Italian and Spanish

Learning two Romance languages simultaneously is one of the most rewarding paths through a modern languages degree. Italian and Spanish share a common Latin ancestry and a family resemblance in grammar and vocabulary, yet each opens onto a distinct world of literature, history, politics and culture that the other does not. At the University of Manchester, this four-year full-time programme allows you to develop genuine proficiency in both languages while exploring the rich intellectual and cultural heritage of Italy and Spanish-speaking regions through a broad range of course units.

You will study language skills in Italian and Spanish at an advanced level, covering written and spoken expression, translation and the structural analysis of each language. Alongside the linguistic work, you will engage with the history, politics, literature and visual culture of the relevant regions, building the kind of contextual knowledge that makes language use meaningful rather than merely mechanical. Linguistic pathways are available for those with a particular interest in the historical development of Italian or Spanish, including the study of dialects and the processes by which modern standard languages emerged.

The four-year programme includes a sandwich year, giving you extended time abroad or in a professional placement, as well as the opportunity for a work placement, both of which deepen your linguistic fluency and professional confidence.

Modern languages graduates are among the most employable in the UK. The combination of linguistic skill, cultural intelligence and analytical ability that this degree develops is valued in international business, diplomacy, the civil service, law, journalism, translation and interpretation, publishing, education and the arts. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in linguistics, literary studies, translation or European area studies, and some move into careers that use one or both languages as a professional tool in fields as varied as finance, development work and the creative industries.