English Literature and Spanish BA (Hons),with placement

What you will study

The English literature part of this course covers a range of literary periods, authors, genres and theories. You’ll analyse classic works, as well as innovative texts and genres, such as travel writing, nineteenth-century theatre and fiction, science-fiction, and contemporary global literatures.

The Modern foreign language side of this course will improve your practical language skills and allow you to gain a strong understanding of how languages work.

Whilst three years of the English Literature and Spanish degree is based in the UK, the course includes a Professional Training placement abroad, giving you the choice between work, study, or a combination of the two.  

Events and workshops

Alongside your lectures, tutorials, seminars and workshops, you'll have a wide range of opportunities to engage with our vibrant research culture and arts activities.  

Literary events on and around campus include the annual Morag Morris Poetry Lecture, the Surrey Poetry Festival and the Surrey New Writers Festival.  

Literature and Languages also regularly host talks by major writers and critics, as well as literary agents, publishers and other speakers of interest. 

Our current Poet in Residence for 2024-25 is Professor Peter Jaeger, who offers regular writing workshops. We are in the process of appointing a new Writer in Residence, but previous writers have included the acclaimed authors Neel Mukherjee, Monika Ali and Iain Sinclair. 

Facilities

Our language teaching facilities include digital language labs, a multimedia lab, state-of-the-art interpreting facilities, our own virtual learning environment and an e-portfolio system that appeals to the most creative among you. 

Surrey’s purpose-built library is open 24/7 during semester time, to aid your studies across both Literature and Languages. 

You can read the international press and choose from a range of books and audio materials, as well as find space for quiet or group learning. 

The Surrey Archives and Special Collections are located in the ground floor of the library, including the collections related to illustrator E H Shephard containing some of his original drawings for Winnie-the-Pooh and The Wind in the Willows, and can be viewed by appointment. 

If you prefer film or video as a means of learning, you can access our media store of programmes and films, watch online, live satellite TV from five countries, or choose a foreign film from our world cinema collection.

IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with 6.0 in Writing and 5.5 in each other element.

View the other English language qualifications that we accept.

If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.