Scottish History and Spanish

Scottish history and Spanish is a degree that connects the study of Scotland's distinctive national past with one of the world's most widely spoken languages and the rich cultural traditions it carries. Scottish history is the study of a nation with a unique trajectory through the medieval, early modern and modern periods, one whose relationship with England, Europe, the British Empire and the wider world has shaped it in complex and sometimes contested ways. Spanish opens a parallel world of extraordinary cultural depth and geographical reach, from Cervantes and Lorca to contemporary Latin American fiction, and from the politics of the Iberian peninsula to the diverse societies of twenty-two Spanish-speaking countries.

At the University of St Andrews this four-year MA (Hons) programme develops your historical analytical skills alongside high-level Spanish language proficiency, including a year abroad that gives you the opportunity to live and study in a Spanish-speaking country. You will study Scotland's historical development within its broader European and global contexts, developing the archival and interpretive skills that historical scholarship demands, while simultaneously building the linguistic and cultural knowledge that engaging seriously with the Spanish-speaking world requires. St Andrews's strengths in both fields and its location in Scotland provide an excellent environment for this combination.

Graduates are well placed for careers in which historical understanding and Spanish language proficiency are both relevant. Journalism with a Spanish-speaking focus, diplomacy, international organisations, cultural institutions with Hispanic connections, publishing, heritage and education are among the most direct destinations. The civil service, Scottish government roles, academic research and policy work also draw history graduates.

Many go on to postgraduate study in Scottish history, Spanish, Latin American studies, international relations or translation, using the combination of historical depth and linguistic capability as a foundation for specialist work.