French and Spanish

French and Spanish together cover two of the most globally important Romance languages. French is the first language of more than 100 million people and a language of international diplomacy, culture and commerce used across Europe, Africa, the Americas and beyond. Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, used across the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America and growing communities in North America and elsewhere.

Studying both gives you access to a remarkable breadth of cultural, literary and professional worlds, and develops a linguistic competence that is genuinely valuable in international careers.

At the University of Strathclyde, this four-year full-time programme develops your proficiency in both French and Spanish to a high level across all registers, from everyday spoken communication to the analysis of literary, cultural and professional texts. You will engage with the literature, history, culture and contemporary societies of French-speaking and Spanish-speaking worlds, developing a nuanced understanding of both traditions. Language study at this level requires sustained commitment and immersive practice, and the four-year structure of Scottish undergraduate education allows for a more gradual and thorough development of your skills than a shorter programme would permit.

Critical reading and analysis, cultural interpretation, academic and professional writing in both languages, and the ability to communicate fluently across linguistic and cultural contexts are all developed throughout the degree. Translation, both practical and as an analytical tool, is typically part of the curriculum.

Graduates from French and Spanish programmes are sought after in international business, diplomacy, translation and interpretation, teaching, journalism, the cultural sector, law, international organisations and the civil service. The combination of two major world languages creates a distinctive professional profile, and postgraduate study in languages, translation, international relations or law is a natural pathway.