Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies

Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American studies is a degree that gives you access to the full sweep of the Iberian and Latin American world, encompassing the languages, literatures, histories, and cultures of Spain, Portugal, Brazil, and the twenty or so countries of Latin America where Spanish and Portuguese are spoken. These are among the most widely spoken languages on Earth, and the cultural traditions carried by them include some of the most remarkable literary, artistic, and intellectual achievements in human history, from medieval Iberian poetry and the Golden Age of Cervantes and Camoes through the modernism of Garcia Lorca and Fernando Pessoa to the magical realism of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Clarice Lispector.

At Newcastle University, this four-year full-time programme includes a sandwich placement year, a year abroad, and a work placement, making it one of the most experientially rich modern languages degrees available. The year abroad is the defining feature of any serious languages degree, and for a degree that spans Spanish and Portuguese-speaking worlds, it is an opportunity to spend time in Spain, Portugal, Latin America, or Brazil, engaging with the language and culture in their most vibrant form. The sandwich year and work placement add professional experience, giving you exposure to organisations where your language skills are directly applied.

You will develop advanced proficiency in both Spanish and Portuguese, study literature and culture from across the Iberian and Latin American traditions, and engage with the history, politics, and contemporary societies of these regions. Newcastle's modern languages department has research strengths in Latin American studies, postcolonial literature, and the contemporary cultures of the Spanish and Portuguese-speaking worlds.

Graduates move into international business, translation and interpreting, journalism, diplomacy, NGOs, education, and the civil service, as well as into a wide range of commercial roles where Spanish or Portuguese language skills are a significant asset.