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Studies & Degrees in Bilingual Humanities

Bilingual humanities is a humanities degree taught in two languages. In Spain, where the label comes from, it means a bachelor's degree (grado) in the humanities in which part of the teaching is in Spanish and part in English. The content is that of a general humanities degree: history, art, philosophy, literature, language and geography, studied together rather than as separate specialisms. The bilingual format adds a second working language, so graduates can read sources, write and present in both.

The Universidad de Navarra, which ran a Grado en Humanidades in Spanish and English, described its aim as training professionals with a solid interdisciplinary humanities base who can respond to cultural and social challenges from an international perspective.

Qualifications and levels

An official Spanish bachelor's degree has 240 ECTS credits and takes four years, as set by Royal Decree 822/2021. A humanities degree can be bilingual in several ways, and the label on its own says little. Compare what each university states:

  • Half of the degree in English. The Grado en Humanidades of the Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona (240 credits, four years) allowed students to take 50% of the degree in English, with a specialisation in cultural management or management and compulsory work placements. Its page states that no places were offered for 2022-23, so ask the university which humanities degrees are open now.
  • A related degree in two languages. The same faculty teaches the Grado en Filosofía, Política y Economía (PPE) in Spanish and English, with 50 places.
  • A degree labelled bilingual. The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid lists its Grado en Estudios Culturales, taught on the Getafe campus by its faculty of humanities, as bilingual, and students must show CEFR level B2 in English before they graduate.
  • English only in optional subjects. The Grado en Humanidades of the Universidad de Alcalá is taught in Spanish, with English in optional subjects.

After the bachelor's degree, official master's degrees of 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits allow specialisation, for example in cultural management, heritage, publishing or teaching.

The second language can also be built outside the degree. Language centres teach general courses and prepare students for official certificates such as the DELE in Spanish.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists three active schools under bilingual humanities: two in Spain and one in Trinidad and Tobago. Only one of them is a university with humanities degrees, the Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona. The other two are language centres that cover the language side of the subject:

  • Tenidiomas, a language school in Jerez de la Frontera, teaches Spanish to foreigners and English and is an examination centre for the DELE
  • The Centre for Language Learning of The University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, part of the Faculty of Humanities and Education, offers non-specialist courses in a range of foreign languages and English as a Second Language, and lists the DELE among its certifications

Because the list is short, it is worth looking at the wider humanities and languages subjects on SpainExchange as well.

Admission and language

Admission follows the normal route for a Spanish bachelor's degree. On top of that, a bilingual degree expects students to follow classes in both languages from the first year. Requirements differ: some universities ask for an English certificate at entry, others ask for it before graduation. Ask each university:

  • What share of the credits is taught in each language
  • Which subjects are available in English and whether that is guaranteed every year
  • Which language certificate is needed, and when
  • Whether the degree certificate or the Diploma Supplement mentions the bilingual track

Careers

A humanities degree does not lead to one single profession. The Universidad de Alcalá lists these fields for its humanities graduates: non-university teaching; archives, museums and libraries; cultural management and tourism; publishing; social welfare and development cooperation; media and documentation; and archaeology and art restoration. Many graduates continue to a master's degree. The second language widens the range of employers and of master's programmes abroad. We found no official employment statistics specific to bilingual humanities degrees.

Frequently asked questions

Is a bilingual humanities degree a different qualification from a humanities degree?

No. It is a humanities degree in which part of the teaching is in a second language. In Spain it is a bachelor's degree of 240 ECTS credits over four years, like any other.

How much of the degree is taught in English?

It depends on the university. Published examples range from English only in optional subjects to half of the degree in English, so check the study plan.

Do I need an English certificate?

Often, yes. The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, for example, requires level B2 in English before graduation in its bilingual cultural studies degree. Other universities set their own level and deadline.