French and Spanish

French and Spanish is one of the most valuable language combinations available in higher education, giving you access to two of the world's major Romance languages and the rich, diverse cultures and histories they carry. French is spoken on every inhabited continent and is the official language of more than twenty countries; it is also a language of international diplomacy, commerce, and culture. Spanish is the second most widely spoken language in the world, the native tongue of hundreds of millions of people across Europe and the Americas, and a language of growing global significance in business, politics, and the arts.

Together, they open an extraordinary range of personal and professional possibilities.

Queen's University Belfast's four-year full-time BA in French and Spanish has a typical entry tariff of 152 points and places linguistic proficiency and intercultural awareness at its centre, as the course itself describes. Language and identity are central themes, and you will critically reflect on a variety of contemporary issues, historical periods, and geographical areas, including France and Spain but also Latin America, Francophone Africa, and the Francophone Caribbean, through a range of media including art, cinema, linguistics, and literature. The degree includes extended residency of around eight months in a Francophone or Spanish-speaking country, giving you deep language immersion and cultural experience that is central to reaching a high level of proficiency.

Graduates with French and Spanish work in international business, translation and interpreting, diplomacy, the civil service, journalism, education, the cultural sector, international development, and a wide range of organisations that operate across borders. Language degrees from Belfast are well regarded, and the combination of linguistic rigour, cultural awareness, and international experience is valued by employers in virtually any sector with a European or global dimension. Postgraduate study in languages, translation, European studies, or international relations is a natural next step.