Hispanic Studies and Comparative Literature

Hispanic Studies and Comparative Literature is a degree that brings together the study of Spanish and Latin American cultures with a broader literary education that ranges freely across traditions and languages. Hispanic Studies encompasses the history, politics, literature, film, and cultural life of a vast Spanish-speaking world stretching from Spain to the diverse nations of Latin America, engaging with one of the most widely spoken languages on earth and with a range of literary and artistic traditions of extraordinary richness. Comparative Literature places those traditions in dialogue with writers and texts from other cultures, asking how literatures speak to one another across linguistic and national boundaries.

At Queen Mary University of London, this four-year, full-time degree develops your Spanish language skills to a high level while engaging you with the cultural and historical depth of the Hispanic world, from the literature of Spain's Golden Age and the political turmoil of the twentieth century to the vitality of contemporary Latin American writing and cinema. You will also have the opportunity to study Catalan as part of your degree, gaining access to another rich cultural tradition within the wider Hispanic context. Comparative Literature extends your reading outward, developing the critical frameworks needed to analyse texts from multiple traditions.

Graduates with this combination of language proficiency, cultural knowledge, and analytical skill are well placed for careers in international business, diplomacy, journalism, publishing, translation, education, the civil service, and the cultural sector. Spanish is an increasingly valuable professional asset, and the critical thinking and communication skills developed by literary study are valued across many fields. Postgraduate study in Hispanic studies, comparative literature, translation, or cultural studies is also a natural progression for those who wish to deepen their expertise.