Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies

Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American Studies is one of the most geographically and culturally expansive language combinations available in UK higher education. Spanish is the official language of twenty countries across Europe, Latin America, and Africa, and is spoken by hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Portuguese, spoken by over two hundred million people in Portugal, Brazil, Mozambique, Angola, and other countries, gives access to a second vast cultural and economic sphere that overlaps with and diverges from the Spanish-speaking world in fascinating ways.

Together, these languages provide genuine access to the full diversity of Latin America, the Iberian Peninsula, and their diaspora communities.

The four-year full-time Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies programme at the University of Leeds develops your proficiency in both Spanish and Portuguese to a high level, even if you begin Portuguese as an absolute beginner. You will gain a detailed understanding of the cultures and histories of Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries in Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia, including Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Brazil, and Mozambique, studying literature, cinema, history, and contemporary politics in both language contexts. A sandwich year and work placement options give you direct professional and cultural experience before you graduate, which is essential in a field where real communicative competence and cultural knowledge depend on sustained immersion.

With a typical entry tariff of 152 points, the programme attracts students with genuine linguistic ambition. Graduates pursue careers in international business, diplomacy, journalism, translation, development work, education, and in organisations operating in Latin America, Iberia, and Africa. Postgraduate study in Hispanic studies, Lusophone studies, or international relations is a common continuation.