Spanish and English Literature

Spanish is the official language in 20 countries and is widely spoken in four more territories, including the United States. For centuries, alongside English-speaking cultures, these countries have had a profound international influence on literature.

This joint honours programme aims to develop your critical, analytic, linguistic and creative skills. As well as language learning, you will engage with a broad range of texts in both English and Spanish, and a variety of approaches to reading.

Our programme is also flexible, and you can choose to take option courses in other schools, or broaden your linguistic portfolio with another language such as Portuguese, Basque or Catalan.

Additionally, we are unique in Scotland in offering students a full academic year abroad within the four-year honours programme, regardless of whether you spend the year studying or working.

Spanish

Spanish at Edinburgh celebrated its centenary in 2019. Our wide-ranging courses are taught by leading experts in their field, inviting you to explore the diverse and rich cultures of Spain, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Intensive language training, including a year abroad, gives you the opportunity to develop advanced speaking, writing, reading and translating skills in Spanish.

You will be immersed in an extraordinary range of literature, film, poetry and theatre from around the world, explored in its historical context.

Gaining intercultural awareness, you will also learn how to discern different varieties and registers of Spanish.

English Literature

Based in the first UNESCO World City of Literature, you will study in the oldest department of English Literature in the UK, one of the longest-established in the world.

You will gain the essential skills needed for the critical close reading of poetry, drama and prose, and will xplore the cultural contexts of writing in English from the late Middle Ages to the present.

At honours level, you will select courses on the basis of your own interests in specific topics, periods or literary genres.

Combining literature with a language shows an openness to ideas and perspectives other than your own, an essential attribute in many careers and a global marketplace.

How long it takes to complete this degree programme

This programme is studied over 4 years, including a year abroad. This enables us to build choice and flexibility into your studies, giving you time to explore options, find what you like and build your skills.

Your first two years will be your pre-honours years. They will give you a good grounding in your subjects. In addition to studying core courses, you will broaden your education and skill set by choosing option courses from a range of subjects and disciplines. This may enable you to change the focus of your programme.

Your final two years will be your honours years. You will spend Year 3 studying abroad, gaining lived experience of Spanish-speaking culture. Year 4 will be tailored to your interests in specific topics or approaches to Spanish and English Literature.

Programme benefits

• Learn in the heart of a UNESCO World City of Literature.

• Study over four years, including one abroad.

• Become fluent in a major world language.

• Try out different subjects in your first two years.

• Delve into fantastic libraries and collections.

• Try your hand at creative writing and publishing.