Studies & Degrees in English Studies
English Studies Study Programs
English studies is the university study of the English language, the literatures written in it and the cultures of the English-speaking countries. It is the successor of the older English philology degrees. The Universidad de Granada sums up the content of its degree in five areas: command of the English language, literature in English, the history and present structure of the language, English cultural studies, and applied linguistics for teaching English as a foreign language.
The subject also covers a different kind of course: English language courses for international students, from general English to preparation for exams such as IELTS and the Cambridge English qualifications. Both kinds of school appear under this subject.
Qualifications and levels
- Bachelor's degree in Spain. The Grado en Estudios Ingleses is an official bachelor's degree of 240 ECTS credits over four years. Classes in the English subjects are taught in English. Students usually add a second language: at the Universidad de La Rioja it is French, and the Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), which teaches the degree at its Álava campus in Vitoria, offers specialisations in linguistics, English linguistics, literature in English, European literature and culture, or a second language chosen from German, Spanish, French, Russian, Basque and classical languages.
- Places and prices. Places are limited. The Universidad de Sevilla offers 140 places for 2026-27 and lists a price of €12.62 per credit; the UPV/EHU offers 100 places, with a cut-off mark of 7.080 in the ordinary call for 2026-27 and a price of €13.42 per credit for a first enrolment.
- Master's degrees and doctorate. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. Graduates who want to teach in secondary schools take the Máster en Profesorado, which the Universidad de La Rioja describes as the pedagogical training needed to teach at pre-university levels. Research careers continue with a master's degree and a doctoral programme such as the Programa de Doctorado en Filología Inglesa in La Rioja.
- Other countries. In Germany, the Department of Anglophone Studies of the Universität Duisburg-Essen offers a bachelor's and a master's degree in Anglophone Studies, a master's in Anglophone Popular Culture and teacher training (Lehramt) degrees.
- Language courses. Language schools offer courses of a few weeks or months without a university degree. Bournemouth City College in England, which states that it is British Council accredited, teaches General English, IELTS preparation, Business English and Cambridge exam preparation.
Where to study
SpainExchange lists 19 active schools for English studies: 11 in Spain, 4 in the United Kingdom, and one each in Germany, the United States, Thailand and Iraq. In Spain the degree is taught at public universities across the country, among them the Universidad de Sevilla, the Universidad de Granada, the Universidad de Almería, the Universidad de Zaragoza, the Universidad de Oviedo, the Universidad de La Rioja in Logroño, the Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha and the Universidad del País Vasco. In the United Kingdom the list includes The University of Edinburgh and language schools such as Oxford Scholastica Academy and Bournemouth City College.
Studying English in Spain suits students who want an official European degree and to live in Spanish at the same time: the degree subjects are taught in English, but general subjects, administration and daily life are in Spanish. A language school in an English-speaking country is the more direct choice for students whose main goal is to improve their English or pass an exam.
Careers
Teaching is the most common destination. The Universidad de Granada lists education in secondary schools, language schools and academies first among the fields its graduates work in, followed by university teaching and research, translation, intercultural mediation, publishing and the media, tourism and public administration. The Universidad de Sevilla and the UPV/EHU add literary and specialised translation, text editing and proofreading, and language advice and planning.
Teaching in state schools normally needs a further qualification. In Spain it is the Máster en Profesorado; in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, public school teachers must have a state-issued certification or license in addition to a bachelor's degree. The Bureau projects little or no change in the employment of high school teachers from 2025 to 2035.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a degree in English studies take in Spain?
Four years. The Grado en Estudios Ingleses has 240 ECTS credits; a master's degree adds 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.
Is the degree taught in English?
The English language, linguistics and literature subjects are taught in English. Other subjects, such as the second language or general humanities courses, are taught in Spanish or in the language studied.
Can I become an English teacher with this degree?
The degree gives the subject knowledge, but teaching in Spanish secondary schools also requires the Máster en Profesorado. Rules differ in other countries, so check the requirements of the country where you want to teach.
What is the difference between English studies and an English course?
English studies is a university degree about the language, its literature and its cultures. An English course at a language school teaches the language itself, often towards an exam such as IELTS or Cambridge B2 First, and does not lead to a university degree.