Spanish and English Literature MA (Hons)

Spanish 

You will study either Spanish 1A or 1B, depending on your language skills. Typically, students on Spanish 1B come to University with substantially more experience of studying Spanish than students on Spanish 1A.

As well as developing your language skills, both the 1A and 1B courses will introduce you to a diverse selection of cultural texts and films from across the Spanish-speaking world.

English Literature

You will take two literary studies courses. These will introduce you to the skills needed for the critical close reading of the core literary genres:

• poetry
• drama 
• prose

You will read works of literature written in English from around the world, and encounter a range of ideas about the nature and purpose of literary study. 

Option courses

You will complete your Year 1 studies with option courses chosen from a wide range offered by the University.

You can, for example, opt to study a language in its cultural context. This includes reading literature written in that language, starting with short texts. We offer one of the widest ranges of languages of any UK university, including Basque and Catalan, and the majority are suitable for complete beginners.

Other options include, but are not limited to, courses in:

• linguistics and English language
• business, economics and informatics
• politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations
• art and architectural history
• history, classics and archaeology
• Celtic and Scottish ethnology
• philosophy, divinity and law

Spanish

Students of 1A and 1B will come together in our Spanish Language 2 course. This course will help you communicate your ideas in Spanish using more nuanced grammatical structures, vocabulary and syntax. In both your spoken and written work, you will gain confidence in expressing yourself in Spanish, ready to study or work abroad in Year 3.

You will also take a further course on the literatures and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. You'll be introduced to different genres and artistic currents which demonstrate how culture has reflected, shaped and contested reality from the sixteenth century to the present day.

English Literature

You will be introduced to the study of English literature in its cultural and historical contexts via a survey of literature from the late Medieval period to the mid-twentieth century.

These courses will explore the relationship between literary texts and the construction of national, international and imperial cultures.

Option courses

As in Year 1, you will also choose other courses from a wide range offered by the University.

These option courses include a great selection in European languages and cultures that explore literature, film and theatre in themed and comparative contexts.

Typical option courses include:

• Cultural Responses to War 
• Migration, Exile, Diaspora 
• Crime and Detection in Literature 
• Gender and Culture
• The Coming-of-Age Narrative 
• Introduction to European Cinema 
• Dynamics of Language and Power 
• Languages Beyond University

Depending on what you have studied in Year 1, you can also take courses in different aspects of linguistics, or explore Basque, Catalan or Portuguese to expand your knowledge of Iberian languages and cultures.

You will spend Year 3 in a Spanish-speaking country, deepening your knowledge of Spanish by speaking it daily and immersing yourself in local cultures.

Living abroad will also give you the wider perspective, experience and skills to embrace the opportunities and challenges of life after university.

Read our blog post by Spanish student Anu who discovered a passion for teaching yoga on her year abroad

How much time will I spend abroad?

You will spend a minimum of 30 weeks abroad. You might be able to divide your time between two destinations, but to give you a balanced experience, you will spend at least eight weeks in each place. How you further divide your time abroad is typically based on whether you study, work or combine the two.

Where can I go?

Transforming classroom learning into a lived experience, you will study or work in a country in which Spanish is spoken. The University has exchange places in a wide variety of universities in Spain and Latin America (Argentina, Chile and Mexico).

If you are considering working abroad, the first step is to start thinking about where you would like to go. Visa requirements and application processes vary between countries, so it is a good idea to find out what documentation you will need and whether you are eligible to get it.

Study or work?

When you are abroad, you can typically choose to either:

• study in one or two destinations
• work in one or two destinations
• study in one destination and work in another

If you choose to study, you will take classes at one or two of the universities where we have available exchange opportunities. This means that you will spend either:

• two semesters at a single institution 
• one semester at two different institutions (in different destinations)

A work placement abroad is another way to gain an international perspective, build professional networks and prepare you for your career after university.

Once you have checked if you are eligible to work abroad, and have talked through your plans with us, you might choose to do one or more placements. For example, you could:

• arrange to work or volunteer with a private company or charity
• apply to an established placement scheme, such as the British Council’s English Language Assistants programme

Whatever you decide to do, your time abroad is a chance for you to evolve and grow beyond Edinburgh. It adds an international dimension to your studies, showing future employers that you are open to new ideas and experiences.

Coursework while abroad

We will aim to ensure your experience abroad is as beneficial as possible to your final year, as well as to your wider language learning, cultural awareness and skills development.

Regardless of whether you study or work abroad, you will take an e-learning course to prepare you for your Year 4 language courses in Spanish. This course will count as part of your Year 3 marks, alongside any coursework arranged by your host university (if studying abroad).

For English Literature, you will write a long essay. Supported by staff in Edinburgh, you will identify a topic and develop an independent piece of research.

Depending on your year abroad activities, you also begin preparing for your dissertation while abroad, guided by your dissertation supervisor.

You will study advanced language courses in Spanish.

For English Literature, you will take courses covering key issues, concepts, and developments in literary theory and criticism.

You will also choose from a range of specialist, honours-level courses in Spanish and in English Literature. 

This will enable you to explore different periods, geographical areas, topics and approaches to your subjects, according to your area of interest.

Building on all the knowledge and skills you have developed over four years, including in independent research, you will complete a dissertation or long essay.