- UCAS course code
- RR45
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
BA Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies
Develop unique, multi-disciplinary knowledge in language and culture of Spain, Portugal and Latin America.
- Typical A-level offer: ABB including specific subjects
- Typical contextual A-level offer: BBC including specific subjects
- UK refugee/care-experienced offer: BBC including specific subjects
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 34 points overall with 6,5,5 at HL including specific subjects
Overview
Course overview
- Perfect your expertise in Spanish and Portuguese (with the opportunity to also learn Catalan) and extend your knowledge of a wide range of countries and cultures.
- Spend your third year studying or working abroad in a Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking country in Europe or Latin America.
- Study at a university ranked sixth in the UK for Modern Languages (QS World University Rankings 2024).
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- School of Arts, Languages and Cultures
- Telephone
- +44 (0)161 509 2871
- ug-languages@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- http://www.alc.manchester.ac.uk/modern-languages/
- School/Faculty overview
-
See: About us
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
A-level
ABB including Spanish
Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.
Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.
A-level contextual offer
BBC including B in Spanish
Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.
Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.
Contextual offers are available for applicants who:
- live in the UK and will be under the age of 21 on 1 September of the year they will start their course; and
- live in an area of disadvantage or with low progression into higher education; and
- have attended a UK school or college for their GCSEs or A-levels (or equivalent qualifications) that has performed below the national average over multiple years.
See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.
UK refugee/care-experienced offer
BBC including B in Spanish.
Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.
Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.
UK refugee/care-experienced offers are available for applicants who:
- have been looked after in care for more than three months; or
- have been granted refugee status by the UK government or have been issued a UK visa under one of the Ukrainian schemes (Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family Scheme or Ukraine Extension Scheme).
See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.
International Baccalaureate
34 points overall. 6,5,5 in Higher Level subjects including Spanish
Applicants studying the International Baccalaureate Career Related Programme (IBCP) should contact the admissions team prior to applying so that their academic profile can be considered.
GCSE/IGCSE
Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including acceptable levels of Literacy and Numeracy, equivalent to at least Grade 6 or B in GCSE/IGCSE English Language and 4 or C in Mathematics. GCSE/IGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/IGCSE English Language.
Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the admissions team in your academic School/Department for clarification.
Other entry requirements
Other entry requirements exist for this course. You may view these by selecting from the list below.
Country-specific entry requirements
We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements including English language see accepted entry qualifications from your country .
English language requirements
All applicants to the University (from the UK and Overseas) are required to show evidence of English Language proficiency. The minimum English Language requirement for this course is either:
GCSE/IGCSE English Language grade B/6, or;
IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each component, or;
An acceptable equivalent qualification.
Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the academic School for clarification.
If you need to improve your English language skills to meet the entry requirements for your academic course, the University Centre for Academic English (UCAE) summer pre-sessional courses can help. Check if your academic course offers the option of taking a pre-sessional course on the UCAE page .
The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires that every student requiring a visa to study in the UK must show evidence of a minimum level of English Language (common European Framework (CEFR B2 level) to be granted a Student Route visa (previously known as a Tier 4 visa) to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level.
In addition, our academic Schools/Departments may require applicants to demonstrate English proficiency above the B2 level. Further information about our English Language policy, including a list of some of the English Language qualifications we accept, can be found here .
English language test validity
Some English Language test results are only valid for two years.
Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.
Fees and funding
Fees
Fees for entry in 2026 have not yet been set. For entry in 2025 the tuition fees were £9,535 per annum for home students, and are expected to increase slightly for 2026 entry.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
- Find out more from student finance
- Eligible UK students can apply for bursaries and scholarships
- Funding for EU and international students is on our country-specific pages
- Many students work part-time or complete a student internship
Residence Abroad Support
We offer dedicated financial support packages of up to £2,000 for residence abroad students, based on household income.
You will be automatically assessed for this,based on your Student Finance financial assessment - you just need to make sure you apply for a financial assessment in the academic year in which your residence abroad will take place.
Application and selection
How to apply
Advice to applicants
Mitigating circumstances may be personal or family illness, other family circumstances, change of teachers during a course, problems with school facilities or an unusual curriculum followed by your school or college.
We recommend that information on mitigating circumstances that have affected or are likely to affect your academic performance should be included in the referee's report.
We cannot usually consider information that is supplied after an adverse decision has been made on an application by the admitting School.
If you encounter mitigating circumstances after you have submitted your application, please inform the admissions staff in the School to which you applied as soon as possible.
Where mitigating circumstances have already been considered, for example by the relevant Exam Board, we will not be able to make further allowances.
Home-schooled applicants
If you are a student who has followed a non-standard educational route, e.g. you have been educated at home; your application will be considered against the standard entry criteria of the course for which you are applying.
You will be required to demonstrate that you meet the specified academic entry requirements of the course.
We will also require a reference from somebody who knows you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education.
If you are a home schooled student and would like further information or advice please contact the academic School for your chosen course who will be able to help you.
Non-standard educational routes
Mature students are some of our most well-equipped learners, bringing skills and attributes gained from work, family and other life experiences.
Students come from a whole array of backgrounds, study every kind of course, undertake full-time and part-time learning and are motivated by career intentions as well as personal interest.
There is no such thing as a typical mature student at Manchester.
The application process is the same as for other prospective undergraduates. If you require further clarification about the acceptability of the qualifications you hold please contact the academic School(s) you plan to apply to.
Further information for mature students can be found on our How to apply page.
Returning to education
We welcome applicants who are seeking a return to study.
We may be able to make alternative offers in light of your experience but it is important that you have studied languages to an advanced level (please see entry requirements for subject specific criteria).
We may interview you if you have not studied languages recently.
Deferrals
Applications for deferred entry are considered equally to other applications up to the point of confirmation.
Deferred entry is granted on the discretion of admissions staff, and is normally granted for one year only and two years at the maximum.
Some English Language test results, such as IELTS or TOEFL are only valid for two years from the test date.
Policy for applicants who resit their qualifications
Re-applications
If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again.
Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry.
In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved.
We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.
If you are applying for a place for the same year of entry through UCAS Extra, you should provide additional evidence of your suitability for the course.
If you are applying through clearing you are required to meet the clearing requirements.
In both UCAS Extra and clearing the places will be subject to availability.
Course details
Course description
Our single honours BA Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies course will give you a strong grounding in writing, speaking and understanding the Spanish and Portuguese languages, as well as the opportunity to learn Catalan.
After Year 1, Portuguese language is not compulsory and you can choose to either concentrate more on the Spanish side of your degree, maintain the balance between the languages, or study more in Portuguese than Spanish by Year 4. You also have the option to study Catalan.
Language study offers much more than just language fluency. You will explore diverse aspects of the culture, society, history, politics and literature of the countries in which Spanish and Portuguese are spoken, helping you to develop intercultural awareness and communication skills - both highly valued by employers.
You will benefit from excellent teaching, student support and cutting-edge study facilities, as well as from the vibrancy and cultural diversity of Manchester itself, Western Europe's most multilingual city.
With placement options available at partner universities and in professional environments in Spanish- and/or Portuguese-speaking countries in Europe and Latin America, a compulsory third year abroad gives our undergraduate students unforgettable and invaluable personal and professional experience.
Although language units may show here as optional, they are a mandatory part of your modern languages degree and you will take the units relevant to your level of language in each year of study. It Is compulsory to study language at all levels of your modern languages degree.
Special features
Residence abroad
Your year of study or work abroad will offer the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of life in Spanish- (and Portuguese-) speaking countries., and further develop your language skills.
Collaborations and partnerships
The University has links with language and cultural institutions across the city, including:
- Instituto Cervantes - a centre for the promotion of Hispanic Cultures
- HOME - international and contemporary art, theatre and film
- Portuguese Consulate General - the official representation of Portugal in the north of the UK, which organises a number of cultural activities.
Societies
The University is home to over 30 international and language-related student societies offering a breadth of cultural activities and experiences including the Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies Student Society.
Learn from experts
All our language tutors are native speakers of Spanish, Portuguese or Catalan, giving you a richer learning experience and exposing you to accents and language usage from multiple regions of the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America
Tailor your degree
You can choose to change the balance away from Portuguese towards Spanish after Year 1, depending on your developing interests.
Teaching and learning
You will learn through a mixture of formal lectures, seminars and tutorials, spending approximately 12 hours a week in formal study sessions.
For every hour of university study, you will be expected to complete a further 2-3 hours of independent study. You will also need to study during the holiday periods.
The individual study component could be spent reading, producing written work, revising for examinations or working in the University's Language Centre .
Coursework and assessment
You will be assessed in various ways, including:
- written and oral examinations;
- presentations;
- coursework (which may include library research, linguistic fieldwork and data collection, or web-based research);
- in your final year, a dissertation based on a research topic of your choice.
Assessment methods vary from course unit to course unit - see individual course unit listings for more information.
Course content for year 1
You will study 100 credits of core units covering the Spanish and Portuguese worlds and languages, plus 20 optional credits which can be taken within the department or used to explore other areas within the University.
You will take a compulsory core unit on the modern spoken and written Spanish language.
You will also be provided with an introduction to the cultural and historical development of the Hispanic world and develop the skills required to be successful in your further study of Spain and Latin America.
You will also take compulsory core course units in Portuguese language (either for beginners, or for students with an A-level or equivalent).
You will also explore the cultures and history of Portuguese-speaking societies in Portugal, Brazil, Mozambique, Angola and Goa.
Students who have an A-level (or equivalent) in Portuguese can start studying Catalan in Year 1.
You will take only the language units relevant to your level of language in each year of study.
Course units for year 1
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
SPLA10410 | 20 | Mandatory | |
SPLA10420 | 20 | Mandatory | |
SPLA52010 | 20 | Mandatory | |
SPLA52030 | 20 | Mandatory | |
SPLA10600 | 20 | Optional | |
SPLA51030 | 20 | Optional | |
SPLA53010 | 20 | Optional |
Course content for year 2
You follow a compulsory Spanish language course unit, refining your skills in the written and spoken language.
Portuguese language becomes optional rather than compulsory, so you can choose to concentrate more on the Spanish and Latin American Studies side of your degree or continue to study the language and culture of the Lusophone world.
If you continue with Portuguese, the course builds on your skills in the written and spoken language.
You can also learn Catalan from beginner's level or, if you started to study it in Year 1, further develop your knowledge of the language and the cultures which speak it.
You also take optional units in the cultures and histories of the Spanish- and/or Portuguese-speaking worlds chosen from a list, which includes options such as the study of Latin American History, writing women in the Spanish Golden Age, the Cold War in Latin America, and visual cultures in Modern Spain.
Course units for year 2
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
SPLA52030 | 20 | Mandatory | |
SPLA20062 | 20 | Optional | |
SPLA20141 | 20 | Optional | |
SPLA20161 | 20 | Optional | |
SPLA20772 | 20 | Optional | |
SPLA20832 | 20 | Optional | |
SPLA20871 | 20 | Optional | |
SPLA20882 | 20 | Optional | |
SPLA51050 | 20 | Optional | |
SPLA53010 | 20 | Optional | |
Displaying 10 of 11 course units for year 2 | |||
Display all course units for year 2 |
Course content for year 3
Your third year of study is spent abroad under approved conditions.
Course content for year 4
Continue studying the Spanish and (if applicable) Portuguese languages, building on what you learned in Years 1 and 2 and during your year abroad.
You will perfect your writing, reading, listening and speaking skills.
Choose from a wide range of options, including the study of the supernatural in Latin American literature and film, social issues in Portuguese and Spanish film, and visual culture from the early modern Hispanic world.
Opt to write a dissertation on an academic subject of your choosing, related to either the Spanish or the Portuguese side of your studies and supervised by a member of staff.
Course units for year 4
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
SPLA51060 | 20 | Mandatory | |
ELAN30241 | 20 | Optional | |
ELAN31182 | 20 | Optional | |
LALC30000 | 40 | Optional | |
SPLA30642 | 20 | Optional | |
SPLA30801 | 20 | Optional | |
SPLA31081 | 20 | Optional | |
SPLA31092 | 20 | Optional | |
SPLA31132 | 20 | Optional | |
SPLA31141 | 20 | Optional | |
Displaying 10 of 15 course units for year 4 | |||
Display all course units for year 4 |
Facilities
There are outstanding resources for students, including world leading collections on Lusophone Africa within the library and access to thousands of films and texts on Latin America, Portugal and Spain.
The University Language Centre is home to language resources, including a new interpreting suite, purpose-built recording rooms and resources for over 70 languages.
The Centre also offers multilingual word processing, language learning software, off-air recording and AV duplication, multilingual terrestrial and satellite TV, and extensive support and advice for learners.
Learn more on the Facilities page.
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
A degree in Modern Languages and Cultures paves the way for a broad range of careers.
You'll develop intercultural awareness and enhanced communication skills - both highly valued by employers.
You'll also acquire transferable expertise at the very heart of language learning, including enhanced powers of perception and interpretation and advanced decision-making and multitasking skills.
You'll develop independence and self-confidence during your residence abroad, and your intercultural communication skills will make you a strong contender for media, journalism and PR roles.
Many of our graduates go straight into business services, marketing, advertising, management, banking or communications.
Others pursue postgraduate study or further vocational training to become accountants, lawyers, teachers (both in the UK and overseas) or to enter the Civil Service.
The University of Manchester is second the most targeted university in the UK for top graduate employers (High Fliers Research, 2024).
Employers who have taken on graduates of our Portuguese courses in the past include Amaze PR,Asos, Ernst & Young, Eversheds, Kinetic, NHS, Procter & Gamble, JD Sports, Future First, Northern & Shell, Goldstar Brand, Rolands Dransfield, Oxfam, Teach First, Greenpeace,LakestarMcCann,PartelLaw, Virgin, The Big Word and IGA Securities.
Employers who have taken on graduates of our Spanish courses in the past include Amaze PR,Asos, Ernst &, Eversheds, Kinetic, NHS, Procter & Gamble, JD Sports, Future First, Northern & Shell, Goldstar Brand, Rolands Dransfield, Oxfam, Teach First, Majestic Wine, Greenpeace,LakestarMcCann, The Co-operative,PartelLaw, Virgin, The Big Word and IGA Securities.
Regulated by the Office for Students
The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.
You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.