Skip to content

Studies & Degrees in Spanish Studies

Spanish studies, also called Hispanic studies, is the study of the Spanish language together with the literature, history and culture of the Spanish-speaking world. The name covers two different things. One is a full university degree in Spanish language and literature. The other is a programme for international students who spend a summer, a semester or a year in a Spanish-speaking country, taking language classes and subject courses that count towards the degree at their home university.

In both cases the core is the same: advanced Spanish, linguistics, literature in Spanish and the cultures of Spain and Latin America. Study abroad programmes add courses in other fields, such as history, art, business or political science, taught in Spanish or in English.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree (grado) in Spain. The Grado en Estudios Hispánicos of the Universidad de Alcalá lasts four years and 240 ECTS credits, is taught in Spanish at the Facultad de Filosofía y Letras and has 50 places. Its core is the Spanish language, linguistics and the literatures of the Hispanic world. Students need a level of Spanish that allows them to follow a full degree in the language.
  • Semester and year programmes. The Study Abroad in Spain programme of the Instituto Franklin-UAH in Alcalá de Henares began in 1987. Students take four courses in the fall or spring semester for a total of 12 credits, and the summer programme has two one-month periods, in June and July. In Seville, the Hispanic Studies Program of the Universidad Pablo de Olavide runs in fall (September to December) and spring (January to May) semesters, with courses in English and in Spanish and Spanish language courses at six levels; it asks for a minimum GPA of 2.9 on a 4.0 scale. The Spanish Institute for Global Education, also in Seville, enrols students for a semester or a full academic year at one of three local universities. In Madrid and Toledo, the Fundación Ortega-Marañón organises study abroad programmes for universities.
  • Language courses. Language schools and university language centres teach Spanish from beginner to advanced levels. The Centro Superior de Idiomas of the Universidad de Alicante offers intensive and semester courses, a programme for international students, a summer programme and training for teachers of Spanish. Funcarele in Cartagena offers intensive courses of 10, 15 or 20 hours.
  • Language diplomas. The DELE diplomas are official qualifications that certify competence in Spanish, awarded by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Education. They cover every level of the Common European Framework of Reference (A1 to C2) and are valid indefinitely. Many schools prepare students for the exam and some are exam centres: the Fundación Ortega-Marañón has been one since 2018, and the Alicante centre lists DELE, CCSE and SIELE.

Where to study it

The directory lists 16 active schools for this subject. Spain has 11 and the United States two; Guatemala, Bolivia and Germany have one each. The Spanish schools are in Seville, Madrid, Alcalá de Henares, Málaga, Granada, Valencia, Alicante and Cartagena.

In Latin America the usual format is individual tuition with a homestay. Spanish School Sol Latino in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, teaches one-on-one, one teacher with one student, and places students with Guatemalan host families.

Two points help when comparing schools. The first is accreditation: the Instituto Cervantes runs an accreditation system (SACIC) for centres that teach Spanish as a foreign language. La Aventura Española (LAE Madrid) states that it is accredited by the Instituto Cervantes, and Funcarele presents itself as an accredited centre. The second is credit transfer: semester programmes issue a transcript, but the home university decides which credits it accepts. The Universidad Pablo de Olavide notes that its courses are transferred to the home university with previous approval, so get that approval in writing before enrolling.

Careers

A degree in Spanish studies leads first to teaching Spanish, including Spanish as a foreign language, and to research. The Universidad de Alcalá also lists publishing and writing, linguistic advice, communication, cultural management and emerging fields linked to computational linguistics and language technologies. For students of other subjects, a semester in Spanish and a DELE diploma are evidence of language level for employers and for admission to universities that teach in Spanish.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Spanish studies and a Spanish language course?

A language course teaches the language. Spanish studies adds literature, linguistics, history and culture, either as a full degree or as a semester programme with university credits.

Do I need to speak Spanish before I start?

For a language course or a study abroad programme, no: the Universidad Pablo de Olavide, for example, teaches Spanish at six levels and offers courses in English. A full degree such as the Grado en Estudios Hispánicos is taught in Spanish, so applicants need enough Spanish to follow university classes.

Will my home university accept the credits?

That is decided by the home university. Ask for approval of the courses before enrolling and request an official transcript at the end.

Which certificate proves my level of Spanish?

The DELE diplomas of the Instituto Cervantes are official, cover levels A1 to C2 and do not expire.