International Relations and Spanish & Latin American Studies

International relations and Spanish and Latin American studies is a combination that connects the analytical frameworks of global politics with one of the world's most geographically extensive languages and the rich diversity of cultures it encompasses. Spanish is spoken by hundreds of millions of people across Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean, making it one of the most important languages in contemporary geopolitics, trade and culture. Latin American studies adds a regional specialism that brings historical depth, economic complexity and cultural richness to the political analysis that international relations provides.

At the University of Aberdeen you will study across four years full-time, including a year abroad that deepens your linguistic fluency and gives you direct experience of the Hispanophone world in either Spain or Latin America. You will engage with the contemporary debates at the forefront of international relations scholarship, developing highly refined analytical skills alongside genuine linguistic and cultural competence in Spanish. The combination situates you at the intersection of global political analysis and area expertise in one of the world's most significant and dynamic regions.

Graduates are exceptionally well prepared for careers in diplomacy, the foreign office, international organisations with Latin American remits, NGOs, journalism, media, development agencies, trade and investment, consultancy and a wide range of public and private sector roles. The combination of geopolitical analysis and Spanish language proficiency is particularly valued by organisations working across North and South America, and by international bodies where Spanish is a primary working language. Many graduates also pursue postgraduate study in international relations, Latin American studies, development studies, international law or related fields, building on the dual foundation the undergraduate degree provides.