Modern Languages (French and Spanish) and Ancient History

French, Spanish, and ancient history is an ambitious combination that develops two modern European languages alongside the historical study of the classical world. French opens access to one of Europe's richest literary and cultural traditions, from the medieval period through the Enlightenment to contemporary francophone culture across multiple continents. Spanish offers entry to a language of extraordinary geographic spread and cultural diversity, encompassing the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America, and significant communities worldwide.

Ancient history takes you back to the foundations of Western civilisation, examining the Greek and Roman worlds that have shaped so much of what followed.

At the University of St Andrews, this four-year full-time programme develops all three strands to a high level, with a year abroad providing the immersive language experience that is essential for genuine linguistic proficiency. In your French studies, as the current description notes, you will develop language and communication skills to a high level through the study of French and francophone language, literature, and culture, engaging with texts and cultural materials across historical periods and geographical settings. Your Spanish studies run in parallel, developing equivalent depth in the Iberian and Latin American contexts.

Ancient history provides the third dimension: the study of Greek and Roman societies through their historical records, literature, and archaeological evidence, bringing the perspective of a very different civilisation to bear on the modern European world your language studies illuminate.

The combination demands considerable range and intellectual agility, but it creates a genuinely distinctive graduate profile.

Graduates from programmes combining French, Spanish, and ancient history pursue careers in translation and interpreting, international organisations, journalism, publishing, cultural heritage, education, diplomacy, law, and business with European and international connections. Postgraduate study in languages, classics, or ancient history supports those with research ambitions.