About this course
With this degree, you can develop strong language skills in Spanish and Portuguese and gain a deep understanding of both cultures. You'll improve your fluency and employability skills by spending a year living and working abroad.
We'll make sure you start at a level that matches your ability in written and spoken Spanish and Portuguese. This means, if you’re a strong student, you can start one of these languages from scratch - and make rapid progress in both.
You'll have excellent resources to support you. The Centre for Language Study at Southampton has everything you need.
You can tailor your degree to areas that interest you. These might include:
taking a third language
choosing modules from other subject areas
exploring more about Spanish or Portuguese linguistics, history and culture
In your year abroad you could choose to go to Spain, France, Switzerland or Latin America - we have links in Chile, Colombia and Mexico. Through our innovative scheme in Mexico, developed in partnership with the Mexican Education Ministry, you could work as a Language Resources Assistant in a University.
You can download the course details, including modules, in the programme specificationPDF opens in a new window (PDF, 329.31 KB).
Location and awarding body
The course location is Avenue campus in Southampton. The awarding body is University of Southampton.
Entry requirements
A-levels
AAB including Spanish or Portuguese (minimum grade A)
A-levels additional information
Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. Students study accelerated Spanish or Portuguese language classes from beginner’s level and can reach up to degree level in both languages.
International Baccalaureate Diploma
Pass, with 34 points overall with 17 points at Higher Level, including 6 at Higher Level in Spanish or Portuguese
International Baccalaureate Diploma additional information
Students study accelerated Spanish or Portuguese language classes from beginner’s level and can reach up to degree level in both languages. Applications where Higher Level subjects have been studied without the full Diploma, will also be considered on a case by case basis.
BTEC
Distinction, Distinction in the BTEC Extended Diploma plus A in A level Spanish or Portuguese
Distinction, Distinction in the BTEC Diploma plus A in A level Spanish or Portuguese
Distinction in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus A in A level Spanish or Portuguese and A in one further A level
BTEC additional information
Students study accelerated Spanish or Portuguese language classes from beginner’s level and can reach up to degree level in both languages.
Other qualifications
A-levels with Extended Project Qualification
If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A level offer:
ABB including Spanish or Portuguese (minimum grade A) and grade A in the EPQ
A-levels contextual offer
Students who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme, as follows:
ABB including Spanish or Portuguese (minimum grade A)
International Baccalaureate Career Programme (IBCP) offer
Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) StatementPDF opens in a new window (PDF, 62.17 KB) for further information.
Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
BTEC (RQF) (reformed)
Distinction, Distinction in the BTEC National Extended Diploma plus A in A level Spanish or Portuguese
Distinction, Distinction in the BTEC National Diploma plus A in A level Spanish or Portuguese
Distinction in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus A in A level Spanish or Portuguese and A in one further A level
Access to HE Diploma
60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3, of which 39 must be at Distinction and 6 credits at Merit, plus A in A level Spanish or Portuguese
Access to HE Diploma additional information
Students study accelerated Spanish or Portuguese language classes from beginner’s level and can reach up to degree level in both languages.
Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2017)
H1 H2 H2 H2 H2 H2 including Spanish or Portuguese
Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2016)
A2 A2 A2 B1 B1 B1 including Spanish or Portuguese at A2
Irish Leaving Certificate additional information
Students study accelerated Spanish or Portuguese language classes from beginner’s level and can reach up to degree level in both languages.
Scottish Qualification offers
Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education. Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement (PDF, 111.01 KB) for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
Cambridge Pre-U
D3 D3 M2 in three principal subjects including Spanish or Portuguese at D3
Cambridge Pre-U additional information
Students study accelerated Spanish or Portuguese language classes from beginner’s level and can reach up to degree level in both languages.
Welsh Baccalaureate
AAB from 3 A levels including Spanish or Portuguese (minimum grade A)
or
AA from two A levels including Spanish or Portuguese and B from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate
Welsh Baccalaureate additional information
Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. Students study accelerated Spanish or Portuguese language classes from beginner’s level and can reach up to degree level in both languages.
European Baccalaureate
80% overall including grade 8.5 in Spanish or Portuguese
GCSE requirements
Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)
English language requirements
All applicants must demonstrate they possess at least a minimum standard of English language proficiency. Applicants requiring a visa to study in the UK who do not offer GCSE English language (or GCSE English) at the required level will need to meet the following English language proficiency requirement. Find out more about the University’s English Language requirements.
Band C IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in all components
IELTS score requirements
- reading
- 6
- writing
- 6
- speaking
- 6
- listening
- 6
We also accept other English language tests.
Non-academic entry requirements
There are no additional requirements
International qualifications
Find a list of accepted international qualifications listed by country.
This is a list of the international qualifications that are recognised by the University of Southampton. If you are not sure that your qualifications meet the requirements of this course please contact our Admissions Teams.
Foundation year for Engineering, Physics, Maths and Geophysics
If you don’t have the right qualifications for direct entry into this course, you may still be able to enrol by taking our Foundation Year. This intensive, one-year course will give you the background skills and knowledge to enter into any undergraduate degree in engineering, physics, mathematics or geophysics.
Contact us if you have a question about what qualifications you have or might need.
Other ways to qualify
You might meet our criteria in other ways if you do not have the qualifications we need. Find out more about:
our Access to Southampton scheme for students living permanently in the UK (including residential summer school, application support and scholarship)
skills you might have gained through work or other life experiences (otherwise known as recognition of prior learning)
Find out more about our Admissions Policy.
Course structure
Each year combines compulsory modules to build your mastery of Spanish and Portuguese with a wide range of options. This allows you to tailor your learning to suit your interests and ambitions.
You can also take modules from different subject areas, or learn a third language. If you find a subject you love, you can make it an official part of your degree as a minor subject.
To give you the best possible start, we use our system of seven language levels to work out your proficiency in Spanish and Portuguese. We can then make sure our teaching quickly develops your skills.
You can study this course part-time. This means you will:
complete your course within 5 to 8 years
need to spend a significant period abroad
Year 1
We’ll introduce you to the study skills you’ll need as a Modern Languages student and you’ll take compulsory Spanish and Portuguese language modules to develop your speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.
You’ll then be able to choose from a wide range of optional modules that could include:
applications of linguistics
an introduction to the languages of the Spanish-speaking world
the history and politics of the Hispanic world
reading the city: Historical, social, political and linguistic developments
reading culture: forms of identity in different cultures
introduction to The Portuguese-Speaking World
your choice of modules from other subject areas, including other languages
Year 2
In year 2 you will develop your Spanish and Portuguese language skills and you'll take a module to prepare you for your year abroad, including how to do your research project.
You’ll be able to choose from a wide range of optional modules to tailor your degree to areas that interest you. These might include:
gender, race and nation in modern Latin America
language structure
the EU and European identity
teaching English as a foreign language
multilingualism
experience as a classroom ambassador
culture, power and pesistance in the Portuguese-Speaking World
your choice of modules from other subject areas, including other languages
Year 3
You can spend this year abroad in a Spanish or Portuguese-speaking country:
as an English language assistant in a school
studying on a university course
on an approved work placement
You’ll also do an independent study project.
Find out more about the year abroad.
Year 4
We will support you in your return to university from your year abroad and we’ll help you to talk about your experiences in a way that enhances your employability. You’ll continue to develop your written and spoken Spanish and Portuguese and you’ll be able to choose from a range of other module options.
Module options may include topics such as:
language and Identity among US Latinos
public service interpreting
language teaching
representations of women in the Hispanic world
transatlantic crossings: linguistic variation in the Iberian peninsula and Latin America
encounters with bodies in Lusophone Cultural Narrative
your choice of modules from other subject areas, including other languages
Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.
Modules
Modules year 1
Compulsory modules
You must take the following compulsory modules in year 1:
- Academic Skills for ML students
- Introduction to The Portuguese-Speaking World
- Spanish Language Stage 4
Optional modules
You can choose from the following optional modules in year 1:
Modules year 2
Compulsory modules
You must take the following compulsory modules in year 2:
- Culture, Power and Resistance in the Portuguese-Speaking World
- Managing Research and Learning
- Spanish Language Stage 5
Optional modules
You can choose from the following optional modules in year 2:
- Discourse Analysis
- Ethnography of Latin America
- Exploring Spanish Linguistics
- Gender, Race and Nation in Modern Latin America
- Globalisation: Culture, Language and The Nation State
- High, Popular and Mass Culture in Modern Spain
- How the Arts Work: a practical introduction to cultural economics
- Humanities University Ambassadors Scheme (Modern Languages)
- Language, Ideologies and Attitudes
- Learning about Culture: Introduction to Ethnography
- Multilingualism
- Myths and Realities of Contemporary Spain
- Portuguese Language Stage 5
- Portuguese accelerated language stages 3-4
- Power and Discourse in Spanish-speaking societies
- Psycholinguistics
- Sound and Voice
- Syntax: Studying Language Structure
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- The EU and European Identity
- Variation and Change in English
Modules year 3
Modules year 4
Compulsory modules
You must take the following compulsory modules in year 4:
Optional modules
You can choose from the following optional modules in year 4:
- Advanced Syntax
- Audiovisual Translation
- Barrios and Borders: Language and Identity amongst US Latinos
- English as a Global Language
- Exiles, Migrants and Citizens: Narrating and documenting displacement in contemporary Spain
- Historical Memory in Modern Latin America
- How the Arts Work: a practical introduction to cultural economics
- Language Teaching Theory and Practice
- Language Testing and Assessment in Society
- Modern Languages Dissertation
- Portuguese Language Stage 6
- Portuguese Language Stage 7
- Public Service Interpreting
- Second Language Acquisition
- Sex, Soap Operas and Female Dissidents: Representations of Women in the Hispanic World
- Sociophonetic Project Module
- Spanish Language Stage 6
- Spanish Language Stage 7
- Transatlantic Crossings: Linguistic Variation in the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America
- Translation: Theory and Practice
- Writing in a Second Language
Learning and assessment
The learning activities for this course include the following:
- lectures
- classes and tutorials
- coursework
- individual and group projects
- independent learning (studying on your own)
Support for your studies
You'll be supported by a personal academic tutor and have access to a senior tutor.
How you’ll spend your study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study, year by year:
Year 1
- Scheduled learning and teaching
- 22%
- Independent study
- 78%
- Placement
- 0%
Year 2
- Scheduled learning and teaching
- 22%
- Independent study
- 78%
- Placement
- 0%
Year 3
- Scheduled learning and teaching
- 0%
- Independent study
- 100%
- Placement
- 0%
Year 4
- Scheduled learning and teaching
- 19%
- Independent study
- 78%
- Placement
- 3%
Course leader
Anthony Campbell is the course leader.
How we’ll assess you
We’ll assess you using:
- debates
- dissertations
- essays
- individual and group projects
- oral presentations
- written and practical exams
- written exams
Your assessment breakdown, year by year:
Year 1
- Written exam
- 33%
- Practical exam
- 26%
- Coursework
- 41%
Year 2
- Written exam
- 33%
- Practical exam
- 20%
- Coursework
- 47%
Year 3
- Written exam
- 0%
- Practical exam
- 0%
- Coursework
- 100%
Year 4
- Written exam
- 20%
- Practical exam
- 23%
- Coursework
- 57%
Careers
As a Modern Languages graduate, you can choose from a wide variety of employment options.
These include making the most of your skills in:
gathering and interpreting information
working with and leading teams
understanding and adapting to different cultures
Previous graduates have gone on to careers including:
translation
interpreting
teaching
marketing
accountancy
events and hospitality
sales and retail
There is a compulsory employability module for all first-year students in the faculty. Many of our graduates go on to further study. Subjects taken include interpreting and translating, law, accountancy, management and international relations.
Careers services at Southampton
We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2019). Our Careers and Employability Service will support you throughout your time as a student and for up to 5 years after graduation. This support includes:
work experience schemes
CV and interview skills and workshops
networking events
careers fairs attended by top employers
a wealth of volunteering opportunities
study abroad and summer school opportunities
We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.
Fees, costs and funding
UK/EU fees
You'll pay £9,250 in tuition fees for the academic year 2020 to 2021. This fee might change for further years of your course.
International student fees
You’ll pay £17,560 each year. This fee will stay the same throughout your studies.
What your fees pay for
Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and all examinations.
Find out how to:
Extra costs you might have to pay
- Students studying or working outside Europe
- Printing and Photocopying Costs
- ML Residence Abroad - Cost implications
- Stationery
- Textbooks
- Students studying or working in Europe
- Computer discs or USB drives
- Hardware
- Placements (including Study Abroad Programmes)
See the full list of extra items and costs in the programme specificationPDF opens in a new window 2020 to 2021 (PDF, 329.31 KB).
Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. Explore:
Bursaries, scholarships and other funding
If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £25,000 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at Southampton.
If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.
Get in touch for advice about student money matters.
Scholarships and grants
You may be able to get a scholarship or grant that's linked to your chosen subject area.
We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Support during your course
The Student Services Centre offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.
Funding for international students
Find out about funding you could get as an international student.
University life
The University offers a friendly, diverse and welcoming home for you while you study. You'll work, live and socialise with students from more than 130 countries.
Clubs, societies and facilities
Our campuses have:
cafes and restaurants
bars
health centres
banks
a post office
student shops
a hairdresser
Our sports facilities include a 25-metre swimming pool, a gym with 140 fitness stations, squash courts, a bouldering wall, outdoor pitches and much more. There are over 80 sports clubs you could join, and activity classes including yoga and spin.
We have an internationally known theatre, concert hall, art gallery and cinema showing everything from mainstream blockbusters to international arthouse classics. You could perform at a gig, concert or show, take part in an exhibition or join a writers’ workshop. Find out more about arts and culture at Southampton.
Whatever your passion or community, you can find like-minded people at one of the Students’ Union clubs and societies. There are more than 200 to join, and social activities in every hall of residence.
Support while you study
We aim to help you deal with any problems you might come across, so you can make the most of your time at university. We offer support with:
mental health, learning difficulties and disability
money and accommodation
childcare
computers and IT
How to apply
When you apply use:
UCAS Course Code: RR45
UCAS Institution Code: S27
What happens after you apply
We will assess your application on the strength of your:
- predicted grades
- academic achievements
- personal statement
- academic reference
We normally invite all candidates to an interview.
We aim to respond to you within 2 to 6 weeks with a decision about your application.
We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.