Program Overview

BA (Hons) International Relations and Spanish

Overview

This course gives you the opportunity to study international relations in combination with Spanish.

Course Information

The course is about using theories and models to best explain and understand power in the world, why the world is the way it is, and how we can change it. This takes place at all levels, from individuals to whole global systems, and understanding this allows us to question what we think we know, what we think matters, and how we can develop a better world.

Features and Benefits

• Enhance your employability through internships and volunteering - our award-winning ‘Rise at Manchester Met’ programme encourages you to learn career-ready skills beyond the focus of your course and potentially gain extra academic credits towards your degree.
• We coach practical skills for work including communication skills, presentation skills, essay and report writing, summary skills, interview and questionnaire techniques, and building digital literacy skills for your future employment opportunities.
• Language expertise – the majority of our 30+ academic, research and support staff are native speakers of French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Japanese.
• Located in the University’s state-of-the-art Grosvenor East building, you will study spaces to practise and interact with languages students from across the programme.
• Research expertise – academic staff with research into languages specialisms such as the Film, Languages and Media in Education (FLAME): a pioneering research group dedicated to the development of research and knowledge exchange activity in the areas of languages, film and media.
• You will spend your third year abroad in Spain, allowing you to develop your language skills and immerse yourself in the culture.
• Flexibility and choice is central to International Relations with a variety of option modules available, from human rights protection and global terrorism, to Brexit and climate change, giving you the opportunity to pursue the topics that interest you most.

Accreditations, Awards and Endorsements

Teaching Excellence Framework

We have received an overall gold status in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), meaning we're rated as an outstanding university for our student experience.

Year 1

In Year 1 you will study units designed to give you the key skills and ideas needed for the rest of your degree.

Core Modules

• Spanish Language and Hispanic Culture: In this module, you are expected to have reached a satisfactory level of competence in Spanish language in the areas of speaking, writing, and grammar, benchmarked to the level B1-B2 of the Common European Framework.
• Spanish Language and the Hispanic World: In this module, you are expected to have reached a satisfactory level of competence in Spanish language in the areas of speaking, writing, and grammar, benchmarked to the level B1-B2 of the Common European Framework.
• Spanish Fast Track 1: This module introduces the basic principles of Spanish grammar and syntax and is designed to enable students to develop an accurate, basic language ability that can be applied to a variety of cultural and social contexts.
• Spanish Fast Track 2: This module consolidates the linguistic competence in Spanish grammar, vocabulary and style acquired through Spanish Fast Track 1.
• Global Chronicles: the Making of the International Order: This module provides a grounding in the history and thought of international politics.
• International Governance: Challenges and Conflict: This module explores key challenges and conflicts shaping the contemporary world.

Year 2

In Year 2, you will take further language and international relations units.

Core Modules

• Spanish Language in Professional Contexts: In this module, you are expected to reach a satisfactory level of competence in the areas of speaking, listening, reading, writing and mediation benchmarked to the level B2 of the Common European Framework.
• Spanish Language in Cultural Contexts: This module will consolidate the listening, reading, writing and speaking skills you developed in year one and will prepare you for the period of residence abroad.
• International Relations Theory: In this module you will explore the development of International Relations theory throughout the twentieth century, focusing on the historically dominant traditions of realism, liberalism, the English School and Marxism.

Year 3 (Study Abroad)

Our Spanish studies students are required to spend a year abroad in Spain. The experience of being immersed in another culture for several months is one our students find both beneficial and rewarding.

Core Modules

• Period of Residence Abroad (Spanish/French): The Period of Residence Abroad unit will involve a compulsory work placement or study at an approved partner University overseas for an academic year.

Year 4

In your final year, you will undertake further international relations and Spanish units.

Core Modules

• Global Political Order and Disorder: This module provides a critical perspective on key aspects of the contemporary global order and its current crisis.
• International Relations Independent Project: Bringing together the work on the degree so far, you'll be asked to produce one of two outputs.
• Spanish Language and Sustainable Futures: In this module, you will reach a satisfactory level of competence of Spanish language in the areas of speaking, reading, some translation and grammar benchmarked to the level C1 of the Common European Framework.
• Spanish Language and the Graduate World: In this module, you will reach a satisfactory level of competence of Spanish language in the areas of listening, writing, interpreting and grammar benchmarked to the level C1 of the Common European Framework.

Study and Assessment

Study

• Year 1: 25% lectures, seminars or similar; 75% independent study
• Year 2: 25% lectures, seminars or similar; 75% independent study
• Year 3: 25% lectures, seminars or similar; 75% independent study

Assessment

• Year 1: 87.5% coursework; 12.5% exams
• Year 2: 83.3% coursework; 16.7% exams
• Year 3: 100% coursework
• Year 4: 75% coursework; 25% exams

Entry Requirements

These typical entry requirements may be subject to change for the 2026/27 academic year.

Typical Offer

104-112 UCAS tariff points

IELTS Score

6.0 overall with no component below 5.5, taken within two years of course start date

UK Students

• Level 3 Qualifications: 104-112 UCAS tariff points.
• A Level Spanish: at Grade C or above, or accepted equivalent, is required for all applicants.
• GCE A Levels: grades BCC or equivalent
• Pearson BTEC National Extended Diploma: grade DMM
• Access to HE Diploma: Pass overall with a minimum 106 UCAS Tariff points
• UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma: grade of Merit overall
• OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: grade DMM
• T Level: We welcome applications from students undertaking T level qualifications. Eligible applicants will be asked to achieve a minimum overall grade of Merit as a condition of offer
• IB Diploma: Pass with a minimum overall score of 26 or minimum 104 UCAS Tariff points from three Higher Level subjects, including H5 in Spanish

International Students

• IB Diploma: IB Diploma with minimum 26 points overall or 104 UCAS tariff points from three Higher Level subjects including H5 in French.
• IELTS: 6.0 overall with no component below 5.5, taken within two years of course start date

Fees and Funding

Tuition fees for the 2026/27 academic year are still being finalised for all courses.

Careers Support and Prospects

• Employed or in Further Study: 88.7% of our UK-domiciled, full-time, first degree graduates are employed or in further study 15 months after graduation.
• Graduate Outcomes Survey: 2021/22 leavers, HESA data.

Related Courses

• BA (Hons) International Relations and French
• BA (Hons) International Relations (with a modern language)