Spanish and Portuguese

Pursuing a BA in Spanish and Portuguese at Birmingham offers a gateway to understanding two diverse and dynamic cultures. Equip yourself to communicate throughout vast regions of Europe, Latin America, and Africa.

Spanish, spoken by over 500 million people, is a key global language in international business, diplomacy, and cultural exchange. Portuguese, the official language of Brazil, Portugal, and several African nations, connects you to rapidly growing markets and a wide array of cultural landscapes. Combine these two languages and study, work or teach at one of our partner institutions during your Year Abroad to enhance your global communication skills and expand your horizons. Your degree can prepare you for careers in international relations, trade, education, development and more.

You'll learn a wide range of topics beyond language and choose from a diverse range of modules, which may include:

Between the National and the Global: Peninsular Spanish History, 1936 to the Present Day
- Imagining the Truth: Latin American Culture in a Post-truth World

- Spanish Exile Culture

- Mexican and Chicano Art in the Twentieth Century: Revolution and Beyond

- Memory and Public Space in the Portuguese-speaking World

- Roots of Inequality: Race, Gender and the Legacies of Colonialism

- And cross-departmental modules such as:

Constructions of gender, sexuality and race  
- Cross-cultural Cinema: Migration and Displacement

- Thinking Otherwise: Decolonial approaches to contemporary thought and culture

- Introduction to Linguistics

- From Text to Tech: Digital Approaches to Languages and Cultures

- The Romance languages: structure, variation and change

There's an extensive range of language combinations available to you within our Modern Languages department.

Why study this course?

- Experience a new approach to language learning with our CLIL (Content Language Integrated Learning) teaching method - study topics of cultural significance in your target language, designed and delivered by expert researchers.

- Teach, study or complete a work placement abroad, immersing yourself in Spanish and Portuguese.

- Enjoy focused academic contact – We pride ourselves on competitive contact hours. These take place in small groups, encouraging active language learning through engagement with cultural material.

- Learn in a vibrant city that is culturally, ethnically and religiously diverse. Join our language and culture-based societies to further enhance your skills and contribute to the student-led Linguist Magazine.

16th for Iberian Languages in the Complete University Guide by subject (2024)

Top 100 for Modern Languages in the QS World Subject Rankings (2024)