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Subject area: Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies

Why choose Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies at the University of Edinburgh?

  • You will be based at the heart of the University, in a world-leading festival city with fantastic cinemas, theatres, galleries, libraries and collections, and established communities of Spanish and Portuguese speakers.

  • We are ranked 3rd in the UK and 10th in the world for modern languages in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024.

  • We are unique in Scotland in offering students a full academic year abroad within the four-year honours programme, regardless of whether you spend the year studying or working. We have exchanges in Spain, Portugal, Brazil and across Spanish-speaking Latin America. If you are studying two languages, you will divide your year abroad between two countries, further broadening your skills and experience.

  • International culture flourishes here, with a Centre for Contemporary Latin American Studies, numerous student societies, and a creative writing magazine for European languages. Our in-house Portuguese Language Centre is supported by the Instituto Camões, and we're home to the first Cervantes Institute in Scotland, which celebrates cultural links with Spanish-speaking countries. We also have very close links with local schools and the Spanish Consulate in Edinburgh.

Study abroad

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 will only be furthered on my year abroad in Year 3, travelling to Mexico and Brazil as facilitated by the University.

Hannah Year 2, Spanish and Portuguese MA (Hons)
Hannah Year 2, Spanish and Portuguese MA (Hons)

Introducing Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies

The many countries in which Spanish or Portuguese are spoken have fascinatingly rich and varied cultures.

Studying one or both languages with us is your gateway to an extraordinary range of literature, film and theatre from Europe, Africa and the Americas, explored in its historical context, from medieval to contemporary times.

Our expertise ranges from the literatures, cultures and art of the Iberian Peninsula, to those of Latin America, the Caribbean and Portuguese-speaking Africa.

Regardless of whether you are a beginner or have some prior experience, you can:

  • take a single honours degree programme in either Spanish or Portuguese
  • combine both languages in a joint honours programme
  • study either language with one of a wide range of other subjects

We also offer courses in Basque and Catalan language and culture.