Program Overview

Spanish MA (Honours) 2025 entry

Overview

The MA (Honours) in Spanish is a four-year course run by the School of Modern Languages. The course is available to both students who are beginners in Spanish and to more advanced students who have studied Spanish to A-Level, SQA Higher, or equivalent.

Entry Requirements

Standard Entry Grades

• SQA Highers: AAAB
• GCE A-Levels: AAB
• IB points: 36 (HL 6,6,5)

Minimum Entry Grades

• SQA Highers: AABB
• GCE A-Levels: ABB
• IB points: 36 (HL 6,5,5)

Gateway Entry Grades

• Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades, but meet the University's contextual criteria, may be interested in one of the University’s Gateway programmes.

General Entry Requirements

• All applicants must have attained the following qualifications, or equivalent, in addition to the specific entry requirements for individual programmes.
• SQA National 5 (B) in English and one SQA National 5 (B) from the following:
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computing science
  • Geography
  • Applications of Mathematics
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology
• GCSE (5) in English language or English literature, and one GCSE (5) from the following:
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computing Science
  • Geography
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology

Course Details

Modules

• In the first two years of your degree (known as sub-honours), you will take the required modules in Spanish along with modules in at least one additional subject.
• Typically, you will take one Spanish module per semester during your first two years, with the option of an additional Spanish module in Spanish Language and Film in the second semester of your second year.
• During your third and fourth years (known as Honours), you will take four modules per semester.

Teaching

• All modern language modules involve a combination of lectures, tutorials and practical languages classes.
• Lectures provide information, stimulate thought, and suggest directions for further reading and personal study.
• Small language tutorials allow you to actively work together with your tutors to practice language skills, present papers, and discuss texts and issues relevant to the course.

Assessment

• Currently, most modules in first and second year are assessed by 100% coursework in Semester 1, and by 40% coursework and 60% exam in Semester 2.
• In third and fourth year core modules are assessed by 100% coursework in Semester 1, and by 40% coursework and 60% exam in Semester 2, while optional modules are mostly assessed through 100% coursework.

Fees

• Scotland: £1,820
• England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man: £9,535
• EU and overseas: £31,670

Joint Honours Degrees

• You can also take Spanish as part of a joint Honours degree in which you will take core modules of your chosen subjects.
• Examples of joint Honours degrees include:
  • Ancient History and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad)
  • Arabic and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad)
  • Art History and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad)
  • Chinese Studies and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad)
  • Classics and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad)
  • Comparative Literature and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad)
  • Economics and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad)
  • English and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad)
  • Film Studies and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad)
  • French and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Careers

• Modern languages graduates have an extremely good record of employment after graduating, not only in all sectors that require advanced language skills but also in professional environments that demand good communication and analytical skills.
• Employers value language graduates because they demonstrate excellent communication, interpersonal and intercultural skills.
• Many graduates go on to:
  • specialise in translation and interpreting services, in language teaching or other sector-specific careers
  • join international institutions and enterprises, working in international development departments, human resources, administration, media and communication jobs
  • start a career in the banking and financial sector
  • join the civil service, particularly in positions within the Foreign Office
  • pursue postgraduate study in languages and literatures, translation studies and teaching
  • study law or information technology

What to Do Next

• Join us for one of our information events where you can find out about different levels of study and specific courses we run.
• We encourage all students who are thinking of applying to the University to attend one of our online or in-person visiting days.