Spanish and English Literature

Spanish is spoken by hundreds of millions of people across Europe, the Americas, Africa and beyond, making it one of the most globally significant languages you can study. English literature, meanwhile, offers one of the richest and most varied bodies of writing in the world, spanning centuries, continents and forms. Studying both at the University of Edinburgh means developing genuine fluency in Spanish alongside the close reading, critical thinking and interpretive skills that literary study cultivates.

The two disciplines inform each other in productive ways: language learning deepens your sensitivity to meaning and style, while literary study develops your ear for how Spanish is used across different registers and traditions.

This four-year full-time programme will take your Spanish to an advanced level, encompassing the grammar, vocabulary and written and spoken skills you need to engage confidently with Hispanic culture, literature and professional contexts. Alongside this you will read widely in English literature, from earlier periods through to contemporary writing, developing the analytical habits and argumentative precision that characterise this discipline. You will study literary theory and criticism, engage with questions about form, genre and meaning, and learn to write with clarity and confidence.

Graduates from combined language and literature degrees are well prepared for careers in publishing, teaching, translation, journalism, international business, diplomacy, arts and cultural organisations and the civil service. The ability to communicate in Spanish opens significant additional opportunities in Europe and across Latin America. Many graduates also go on to postgraduate study in literature, Hispanic studies, translation or education, and the degree provides a strong platform for a teaching qualification.