MA Politics and Spanish & Latin American Studies (5 years)

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Aberdeen

Program Overview

This five-year degree is perfect for students who want to become fluent in Spanish while building a strong understanding of how politics shapes countries, communities and global relationships. It blends language learning with real political insight, preparing you for an international career where communication, cultural awareness and critical thinking truly matter.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

You’ll start by building your Spanish language foundation through modules like Spanish Language 1 (SP1027) or Spanish Language 2 (SP1028), depending on your level. Alongside this, you’ll take Spain and Spanish America: History, Culture, Politics (SP1039), which gives you your first taste of how history, culture and politics intersect across the Spanish-speaking world. You also begin exploring key political ideas and systems, helping you connect language study with real global issues.

Year 2

Your Spanish becomes more confident and expressive through Spanish Language 3 / 4 (SP2025 / SP2026), and you’ll explore Latin American societies through Latin America: Texts and Contexts (SP2036). At the same time, politics modules introduce you to themes like democracy, political behaviour and global governance, giving you a stronger analytical foundation before your year abroad.

Year 3 – Year Abroad

This is the most transformative part of the degree. You’ll spend the year living in a Spanish-speaking country, improving your fluency through everyday interactions and academic study. Through the Residence Abroad Project (SP30AB), you reflect on the political, cultural and social dimensions you experience first-hand — a major part of your development both personally and academically.

Year 4 & Year 5 – Honours Years

In your final years, you’ll specialise in what interests you most. You’ll take advanced language modules like Spanish Language 7 (SP40A5), explore political topics connected to the Spanish-speaking world, and complete an independent Dissertation in Spanish (SP4039). These years allow you to bring together everything you’ve learned and shape your degree toward your career goals.

Focus areas:

Spanish language mastery, Latin American & Iberian cultural studies, global & European politics, cross-cultural communication.

Learning outcomes:

You’ll graduate able to communicate at a high level in Spanish, analyse political systems with confidence, understand cultural and historical contexts, and conduct independent research across languages and disciplines.

Professional alignment (accreditation):

While this isn’t an accredited professional qualification, the combination of political knowledge and advanced language skills aligns closely with careers in diplomacy, government, international NGOs, journalism, policy research and global business.

Reputation (employability rankings):

The University of Aberdeen is consistently recognised for strong graduate outcomes, and its Politics programmes have ranked within the UK’s top 10 in the Guardian University Guide — helping your degree stand out to employers.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

One of the best things about this degree is how much of your learning happens through real experiences. You won’t just study Spanish and politics from textbooks — you’ll use the language every day, work with authentic cultural materials, explore global issues in small discussion-based classes, and spend an entire year abroad living in a Spanish-speaking country. Aberdeen’s strong language facilities and supportive teaching environment make it easy to build confidence and turn your skills into something practical and career-ready.

And all of this becomes even more meaningful when you start applying classroom theory to real life. Here’s what that looks like:

A full year abroad in a Spanish-speaking country, where your language skills grow naturally through daily life, university study, and immersion in local culture.
Access to the School of Language, Literature, Film & Visual Culture’s language-learning facilities, including specialist Spanish modules with audio-visual tools that help you improve grammar, listening and communication.
A structured Residence Abroad Project (SP30AB) that connects your experiences overseas with guided academic reflection and research.
Small, discussion-based politics seminars that use real political case studies, current events and group activities to develop your analytical and communication skills.
Supportive academic staff with deep expertise in both Spanish-speaking cultures and global political systems, helping you link language, culture and politics in a meaningful way.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from this combined degree step into the world with something incredibly valuable: strong political insight paired with fluent Spanish and a deep understanding of global cultures. This opens doors to careers where communication, analysis, and international awareness really matter. Many students move into roles such as policy advisor, diplomatic services officer, project manager in international NGOs, or communications and media specialist.

Aberdeen helps you build this future with real structure and support:

The Careers & Employability Service offers personalised guidance, CV support, internship advice, and access to hundreds of employer connections.
The School of Social Science Employability Programme gives you opportunities for work-based projects, organisational placements, and mentoring from professionals in government, public policy, and international affairs.
Graduate salary data shows strong early progression for languages and politics graduates, with typical earnings around £25,000 within 15 months and increasing steadily after a few years.
The programme’s blend of language mastery and political analysis gives you long-term value — employers consistently look for graduates who can work across cultures and understand how global systems function.
Aberdeen’s strong academic reputation and international partnerships further support your transition into competitive global careers.

Further Academic Progression:

If you decide to continue your studies, this degree sets you up perfectly for postgraduate options such as International Relations, Public Policy, Translation Studies, Global Security, Diplomacy, or Latin American Studies — and it can even lead you toward a research degree or PhD.