Spanish and Japanese

Spanish and Japanese is one of the most globally significant language combinations available at undergraduate level, bringing together the world's second most widely spoken first language with one of the most economically, culturally, and technologically important languages of East Asia. Spanish opens access to the literatures, histories, and contemporary cultures of Spain and the extraordinarily diverse Spanish-speaking world of Latin America, encompassing over twenty countries with distinct traditions and perspectives. Japanese, a language of fascinating structural complexity and deep cultural richness, unlocks a literary tradition stretching from the classical prose of the Heian court to the contemporary novels and manga that have achieved global reach.

At the University of Manchester, this four-year full-time programme includes a sandwich year with placement and work opportunities, giving you extended professional experience in contexts where one or both of your languages are in use. You will develop linguistic accuracy and confidence in both Spanish and Japanese, studying each language's literature, film, history, and cultural life alongside the linguistic structures that make them work. Manchester's modern languages provision is strong and research-active, with specialist expertise in both Hispanism and Japanese studies.

A typical entry tariff of 152 points reflects the rigour and competitiveness of the programme.

Graduates of Spanish and Japanese programmes are exceptionally well positioned for careers in international business and trade, diplomacy, international organisations, journalism, translation and interpreting, education, and roles with organisations operating in European, Latin American, and East Asian markets. The combination is genuinely rare in the UK graduate market, and the sandwich year adds professional experience that strengthens the graduate profile considerably. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in Japanese studies, Hispanic studies, translation, international relations, or business, developing specialist expertise that enhances an already distinctive qualification.