Undergraduate study | Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies

Take a single honours degree in Spanish, combine Spanish and Portuguese in a joint degree, or take either language with one of a wide range of other subjects.

Why study Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies in Edinburgh?

  • Study over four years, giving you the choice and flexibility to try out different things.
  • Go abroad for the first of your honours years - Year 3.
  • Build up to fluency in two global languages, and specialise in different aspects of Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American studies as you move through your degree.
  • Learn in an historic capital city and cultural hub with international festivals.
  • Delve into fantastic libraries and collections at the University and in the city.
  • Join societies, attend events, and gain the skills and confidence for life after university.

Studying Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Edinburgh has been an incredible and unforgettable experience. Supported by the University’s dedicated and passionate staff and extensive resources, I’ve been able to develop my linguistic and cultural knowledge, which was only furthered on my year abroad in Year 3, travelling to Mexico and Brazil as facilitated by the University.

Hannah, Year 4, Spanish and Portuguese MA (Hons)

Single and joint honours degree programmes

If you would like to take an undergraduate MA Hons degree programme in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies, you can:

  • take a single honours degree in Spanish 
  • take a joint honours degree in Spanish and Portuguese
  • take any of the following joint honours degree programmes... 
French and SpanishFrench and PortugueseGerman and Spanish
German and PortugueseItalian and SpanishRussian Studies and Spanish
Arabic and SpanishChinese and SpanishScandinavian Studies and Spanish
Spanish and BusinessSpanish and ClassicsSpanish and English Literature
Spanish and LinguisticsSpanish and HistorySpanish and History of Art
Spanish and LinguisticsSpanish and PhilosophySpanish and Politics
Spanish and LinguisticsSpanish and PoliticsInternational Business with Spanish*
Law and Spanish*  

* Please note that these degree combinations do not have the same structure as all the others, though they are still four-year degrees with a study abroad element.

There’s lots of information about our undergraduate Spanish and Portuguese programmes on the University of Edinburgh Degree Finder.

For example, you can find out about:

  • the courses you will take each year
  • how you will be taught and assessed
  • the support we offer
  • entrance requirements
  • English language requirements
  • fees and funding opportunities
  • student societies and living in Edinburgh

To study on any of our undergraduate programmes, you must apply through UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.

Information correct as of September 2026
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Skills and experience

Completing a degree programme in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies demonstrates that you're a good communicator, and someone open to other cultures and new ideas – what employers value as Intercultural Competence.

Beyond the language skills you will develop on this programme, you will gain a nuanced understanding of diverse cultures and societies.

Additionally, graduating with a four-year Master of Arts degree from the University of Edinburgh shows intellectual maturity, resilience, and flexibility.

The skills you will be able to demonstrate to employers when you graduate include the ability to:

  • understand, analyse and articulate complex issues and concepts
  • manage your time to meet deadlines on different types of projects
  • work independently and as part of a group .

Opportunities across sectors

Our programmes are an excellent primer for a range of careers.

Within the private, public, not-for-profit, and for-benefit sectors, previous graduates have gone on to work in:

  • business, finance and commerce
  • communications, marketing, advertising and public relations
  • education, outreach, advocacy and training
  • journalism, broadcasting and media
  • leisure, tourism and travel
  • politics, policy work, diplomacy, civil service and law
  • publishing, culture, heritage and the arts
  • research, development and venture acceleration
  • translating and interpreting

Local and global opportunities

With increasing migration in response to changing global dynamics, there is demand for our graduates both at home and abroad.

Wherever you are based in the world, the ability to communicate in another language, and to understand the cultures to which it opens doors, will make you stand out.

If you are keen to work abroad, it’s good to know that Spanish and Portuguese are your gateway to a great many countries and cultures in Europe, Africa and the Americas. They are both on the list of the world’s ten most widely-used languages and between them are spoken by around 700 million people.


My studies directed me in the way of South America when I studied Latin American literature, particularly the stories of Jorge Luis Borges, which pioneered a form of fiction writing that I had never come across before. This fired my imagination and in my third year I set off for Chile on a journey that led me to Brazil where I became involved in human rights work for more than two decades.

Damian Platt MBE, Italian & Spanish MA (Hons), 1995 Damian has worked in marginalised communities in Brazil, and is the author of “Nothing by Accident: Brazil on the Edge"

Further study

The enhanced research skills you will develop on a four-year programme, particularly in your honours years, are a valuable asset if you wish to continue studying at postgraduate level.

At the University of Edinburgh, for example, we typically offer a one-year Masters by Research programme in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies, which could then lead to a PhD.

Our interdisciplinary taught MSc programmes typically include:

  • Comparative Literature
  • Intermediality
  • Translation Studies

QS World Rankings by Subject 2026

The University of Edinburgh is ranked 3rd in the UK for Modern Languages.

We are ranked fourth in the UK in the broader subject area of the Arts & Humanities. 

Globally, we’re in the World Top 15: Modern Languages (12) and Arts and Humanities (9).

The Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings are based on research citations and the results of major global surveys of employers and academics.

They are International Ranking Expert Group (IREG) approved.

Graphic of a person with a phone and the words #3 in the UK World Top 15

Get to know us better

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Other ways to learn Spanish or Portuguese at Edinburgh

If you're not on one of our degree programmes, you can still learn Spanish or Portuguese with us!

As an undergraduate student of most subjects at the University of Edinburgh, you can take Spanish or Portuguese as an outside subject in one or both of Years 1 and 2 of your programme, depending on your timetable.

Discover a world of languages graphic

You can also take courses in Catalan and Basque. You don't need any prior knowledge of any of the languages.

Spanish is available to all students (undergraduate and postgraduate) as an Open Language Course and - through the Centre for Open Learning - as a Lifelong Learning Course, with options for complete beginners.

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