English and Spanish

English and Spanish at Queen's is a degree that asks you to engage with two of the world's richest literary traditions in their full historical, linguistic, cultural, and ideological depth. English literature is studied in its widest possible sense, from the earliest writings in Anglo-Saxon through the medieval and early modern periods to contemporary Irish, British, and global literatures, examining texts in their historical, cultural, and material contexts and developing the close reading, interpretive, and argumentative skills that serious literary study demands. Spanish is the world's second most widely spoken language and a doorway into a variety of rich and fascinating cultures across Spain, Latin America, and beyond, requiring the development of genuine linguistic proficiency alongside deep cultural and literary knowledge.

At Queen's University Belfast, this four-year full-time programme develops both your linguistic competence in Spanish and your critical and analytical engagement with English and Spanish literature, culture, and language. You will study literary texts across both traditions, develop your Spanish through progressive language instruction, and engage with the historical and critical frameworks that allow you to understand literature in its contexts. The four-year duration reflects the Scottish and Irish honours tradition of extended undergraduate study, giving you time to develop genuine depth in both disciplines.

With a typical entry tariff of 136 UCAS points, this programme attracts students with strong literary sensibility and a genuine interest in language and culture. Graduates pursue careers in teaching, translation, publishing, journalism, the civil service, broadcasting, cultural heritage, international business, law, and the many other professions where the skills of literary analysis, linguistic competence, and cultural awareness are valued. The combination of English and Spanish is particularly useful in careers requiring engagement with both English and Spanish-speaking markets and communities.

Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in literature, translation, or Spanish and Latin American studies.