Economics and Spanish & Latin American Studies

Economics and Spanish combined with Latin American studies makes for one of the most intellectually and professionally powerful degree combinations available. Economics provides the analytical tools to understand markets, institutions, growth, inequality, and policy, while Spanish opens access to the world's second most spoken language by native speakers and to the extraordinarily diverse cultures, literatures, and histories of Latin America. The combination is not merely additive: understanding the political economies of Latin American countries, the role of natural resource dependency, trade structures, and development strategies is considerably richer when approached through both economic analysis and genuine cultural and linguistic knowledge.

At the University of Aberdeen, this four-year full-time degree gives you a solid grounding in economic theory and quantitative methods alongside progressively deeper language training in Spanish and engagement with the history, politics, and cultures of Spain and Latin America. You will study microeconomics, macroeconomics, and applied economics, developing the analytical rigour needed to interpret data and evaluate policy. The Spanish and Latin American studies strand combines practical language development with the study of literary, historical, and political texts, building both proficiency and cultural insight.

A year abroad is embedded in the programme, giving you the opportunity to live and study in a Spanish-speaking country and to develop the linguistic fluency and intercultural competence that classroom study alone cannot fully provide.

Graduates of this combination are exceptionally well placed for careers in international organisations, the civil service, development finance, consultancy, trade bodies, and the private sector, particularly in firms operating across Latin America or Spain. The ability to analyse economic questions in Spanish and to navigate Latin American business and political environments is a distinctive advantage in recruitment. Many graduates also go on to postgraduate study in economics, international development, Latin American studies, or international relations, deepening their expertise before entering or advancing in their careers.