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Spanish and Portuguese is an integrated degree which enables students to gain an in-depth knowledge of two major world languages, and the modules on offer reflect the diversity of cultures in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries across the globe. All students follow modules in Spanish and in Portuguese language which are of a broadly communicative nature, focusing on contemporary Spanish/Hispanic and Lusophone social and cultural issues and drawing on authentic materials. The degree takes four years to complete (which includes the study abroad year).
In the 2023 National Student Survey, Iberian Studies was 4th in the UK for assessment and feedback and 3rd in the UK for mental wellbeing services.
Spanish and Portuguese highlights
Global Opportunities
This pathway affords significant opportunities for professional development and training in a global context. After stage 2, you will spend an academic year working or studying in a Spanish- and Lusophone-speaking country (e.g. a semester in each country as an Erasmus or exchange student at one of our partner universities). Students will have the possibility of acquiring valuable professional experience by undertaking a work placement, or doing voluntary work; they may also elect to study at a Spanish and a Brazilian/Portuguese university. Queen's University Belfast is committed to providing a range of international opportunities to its students during their degree programme. Details of this provision are currently being finalised and will be available from the University website once confirmed.
Industry Links
Graduates of Spanish and Portuguese have risen to the top in a number of fields, including media, print journalism, translating, marketing, local government, fast-stream Civil Service, and a very wide range of local, national and international companies.
World Class Facilities
Queen’s Library has an outstanding collection of resources relating to Spain/Latin America and the Portuguese-speaking countries. The Language Centre has state-of-the-art facilities for language learning, and the IT provision more generally is excellent.
Internationally Renowned Experts
Spanish and Portuguese at QUB has world leading experts in Spanish/Latin American and Brazilian/Portuguese/Portuguese-speaking African literature and culture. Research in Languages at Queen’s was ranked 3rd in the UK in REF 2014 for Research Intensity and 5th for Grade Point Average.
Student Experience
Students run a lively Spanish and Portuguese Society, and staff offer support through a personal tutoring system, skills development programme and a structured framework for feedback.
Further Study Opportunities
The MRes is a research preparation degree, allowing students to explore in depth a topic of their choice. It is an ideal preparation for PhD research. Other PG courses of possible interest for graduates of Spanish and Portuguese include the MA in Arts Management and the MA in Translation.
Student Experience
The student experience is enhanced by a number of ad hoc activities organized around individual modules, such as workshops with artists, discussion groups and practical workshops with visiting scholars, special screenings of films and documentaries, or question and answer sessions where we host visiting cultural figures such as film directors. Students can also get involved in a vibrant student network that organizes activities throughout the year (e.g. tapas nights, language intercambios, information sessions for students about to go on their Year Abroad) and includes many ERASMUS students at Queen's as well.
Staff offer support through a personal tutoring system, skills development programme and a structured framework for feedback. https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/ael/Study/EnrichingOurStudentExperience/
“The meticulous nature that my degree instilled in me to be constantly thinking helps me in my day-to-day role. Due to the live aspect of my role, I need to make decisions on how to balance the quantity versus quality of what I put out, how to maximise the performance. Also, the ability to think under pressure that I developed during my time at Queen’s, for example during oral classes and exams, and during time abroad as well, has really prepared me for this kind of role. Now, I get to test myself constantly and see the results of my decision making in real time. Furthermore, my degree has given me a great path for development and progression within my career as a subtitler, for example into paths such as interlingual re-speaking, which would allow me to translate live on air between two or more languages.” (Olivia Hunter, BA Hons Spanish and Portuguese)
“Equal time is dedicated to both languages and to time spent in both countries. The highlight of my degree was studying at the University of São Paulo in Brazil during my Year Abroad. Being able to study at a top Latin American university, in an amazing city with incredible people has been invaluable both to my language skills, and my cultural awareness of a fascinating country.”