Spanish and Politics MA (Hons)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Edinburgh

Program Overview

This joint honours degree lets you explore two fascinating worlds at once — mastering the Spanish language and culture while gaining a deep understanding of political systems, ideologies, and global issues. It’s a great choice if you’re passionate about languages, international affairs, and how societies are shaped and governed.

Curriculum structure

Year 1:
You’ll start by building a strong foundation in Spanish with Spanish 1A or 1B, where you develop essential speaking, reading, and writing skills and discover cultural texts, film, and literature from across the Spanish-speaking world. Alongside this, you’ll explore the core ideas behind how politics works through Politics and International Relations 1A: Concepts and Debates, International Relations 1B: The Global Dimension, and Political Thinkers. Optional courses in subjects like history, economics, or linguistics let you broaden your academic perspective.

Year 2:
Your Spanish skills deepen with Spanish Language 2, focusing on advanced grammar, fluency, and communication. You’ll also study literature and culture across historical and contemporary contexts. In politics, modules like Comparative Politics in a Globalised World explore how governments and political systems operate in different countries. You’ll have the freedom to tailor your studies with options such as Migration, Exile, Diaspora, or Gender and Culture, connecting language and politics to real-world issues.

Year 3:
You’ll spend this year living, studying, or working in a Spanish-speaking country, an experience that transforms your language skills and cultural understanding. Whether at a partner university or on a work placement, this immersion lets you apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to real-life settings and start preparing ideas for your final dissertation.

Year 4:
Returning to Edinburgh, you’ll take advanced courses in Spanish and Latin American culture — from media and film to history, linguistics, and politics — and choose from specialist politics modules that match your interests. Your degree culminates in a dissertation or extended essay, giving you the chance to explore a topic you’re passionate about in depth.

Focus areas: Spanish language and translation, Spanish-speaking cultures and societies, political theory, international relations, comparative politics

Learning outcomes: Graduate fluent in Spanish, able to think critically about political systems and societies, conduct independent research, and communicate confidently across languages and cultures.

Professional alignment (accreditation): While not tied to a specific accrediting body, this degree is excellent preparation for careers in diplomacy, government, public policy, journalism, cultural organisations, education, and international business.

Reputation (employability rankings): The University of Edinburgh is ranked 3rd in the UK for Modern Languages and 3rd in the UK for Arts & Humanities (QS), reflecting its global reputation and strong graduate outcomes

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Studying Spanish and Politics at Edinburgh is about much more than classroom learning — it’s an immersive experience designed to help you apply what you study to the real world. From day one, you’ll develop your language skills in interactive classes and small-group tutorials, work on real political debates, and explore cultural texts and films using the university’s rich resources. One of the most exciting parts of your degree is the year abroad, where you’ll live, study, or work in a Spanish-speaking country — putting your language into daily use and experiencing politics and culture first-hand.

To help you build practical skills and confidence, the programme gives you access to exceptional facilities and hands-on experiences, including:

Year abroad placement: Spend at least 30 weeks in a Spanish-speaking country studying at a partner university or on a work placement, immersing yourself fully in the language and culture.
Practical language workshops: Improve fluency and accuracy through translation exercises, discourse analysis, and interactive projects tied to real cultural and political contexts.
Debates and group projects: Regular seminars and tutorials encourage you to discuss global political issues, share ideas, and collaborate with classmates.
World-class resources: Use the University’s Main Library — home to more than 27,000 Spanish-language books and 5,000 journals — and specialist facilities within the School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures.
Cultural engagement: Take part in events like the Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival and other cultural initiatives that bring language and politics to life outside the classroom.
Dissertation supervision: Receive one-to-one support from leading academics when completing your final-year research project, drawing on insights from your year abroad.

These experiences ensure that by the time you graduate, you won’t just speak Spanish fluently — you’ll understand how language, culture, and politics connect in the real world, giving you a strong edge for future careers.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating with a degree in Spanish and Politics from Edinburgh opens doors to a wide range of exciting global careers. With advanced language skills, cultural fluency, and a deep understanding of how societies are governed, you’ll be ready for roles where communication and policy meet. Many graduates go on to work as policy advisers, diplomats, foreign correspondents, cultural attachés, or in international organisations, public service, education, and media.

To help you launch your career, Edinburgh offers outstanding support and opportunities:

Dedicated career guidance: The University’s Careers Service provides one-to-one coaching, interview preparation, and tailored advice, while the Employ.ed internship programme gives you a chance to gain real-world experience before you graduate.
Strong employment outcomes: Around 62% of graduates from related programmes are in employment within 15 months, reflecting the high demand for these skills.
Powerful networks: As a global capital, Edinburgh offers strong links to political institutions, cultural organisations, and research centres such as the Centre for Caribbean & Latin American Studies, helping you connect with future employers and industry experts.
Long-term career value: Combining a language spoken by over 500 million people with a deep knowledge of political systems gives you a unique edge in the global job market.
Diverse graduate destinations: Alumni work across government, diplomacy, journalism, international development, education, and cultural sectors — both in the UK and abroad.

Further Academic Progression:
If you’re inspired to continue your studies, you can build on this degree with postgraduate options such as a Master by Research in Spanish, Portuguese & Latin American Studies, or a taught master’s in Politics, International Relations, or Translation Studies. These pathways open up opportunities for advanced research, specialist roles, or even an academic career.