Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies BA Honours

Course overview

This four-year Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies degree focuses on developing your language skills in Spanish and Portuguese. You're encouraged to explore the rich linguistic, social and cultural diversity of the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America and the Spanish Caribbean.

You will study a range of research-informed modules which cover topics such as social customs, art, music and the survival of indigenous people. In addition, you'll have the opportunity to study Catalan from Stage 2.

You will achieve a high level of Spanish, both written and spoken. You will also build your Portuguese from a beginners' level.

The third year of your degree will be spent abroad, so you can develop your language skills among native speakers and experience a different culture.

You'll become a confident multilinguist, ready to embark on your career journey as a global citizen.

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Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions  
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2023-24.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Quality and ranking

Professional accreditation and recognition

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.

Modules and learning

Modules

The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage. 

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

You will build on your current language skills, studying Spanish and Portuguese.

You also have opportunities to study a range of optional modules, giving you the chance to explore the culture of Latin America, Portugal and Spain.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Level A (HE Entry Level) Portuguese I	20
Level A (HE Entry Level) Portuguese II	20
Level B (HE Intermediate) Spanish	20

Optional Modules	Credits
Introducción a América Latina	20
Introduction to Literature	20
Introduction to Linguistics	20
Introduction to International Film	20
Introduction to Cultural Studies	20
Introduction to History, Culture and Society of the Iberian Peninsula	20

You will continue to build on your language skills. You will advance your level of both Spanish and Portuguese.

Your optional modules dig deeper into the history and cultures of the countries you're studying. You will also have the opportunity to study Catalan.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Level B (HE Intermediate) Portuguese	20
Year Abroad Preparation	0
Level C (HE Advanced) Spanish	20

Optional Modules	Credits
Cultura y poder en América latina: debates desde la antropología	20
Comparative History of Hispano-America and Brazil: from Independence to the Mexican Revolution (1789/1810-1917)	20
Career Development for second year students	20
Cultures and Societies of the Portuguese-Speaking World	20
Reading in Translation	20
World Spanish	20
Introduction to Catalan	20
Representaciones de Revolución, Dictadura y Democracia en España y América Latina	20
Language Diversity in Spain	20
Food, Football and Fiction: Constructing Catalan Cultural Identity	20

You will spend Stage 3 working or studying abroad. This year abroad exposes you to the life and cultures of the countries you're studying, further developing your language skills.

Modules

Compulsory Modules

Year Abroad Tutor Posts (100 credits)

Optional Modules

Study Abroad (20 credits)

Year Abroad Placement Report (Semester 1) (20 credits)

Year Abroad Placement Report (Semester 2) (20 credits)

Year Abroad Project (Semester 1) (20 credits)

Year Abroad Project (Semester 2)(20 credits)

In Stage 4, your language studies build on the levels you have developed during your year abroad and also develop more professional skills. You will be able to choose between studying advanced translation and interpreting or language for professional purposes.

You also select further optional modules to explore the cultures and histories of the countries where your languages are spoken.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Level C (HE Advanced) Portuguese	20
Level D (HE Further Advanced) Spanish: Advanced Writing Skills	10

Additional compulsory module information

You must take one of the following compulsory modules (shown in the optional list below):

Level D (HE Further Advanced) Spanish: Language for Professional & Academic Purposes (10 credits)

OR

Level D (HE Further Advanced) Spanish: Translation & Interpreting (10 credits)

 

Optional Modules	Credits
Cultura y poder en América latina: debates desde la antropología	20
Comparative History of Hispano-America and Brazil: from Independence to the Mexican Revolution (1789/1810-1917)	20
Inter-American Relations from the Spanish-American War (1898) to the end of the Cold War (1989/1991)	20
Language Endangerment and Revitalisation in Latin America	20
Latin American Art and Theory	20
Cultura y Política en Colombia	20
Career Development for final year students	20
Advanced Career Development module	20
Identidades Pós-Coloniais Luso-Afro-Brasileiras	20
Reading in Translation	20
Advocating and Teaching Languages in Schools	20
Dissertation	20
World Spanish	20
Representaciones de Revolución, Dictadura y Democracia en España y América Latina	20
Language Diversity in Spain	20
Food, Football and Fiction: Constructing Catalan Cultural Identity	20
Intermediate Catalan	20
Cultura Popular en España y Cuba	20
Spectres of the Past: Memory in Contemporary Spanish Culture	20
Spanish and Romance word analysis	20
Level D (HE Further Advanced) Spanish: Language for Professional & Academic Purposes	10
Level D (HE Further Advanced) Spanish: Translation & Interpreting	10

Information about these graphs

We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They are based on the modules chosen by our students in 2022-23.

Teaching time is made up of:

• scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present.
• structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods

The majority of language modules are taught by native speakers. You also work in language laboratories and undertake self-study in our award-winning Language Resource Centre.

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

• 

  Assessments

• 

  Assignments – written or fieldwork

• 

  Coursework

• 

  Dissertation or research project

• 

  Dossier

• 

  Essays

• 

  Examinations – practical or online

• 

  Group work

• 

  Portfolio submission

• 

  Practical sessions

• 

  Presentations

• 

  Reflective report/journal

• 

  Reports

• 

  Seminar tasks/exercises

Skills and experience

Research skills

You have the option of writing a dissertation in your final year, which allows you to explore and discuss a topic of interest in great detail, while developing your research skills.

Opportunities

Year abroad

This Modern Languages degree includes a compulsory year abroad. 

Students studying a European language can: 

• study at one of our partner universities
• undertake a work or voluntary placement
• a combination of both (ensuring they do not overlap)

You usually divide the year between the countries relating to your chosen languages, although it may be possible to spend the entire year in one country. 

Support for year abroad

You will receive lots of help to prepare for your year abroad, including: 

• briefings covering practicalities like insurance, visas and student safety
• support in finding a work placement
• a Tandem Learning Scheme, to practise conversation in your foreign language and make in-country contacts, before you travel
• a training course for language assistants

There are also events in your second year where you can meet students who have already done their year abroad, students from our partner universities in Europe, and exchange students from universities in Latin America.

You'll be in contact with our Year Abroad team during your time abroad, and communicate with your personal tutor. You'll also write blog posts, reflecting on your linguistic, personal and professional development.

Facilities and environment

Facilities

As a Modern Languages student, you'll be based at our city-centre campus, in the School of Modern Languages. We've been teaching modern languages in Newcastle for more than 100 years.

You will have access to language laboratories and the award-winning Language Resource Centre, with self-study resources for over 50 languages. You'll also have access to:

• specialist language learning software
• dictionaries
• films
• live foreign-language TV channels

Support

You'll have the support of an academic member of staff as a personal tutor throughout your degree to help with academic and personal issues.

Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you have when starting university.

Your future

Ability in languages is highly regarded by employers across all sectors, including industry and business. Employers value the linguistic skills and cultural awareness of graduates.

With ever more European and international connections, language skills are important and give you a real advantage in applying for a wide range of graduate jobs.

For some graduates teaching is a popular career choice, undertaking primary and secondary Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) or teaching English abroad. Others go into jobs where their language skills are desirable, such as the media, sales, e-commerce, and areas of finance.

Make a difference

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Careers support

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Tuition fees and scholarships

Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year)

Qualification: BA Honours
Home students full time 4 years	Tuition fees (per year) 9250
International students full time 4 years	Tuition fees (per year) 21000

Home Fee Students

The maximum fee that we are permitted to charge for home fee-paying students is set by the UK government.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

International Fee Students

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our undergraduate scholarship page for more information.

Year abroad and additional costs

For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year. 

Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.

Find out more about:

• different tuition fees
• additional costs

Scholarships

Find out more about:

• scholarships for UK, EU and international students
• Student Loans and Government financial support for UK and EU students

How to apply

Apply through UCAS

To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:

• the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
• the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
• the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college

If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.

Apply through UCAS

Apply through an agent

International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.

Visit our International pages