BA Politics and Spanish

This degree is designed to take your learning far beyond the lecture hall. From the very start, you’ll be developing practical skills through dynamic teaching methods—think interactive seminars, workshops, and group projects where you present ideas, debate real-world issues, or even create podcasts and video essays. You’ll also make use of Bristol’s Multimedia Centre and language labs, where you can record, edit, and practice with cutting-edge tools that bring your work to life.

A real highlight of the course is your year abroad in a Spanish-speaking country, giving you the chance to live the language, immerse yourself in local culture, and gain confidence that simply can’t be built in a classroom. Alongside this, you’ll be part of a lively community—language cafés, visiting speakers, student societies, and cultural showcases all add an extra layer of learning and connection.

To give you a sense of what that looks like in practice:

• Hands-on language practice in the Multimedia Centre, with access to recording studios, editing suites, and specialist software.

• Creative assessments like podcasts, video essays, and debates, alongside traditional essays and dissertations.

• A transformative year abroad, where you’ll study or work in a Spanish-speaking country to sharpen your fluency and cultural awareness.

• A vibrant student community, with cafés, talks, societies, and showcases to practice your Spanish and broaden your horizons.

• Personalised guidance, through small-group teaching, one-to-one supervision, and support from experts in politics, international relations, and Spanish studies.

Studying Politics and Spanish at Bristol sets you up for a truly international career. You’ll graduate with strong analytical skills, cultural awareness, and fluency in Spanish—qualities that employers around the world are actively looking for. Many of our graduates move into roles such as policy advisor, journalist, diplomat, or NGO specialist, where language and political expertise go hand in hand.

Here’s how Bristol helps you get there:

• Dedicated careers support – From one-to-one guidance to CV workshops and interview prep, the Careers Service and School of Modern Languages team work closely with you throughout your degree.

• Strong employment record – Around 85% of politics graduates are working or in further study within 15 months, with many moving quickly into professional-level jobs.

• International opportunities – Thanks to our partnerships in Spain and across Latin America (Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica), your year abroad gives you valuable global experience and often a real edge in the job market.

• Respected degree – A Bristol degree carries weight. Employers know you’ve trained at a top UK university consistently ranked among the best in the world.

• Diverse career pathways – Graduates have gone into fields like translation, diplomacy, teaching, journalism, accountancy, banking, marketing, tourism, and even the Foreign Office.

Further Academic Progression:
If you want to keep studying after your BA, you’ll have plenty of options. Many students continue on to Master’s programmes in International Relations, Political Theory, Global Policy, or Translation and Interpreting. Others take professional training in teaching or policy, or even move into doctoral research in politics, Latin American studies, or linguistics.