Study Spanish at a UK Top 10 University*
*Complete University Guide 2025
Spanish at the University of Exeter brings together a diverse learning community based in the Department of Languages, Cultures, and Visual Studies. Our programmes bring together a wide range of expertise from our Spanish-speaking and Anglophone educators, enriched by our internationally-renown research. You will explore the history and evolution of Spain and the Hispanic world and be introduced to inspiring works of art and literature, including the visual arts, painting and cinema.
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Top 10 for Spanish in the UK
10th in the Complete University Guide 2025 for Iberian Languages
Top 150 worldwide for Modern Languages
QS World University Subject Rankings 2024
Spend a year abroad on an International Placement
1st in the UK for research impact
Joint 1st for world-leading or internationally excellent research, REF 2021
Discover world-class Spanish degrees at the University of Exeter
Studying Spanish at the University of Exeter, you will join an energetic and sociable cohort of researchers, educators, and fellow students. Our stimulating teaching programmes are driven by internationally prominent research.
Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world, with speakers in 21 countries across Europe and the Americas contributing to the huge importance of the language worldwide. You’ll learn about the disciplines of linguistics, history and literary criticism, while gaining an insight into the life of Spain and Latin America.
Students on one of our undergraduate courses have the option of spending their third year in a Spanish-speaking country such as Spain or Mexico. You could be studying at one of our renowned partner universities such as Córdoba or Valencia in Spain and UDLAP in Mexico, teaching English as part of a British Council placement (subject to availability), or gaining valuable employment experience and practical applied learning by working abroad.
At the heart of our Department is our pioneering Language Centre. Providing excellent teaching by qualified and experienced professionals, the Spanish section of the Centre boasts an Accredited Examination Centre for the internationally recognised DELE diplomas, credit-bearing modules for those studying outside of the Department, and community-driven learning opportunities such as the Languages Café.
Four pathways to study Spanish at Exeter
Undergraduate Spanish degrees
Through our BA Modern Languages programme, you can choose to focus on Spanish and graduate with a BA in Spanish, or study Spanish alongside one or two other languages (eg, Chinese, French German, Italian, Portuguese, or Russian).
Alternatively, you may choose to broaden your study with ancient and contemporary study of literature, film, and art from Spain, Spanish-speaking Latin America, and beyond through our BA Comparative Literatures and Modern Languages programme, with the opportunity to focus on Spanish and graduate with a BA in Comparative Literatures and Spanish.
You can begin Spanish study from Beginners or Advanced level. You will also be able to study modules from other disciplines outside of Modern Languages such as Politics and History.
Undergraduate combined honours degrees
Study a language alongside Arabic, Art History & Visual Culture, Classical Studies, English, Film Studies, History, International Relations, Latin, Politics, Philosophy or Sociology as part of one of our Combined Honours programmes. You may choose to focus on Spanish and graduate with Spanish in your degree title in place of Modern Languages.
You can also study Spanish with a bespoke and tailored selection of subjects and modules as part of our Flexible Combined Honours programme.
Postgraduate Spanish degrees
Postgraduate Spanish degrees
You can study Spanish through our Language Centre as part of your course on our MA Global Literatures and Cultures programme, while also exploring modules driven by our internationally recognised research such as Latin American Cinema: Race, Nation and Representation.
Students on our MA Translation Studies programme can focus on Spanish, taking advantage of our expertise in the language to guide their studies. You can also enjoy and take part in research seminars and events through the University's Centre for Translating Cultures.
Spanish PhDs and research degrees
We offer sector-leading research degrees in Spanish, including MPhil or PhD Hispanic Studies and MA by Research Modern Languages.
Researchers in the Department of Languages, Cultures, and Visual Studies are actively engaged in cutting-edge projects across a broad range of research interests, including Iberian and Latin American literatures, cinema and visual culture, gender studies, and women's studies.
Our research consistently attracts substantial funding from internationally recognised organisations and partners. Recent projects include "Reading Bodies: Narrating Illness in Spanish and European Literatures and Cultures" and "CartasVivas", an online audiovisual library.
Why choose the University of Exeter?
We offer world-class education and research with outstanding student satisfaction, committed to working with our students to make the world greener, healthier, and fairer. With beautiful, green campuses in Devon and Cornwall, we offer a unique opportunity to study in one of the most stunning parts of the UK.
As a member of the Russell Group, we are committed to maintaining the very best internationally recognised research, and translating our research into an outstanding teaching and learning experience. Our excellence is recognised by organisations worldwide, with Exeter graduates in the UK's top 10 for most targeted by leading employers*.
* The Graduate Market in 2024 report by High Fliers Research
