Chinese and Spanish MA (Hons)

Level: Undergraduate

Subject: Chinese

Year of entry: 2026

Key facts

UCAS Code

BR34

Award

MA (Hons)

Duration of study

4 years

Delivery

Full-time

Study location

Central Area

Start date

September 2026

School

School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures

College

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Study abroad

Mandatory

Placement

No

Open days and events

About the degree programme

This joint honours programme enables you to study two major world languages. You will also learn about the histories, literatures and societies of the many countries in which they are spoken.

Together, Chinese and Spanish have over two billion native speakers. They are your gateway to a vast range of cultures and career opportunities in:

  • Europe
  • Latin and North America 
  • East Asia
  • the Caribbean

Skills development

On this programme, you will develop advanced competency in Modern Standard Chinese and in Spanish. You will gain the skills needed to use your languages in social and professional settings, focusing on:

  • reading and writing (including translation)
  • speaking and listening

You will have the opportunity to engage with culture in Spanish from around the world, while gaining specialist knowledge on mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and associated diasporas in pre-modern, modern and contemporary contexts.

Our courses explore Chinese, East Asian, Spanish and Latin American:

  • literature, theatre, and cinema
  • political history and international relations
  • social and cultural movements and linguistics

Why Edinburgh

As a world-leading festival and capital city, Edinburgh is a fantastic place to study global languages in their cultural context.

We are the only university in Scotland to offer both single and joint honours undergraduate programmes in Chinese. Within the UK, we are also the only university to offer three different language entry levels to our Chinese degree programmes:

  • ab initio - for complete beginners in the Chinese language
  • upper beginner
  • intermediate

We also offer two entry levels to Spanish, including ab initio.

Our programme is not for native speakers of either language, but we welcome heritage language learners.

Studying over four years enables you to choose courses that match your own interests, expertise and employability needs. We have built immersive study abroad into the programme in Year 3, which you will spend in either mainland China or Taiwan and in a country where Spanish is spoken.

When you graduate, you will have the combination of broad cultural education and specialist knowledge valued by employers worldwide.

How long it takes to complete this degree programme

This programme is studied over 4 years, including a year abroad. This enables us to build choice and flexibility into your studies, giving you time to explore options, find what you like and build your skills.

Your first two years will be your pre-honours years. They will give you a good grounding in both your languages and in Chinese, Spanish and Latin American Studies. You will also gain research skills and choose an option course from a wide range of disciplines.

Your final two years will be your honours years. You will spend Year 3 studying abroad, gaining lived experience of Chinese and Spanish-speaking cultures. Year 4 will be tailored to your interests in specific topics in Chinese, Spanish and Latin American Studies. You will also further develop your language and translation skills.

How a joint degree programme works

You will study both Chinese and Spanish to degree level.

Both languages are based in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC). Your teaching will take place in and around the main LLC building in the University's Central Area.

On your Year Abroad, you will complete assignments for both subjects while using your language skills daily.

Programme rankings

  • 2nd in the UK for Asian Studies in The Complete University Guide - Subject League Table 2025
  • 3rd in the UK for Modern Languages in the QS World Rankings by Subject 2025

Programme benefits

  • Take the only programme of its kind in the UK to offer three entry levels for Chinese.
  • Study over four years, including one abroad.
  • Become fluent in two major world languages.
  • Join societies related to what you are studying.
  • Delve into fantastic libraries and collections.
  • Try your hand at creative writing and publishing.

Find your entry requirements

Use the dropdowns to find out your entry requirements.

  1. Select the country where you are studying or where you studied your qualification.
  2. Select the qualification you are studying or studied.
United Kingdom,

Tuition fees for MA (Hons) Chinese and Spanish - 4 Years

View the tuition fees for one academic year of MA (Hons) Chinese and Spanish - 4 Years.

Tuition fees for this programme

Additional costs

As long as international travel is possible, you will spend Year 3 abroad. The costs you have to pay will depend on where you decide to go, and how you spend your time.

Some study placements at language schools may charge a fee, but we will normally refund you for tuition costs as long as your activity has been approved.

You will be responsible for associated travel costs such as flights and visas.

Some scholarship money may be available from external sources, on a competitive basis, for students studying in mainland China or Taiwan.

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that a single student can potentially spend a maximum of £920 to £2,257 on living costs each month, depending on your accommodation.

This estimate covers the costs of:

  • accommodation
  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel within Edinburgh
  • health and wellbeing costs

See a breakdown of living costs

Scholarships and funding

Funding information

You can find detailed information on financial support available, based on where you are living, in our funding section.

Funding

What you will study

Chinese 

If you are a beginner, you will study Chinese 1, an introduction to modern spoken and written Chinese.

If you already have some knowledge of the Chinese language (e.g. from GCSE/National 5 or higher), you may be eligible to take one of our more advanced language courses instead; Chinese 2 (upper beginner) or Chinese 3 (intermediate). We will help place you on the right course for you.

Whatever your level of language learning, you will also take a course that explores China's engagement with modernity. You will study the country's political, social and cultural history from 1600 CE to the present day, with a focus on its place in East Asia.

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.

Option course

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

You can choose to find out more about East Asia, for example by taking a course on Japan and Korea and their relationship with China. Alternatively, you can opt to learn more about Iberian languages and cultures; we teach both Catalan and Basque.

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

  • linguistics and language sciences
  • 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
Find Year 1 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

Chinese 

In your language classes, you will continue to learn Modern Standard Chinese and explore Chinese culture.

You will also begin to learn classical Chinese, and translation skills.

You will take a course in skills and methodologies in Chinese studies to prepare you for completing independent research in your honours years. Topics covered include:

  • referencing skills
  • essay and dissertation writing
  • using software tools and Chinese libraries
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.

Find Year 2 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

You will spend Year 3 abroad, dividing your time between two countries. This is when you will really deepen your knowledge of Chinese and Spanish by speaking them 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 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 will divide your time between either mainland China or Taiwan, and a country in which Spanish is spoken.

To give you a balanced experience, you will spend at least eight weeks in each of your two destinations. How you further divide your time abroad is normally based on where you study, or whether you're combining study for Chinese with work for Spanish.

Where can I go?

Transforming classroom learning into living engagement with Chinese and East Asian culture, you will study at an institution of higher education in mainland China or Taiwan.

For Spanish, the University has exchange places in a wide variety of universities in Spain and in Latin American countries; Argentina, Chile and Mexico.

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

If you are considering working abroad, it is possible to do so in one of several countries in which Spanish is spoken. 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.

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 and cultural awareness.

For Chinese, you are likely to have coursework set by your host institution.

Regardless of whether you study or work abroad for Spanish, you will take an e-learning course to prepare you for your Year 4 Spanish language courses.

Keeping in touch

While you are abroad as part of your programme, you are still a student at the University of Edinburgh.

The Year Abroad Office and your Student Adviser, both based in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC), will check in with you at key points during your time away. Additionally, each language has a dedicated Year Abroad Coordinator for any academic queries, ensuring you are all set and ready for your final year in Edinburgh.

Just like any other time during your studies, you have access to all University services while you are abroad. These include our:

  • Student Wellbeing Service
  • Student Counselling
  • Student Disability and Learning Support
  • University emergency helpline (available 24 hours a day)
Wellbeing and safety

Your wellbeing and safety abroad is our first priority. If international travel is not possible or placements are disrupted, for example following travel advice from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), we will offer you alternative ways to engage with your studies. These will be tailored towards supporting you to meet your learning outcomes and to prepare for your final year.

Find Year 3 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

Chinese 

You will continue to study Modern Standard Chinese, focusing on advanced skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing. You will also build on your translation skills.

Alongside your language study, you will choose from honours-level courses on Chinese:

  • film and literature
  • politics
  • modern and pre-modern history
  • contemporary society
Spanish

You will continue to develop your advanced Spanish language and translation skills, and will submit a long essay in Spanish.

You will also choose an honours-level course from a wide range of specialist options on Spanish and Latin American:

  • film
  • literature
  • history
  • politics 
  • language
  • linguistics
  • media and cultural production
Find Year 4 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

Study abroad

You will spend Year 3 abroad (a minimum of 30 weeks), dividing your time between mainland China or Taiwan and a country in which Spanish is spoken.

This is a chance for you to evolve and grow beyond Edinburgh. Our graduates have told us how much the Year Abroad has benefited their broader life experience and skills.

We know that you are likely to have lots of questions about your Year Abroad. We have gone into lots of detail about where you can go and what you can do under ‘Year 3’ above. You can also find out more through the University's Study and Work Away Service.

What are my options for going abroad?

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

University is a place to plan your own goals under expert guidance, study independently and in groups, and reflect upon your learning throughout your degree.

Our approach to learning and teaching is active, inclusive and question-driven, so it may be different to your experiences at school. It will help you gain the skills for life after university, and we will guide you through the steps from one phase to the next.

Depending on the size of your year group, and which option courses you take, your classes will typically fall into three categories:

  • lectures
  • tutorials
  • seminars

In addition to these classes, to get the most out of your courses, you will need to read widely.

We make extensive use of our audio and visual resources, and you will also be encouraged to use online materials.

Lectures

Lectures are taken by all students on a course, typically at the same time. They are delivered as interactive presentations which may involve audio-visual material.

Lectures are given by an experienced academic. They are designed to guide you through the background, questions and debates related to the topic you are studying.

Tutorials

Tutorial groups are smaller. They are also led by an academic, but here the emphasis is more on what you think about the topic yourself. So, tutorials are your chance to discuss and expand upon what you have learned in a lecture.

Language tutorials give you the opportunity to develop your linguistic skills in a range of real-world tasks under the supervision of an experienced language teacher.

These classes typically cover skills such as reading, writing, listening and speaking - all of which involve learning and applying grammar.

Seminars

Seminars blend features of lectures and tutorials. Again, they are designed to encourage and enable your active participation in learning.

On some courses, you will have seminars instead of lectures, especially in Year 4.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a combination of coursework and exams.

Coursework is generally completed throughout the year, while exams take place at the end of a teaching block.

Coursework will take a range of forms to give you the opportunity to practice different skills. For example, you may be asked to:

  • write an essay, review, blog post, opinion piece or learning journal
  • respond to a piece of writing, film, or other media, including through close reading
  • give a short talk or presentation
  • record a podcast or video
  • design a poster or presentation

Exams will include oral exams to test your spoken language skills.

Depending on where you go and what you do during your Year Abroad, Year 3 may include being assessed, in part, by a host university.

In your final year, you will also complete a long essay.

Support for your studies

As well as the teaching staff and other staff members you will meet day-to-day, there are lots of ways to get help with your learning, including through the University’s Institute for Academic Development (IAD). Peer support schemes bring together students across year groups to help each other with specific study skills, topics or themes.

Where you will study

Study location

When you are on campus, you can expect to spend most of your time in the University of Edinburgh's Central Area - in class, in the library, or in one of the University’s many social and support spaces.

The Central Area is located on the edge of Edinburgh's historic Old Town, surrounded by lots of green space.

Academic facilities

Libraries and collections

The Main University Library holds academic books, journals and databases, films, newspapers and other media. This includes around 27,000 books and 5,000 journals in Spanish.

The Library is also the home of the University's Centre for Research Collections which brings together:

  • more than 400,000 rare books
  • six kilometres of archives and manuscripts
  • thousands of works of art, historical musical instruments and other objects

The Centre's treasures include over 100 rare and pre-1900 CE Chinese and Japanese books including a commentary on the classic Chinese text Yi Jing (Book of Changes). Written by the scholar Hu Guang c. 1413, this was printed in 1440 using block printing and donated to the University in 1628.

More broadly, our Chinese and East Asian Studies Collection contains more than 50,000 resources, both print and digital, including over 600 Chinese films.

Spanish and Latin American treasures in the collections include:

  • a 1629 edition of Cervantes 
  • paintings by Murillo and Picasso 
  • the renowned musicologist Jan Fairley’s rich collection of Latin American music recordings and interviews

Many of the University's Special Collections are digitised and available online from our excellent Resource Centre, computing labs and dedicated study spaces in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC).

Centres for research, teaching and outreach

We play a key role in the Centre for Caribbean and Latin American Studies at the University. It brings together staff and students from a number of different subject areas, including:

  • film, media and art
  • geography
  • politics
  • history
  • social anthropology
  • linguistics

Since 2023, we have hosted the first extension of the Cervantes Institute in Scotland. Established in 1991, the Cervantes Institute is a non-profit organisation that promotes, supports, and celebrates Spanish-language literature, film, art, and cultures through a range of events and activities for students and the public.

Career paths

Skills and experience

Studying languages to degree level demonstrates that you are a good communicator, and someone open to other cultures and new ideas - what employers value as intercultural competence.

Beyond the language skills you will develop on this programme, you will also develop a nuanced understanding of diverse cultures and societies.

Graduating with a four-year Master of Arts degree from the University of Edinburgh shows intellectual maturity, resilience, and flexibility.

The skills you will be able to demonstrate to employers when you graduate include the ability to:

  • understand, analyse and articulate complex issues and concepts
  • manage your time to meet deadlines on different types of projects
  • work independently and as part of a group

Opportunities across sectors

Our programmes are an excellent primer for a range of careers, especially those that place a premium on thinking that is both disciplined and imaginative.

Within the private, public, not-for-profit, and for-benefit sectors, previous graduates have gone on to work in:

  • business, finance, commerce and tech
  • communications, marketing, advertising and public relations
  • education, outreach, advocacy and training
  • journalism, broadcasting and media
  • leisure, tourism and travel
  • politics, policy work, diplomacy, civil service and law
  • publishing, culture, heritage and the arts
  • research, development, consultancy and venture acceleration
  • translating and interpreting

Local and global opportunities

With increasing migration in response to changing global dynamics, there is demand for our graduates in Scotland, the UK and abroad.

Wherever you are based in the world, the ability to communicate in these major global languages, and to understand the cultures to which they open doors, will make you stand out.

Chinese and Spanish are in the top ten of the world's most widely spoken languages, and are your gateway to a great many countries and cultures in Europe, Latin and North America, the Caribbean and East Asia.

Increasing numbers of Chinese-speaking graduates are recruited by companies based in East Asia, a powerful player in the global economy.

Careers Service

Throughout your time with us, we will encourage you to identify and hone your employability skills.

Through the University's excellent Careers Service, you can:

  • get careers advice tailored towards languages
  • book one-to-one appointments and practice interviews
  • access a range of online resources
  • attend events and themed fairs such as the Creative and Cultural Careers Festival
  • get help finding work while you study and for around two years after you graduate

The Careers Service is also a partner in Life After LLC, a panel event where you can draw inspiration from recent graduates of programmes in literatures, languages and cultures.

Visit the Careers Service website

Further study

The enhanced research skills you will develop on a four-year programme, particularly in your honours years, are a valuable asset if you wish to continue studying at postgraduate level.

At the University of Edinburgh, we typically offer:

  • Masters by Research programmes in:
    • Chinese
    • Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies
  • taught masters programmes in:
    • East Asian Studies (with the option to specialise in Chinese studies)
    • Comparative Literature
    • Intermediality
    • Translation Studies

Any of our masters degrees, whether research-based or taught, is a good foundation for a PhD, but is equally of value as a stand-alone qualification.

Graduate profiles

How to apply

You must submit a full application through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) before the relevant deadline.

Guidance on applying through UCAS

What you need to apply

As part of your application, you will need:

  • your academic qualifications
  • a personal statement
  • evidence of your English language skills (with relevant qualifications)
  • a reference

How we select

If you have met, or are predicted to meet, all our entry requirements by the relevant deadline, then your application will go into our selection process.

As part of this selection process, we will review all the information you submit in your UCAS application when we decide who to select for this degree programme.

How we select applicants

When to apply

  • 2026 entry UCAS deadline: 14 January 2026 (6:00pm GMT)

This is the deadline for all UK, EU and international applicants to non-medicine and veterinary medicine programmes.

To find out if any degree programmes have spaces after 14 January 2026, search the University of Edinburgh on the UCAS website.

Search degrees that are open on the UCAS website

Key application dates and deadlines

After you apply

After you have applied for your degree programme, we suggest you have a look at the following information to help you prepare for university:

Applying as an international student

As an international student, you apply for this degree programme through UCAS.  

Find out more about applying through UCAS  

Visas and immigration 

If you do not have the right to live in the UK, you will need to apply for and secure a Student visa before the start date of your degree programme.  

Our Student Immigration Service can help you with the Student visa application process. 

Applying for a visa  

Agents  

An education agent is someone who can help you with the application process as an international student. 

We work with education agents around the world and have a list of local offices you can contact.  

Find contact details for an education agent

What our students say

I think what makes Edinburgh special is that there is so much to do whatever your interests are! Whether you enjoy hiking, relaxing in a café, socialising with friends, or literally anything else, you will never run out of options here.

Minju Kim LLC graduate (2024)

In her final year studying languages at Edinburgh, Minju served as the Undergraduate Representative for the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures. Together with Programme Representatives for Chinese and Spanish, Undergraduate Representatives are your voice in the university - sharing your feedback to continually improve the student experience for everyone. Their roles are supported by the Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA).

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single undergraduate students from outside Edinburgh. To be eligible, you need to meet all criteria and apply for accommodation by 16 August in the year of your entry to the University.

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

Societies and clubs

The Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) supports more than 300 student-led societies and clubs, including the Spanish Society. The Association also promotes opportunities with local charities through its volunteering centre.

From acting to dancing, making friends in language cafes to campaigning on global issues, student-led groups offer lots of ways to explore your subjects, interests and talents socially. There are also opportunities to pair up with native speakers for language exchange and practice.

We publish creative writing in nine European languages - including Spanish - in our online magazine, Babble. You can get involved in the editorial committee, and launch nights typically include readings and performances.

You can also attend film screenings and an Asian Studies seminar series that features visiting speakers from around the world. This will bring you closer to students of Japanese and Korean.

Societies

Sports clubs

The city of Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a world-leading festival city filled with cinemas, theatres, galleries, libraries and collections.

The city's resources for studying literatures, languages and cultures are exceptional. Many of them are located close to the University's Central Area, making them easy to access between classes.

Highlights include the National Library of Scotland, which has an outstanding collection of early modern Spanish material.

The city's world cinema scene is particularly strong, and we are proud to contribute to its success through collaborations with festivals such as IberoDocs.

Edinburgh has a thriving East Asian cultural scene and excellent links with China. Spain has a consulate here, and there is a large community of Spanish speakers.

Find out more about living in Edinburgh

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include:

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustment

Health and wellbeing support services

Contact us

Contact us through our enquiry team if you have any questions about this programme.

Open days, events and visits

Find out when our next open days will be taking place

Open days, events and visits

Chat to our students on Unibuddy

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