- UCAS course code
- LR24
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
BA Politics and Spanish
Study global politics alongside Spanish and Latin American language and culture.
- Typical A-level offer: ABB
- Typical contextual A-level offer: BBC
- UK refugee/care-experienced offer: BBC
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 34 points overall with 6,5,5 at HL
Overview
Course overview
- Build strong analytical skills and understanding of key areas of global politics.
- Develop the linguistic skills and cultural knowledge to access and engage fully with political, historical and cultural issues in Spanish.
- Spend a year in a Spanish-speaking country to consolidate your language learning.
- Ranked a UK top-10 for both Modern Languages by QS World University Subject Rankings 2024 and for Social Sciences by THE World Subject Rankings 2025.In addition, the University of Manchester is a world-leading institution, ranked in the top-50 globally across all of Arts and Humanities by Times Higher Education 2025 .
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- School of Arts, Languages and Cultures
- Telephone
- 0161 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 one essay based/humanities subject.
We offer Spanish language from Beginners or Advanced level. If you are taking A Level Spanish we require grade B or above and you will be placed in the Advanced stream.
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 one essay based/humanities subject.
We offer Spanish language from Beginners or Advanced level. If you are taking A Level Spanish we require grade B or above and you will be placed in the Advanced stream.
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 one essay based/humanities subject.
We offer Spanish language from Beginners or Advanced level. If you are taking A Level Spanish we require grade B or above and you will be placed in the Advanced stream.
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, with 6,5,5 in Higher Level subjects
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
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 here .
Returning to education
Deferrals
Policy for applicants who resit their qualifications
Re-applications
Course details
Course description
Delivered jointly by the School of Social Sciences and the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, this course offers flexibility through a combination of core and optional politics course units on the Spanish Language and Hispanic Cultures, including the opportunity to study Catalan.
Language study offers more than just language fluency. You'll explore the culture, society, history, politics and literature of the countries in which Spanish is spoken, helping you develop intercultural awareness and communication skills, both highly valued by employers.
You'll benefit from excellent teaching, student support and cutting-edge study facilities, as well as the vibrancy and cultural diversity of Manchester itself, Western Europe's most multilingual city.
Studying abroad at partner universities and in professional environments in a Spanish-speaking country gives you an unforgettable and invaluable experience.
The course unit details listed below are those you may choose to study as part of this programme and are referred to as optional units. These are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this programme. 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.
Aims
- Develop strong analytical skills and understanding of key areas of global politics, including European/international politics, international relations, global security and international development.
- Develop the linguistic skills and cultural knowledge to access and engage fully with political, historical and cultural issues in Spanish and the cultures of the Hispanic world.
- Offer an intercultural perspective on your studies and future career, facilitated by the possibility of studying a second language - either as a beginner or at a more advanced level.
Special features
You can study and/or work for up to a year in a country or countries relevant to your chosen language(s) to improve your language skills in a native-speaker environment.
Palaver Festival
Palaver Festival is a collaboration with the neighbouring Contact Theatre.
You can explore links between language and performance across a range of genres including literature, theatre and dance.
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.
Societies
There are over 30 international and language-related student societies offering cultural activities and experiences.
You can also join the Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies Student Society and enjoy a wide range of cultural events and activities.
Teaching and learning
You'll 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
In Year 1 you will choose both core and optional units in Politics.
You will also study an additional 60 credits of language and culture course units in your modern language subject.
In Year 1, you are trained in the modern spoken and written Spanish language through compulsory core courses.
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 take only the language units relevant to your level of language in each year of study.
Mandatory course units for year 1
The course unit details listed below are those you will be expected to study as part of this programme and are referred to as mandatory units (note that some programmes have few or no mandatory units).
Title | Code | Credit rating |
Cultures of the Hispanic World | SPLA10410 | 20 |
Themes in Spanish and Latin American Studies | SPLA10420 | 20 |
This programme has optional course units for year 1.
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 | |
POLI10201 | 20 | Optional | |
POLI10202 | 20 | Optional | |
POLI10302 | 20 | Optional | |
POLI10401 | 20 | Optional | |
POLI10502 | 20 | Optional | |
POLI10601 | 20 | Optional | |
POLI10702 | 20 | Optional | |
SPLA10410 | 20 | Optional | |
Displaying 10 of 13 course units for year 1 | |||
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Course content for year 2
In Year 2 you will choose from a selection of optional Politics units (40-60 credits).
You will also study an additional 60-80 credits of language and culture course units in your modern language subject.
You follow a compulsory Spanish language course and take further courses (usually two) 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.
Mandatory course units for year 2
The course unit details listed below are those you will be expected to study as part of this programme and are referred to as mandatory units (note that some programmes have few or no mandatory units). These are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this programme.
Title | Code | Credit rating |
Introduction to Political Theory | POLI10702 | 20 |
This programme has optional course units for year 2.
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 |
---|---|---|---|
POLI10702 | 20 | Mandatory | |
POLI20311 | 20 | Optional | |
POLI20332 | 20 | Optional | |
POLI20521 | 20 | Optional | |
POLI20531 | 20 | Optional | |
POLI20602 | 20 | Optional | |
POLI20711 | 20 | Optional | |
POLI20722 | 20 | Optional | |
POLI20742 | 20 | Optional | |
POLI20802 | 20 | Optional | |
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Course content for year 3
Year 3 is spent abroad under approved conditions.
Course content for year 4
In Year 4 you will choose from a selection of optional Politics units (40-60 credits).
You will also study an additional 60-80 credits of language and culture course units in your modern language subject.
Continue your studies of the Spanish language and perfect your writing and oral skills.
Choose from a wide range of options, including the study of the supernatural in Latin American literature and film, the multi-ethnic condition of Latin American societies, and visual culture from the early modern Hispanic world.
Mandatory course units for year 4
The course unit details listed below are those you will be expected to study as part of this programme and are referred to as mandatory units (note that some programmes have few or no mandatory units). These are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this programme.
Title | Code | Credit rating |
Spanish Language 6 | SPLA51060 | 20 |
This programme has optional course units for year 4.
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 | |
POLI30032 | 20 | Optional | |
POLI30191 | 20 | Optional | |
POLI30231 | 20 | Optional | |
POLI30242 | 20 | Optional | |
POLI30262 | 20 | Optional | |
POLI30272 | 20 | Optional | |
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Facilities
The University Language Centre is home to language resources, including a new interpreting suite, purpose-built recording rooms, and resources for more than 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 at facilities
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
A degree in Politics and 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 the second most targeted university in the UK for top graduate employers (High Fliers Research, 2024).
Our graduates have gone on to work for:
- the BBC;
- the United Nations;
- ASOS;
- Northern and Shell;
- Ernst and Young;
- Eversheds;
- the NHS.
Find out more on the Modern Languages and Cultures and Politics careers and employability pages.
The University also has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate. At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability .
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.