all sectors that need people who can think globally and communicate across cultures.

Further Academic Progression:
If you’d like to continue studying, you’ll have great options at Master’s level—whether that’s specialising in International Relations and Politics, moving into areas like global security or diplomacy, or deepening your knowledge of Spanish and Hispanic Studies through translation, culture, or literature. And for those who catch the research bug, this degree also sets you up well for a PhD.