Studies & Degrees in Spanish Civilization and Culture
Spanish civilization and culture is the study of Spain beyond its language: its history, art, literature, cinema, institutions and present-day society. It is often called Hispanic studies or Spanish studies. Most international students meet the subject as a set of courses taken next to Spanish language classes, during a few weeks, a semester or a full academic year in Spain.
What students learn
Course catalogues show the range of the field. Estudios Hispánicos, the Spanish centre of the Universidad de Barcelona, lists these year-long subjects for 2026-27, each with 90 hours and 12 ECTS credits:
- art in Spain, from the Mosque of Córdoba and the Cathedral of Santiago to Gaudí, Picasso and Dalí
- Spain today: geography, society and institutions
- Spain and Europe: origin and evolution
- Spanish cinema
The language centre of the Universidad de Alicante (Centro Superior de Idiomas) runs semester courses of 60 hours, worth 6 ECTS credits, with 4 hours of class a week. They include an overview of modern and contemporary Spanish literature and a course on gender, migration and diversity in contemporary Spain. Language schools work on a smaller scale. Escuela Montalbán in Granada offers a culture workshop of 5 private lessons a week on modern history, Moorish traditions in Andalusia, art and literature, new Spanish film directors and flamenco.
Courses, credits and qualifications
- Short courses. The Escuela Montalbán workshop lasts 1 to 2 weeks and is taken in addition to a general Spanish course.
- Semester and year courses at universities. These carry ECTS credits. At the Universidad de Barcelona, students who complete the annual Spanish language course and pass Spanish culture subjects totalling 225 hours or more can obtain the Diploma de Estudios Hispánicos. Ask the centre what recognition the diploma has outside the university.
- Study abroad programmes. The Spanish Institute for Global Education (SIGE) in Seville combines its own classes with courses at local universities. Its programmes start with an Introduction to Spain of 45 hours and include a seminar called Spain Today. Transcripts are issued by each Spanish university, and by the University of Montana, the institute's School of Record, for the institute's own courses. The Fundación Ortega-Marañón teaches international students at campuses in Madrid and Toledo.
- University degrees. A student who wants a full degree in the field studies it as a bachelor's or master's degree in Hispanic studies. In Spain an official bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits and an official master's degree has 60, 90 or 120.
Two exams of the Instituto Cervantes are related to the subject. The DELE diplomas are official qualifications that certify the level of Spanish. The CCSE test assesses knowledge of the Spanish Constitution and of Spain's social and cultural reality, and it is one of the legal requirements for residents who apply for Spanish nationality. The Universidad de Barcelona centre is an exam centre for both.
Language level and price examples
Culture courses taught in Spanish usually ask for an intermediate level. The Alicante literature course requires at least B1, and the Granada workshop is open to levels B1 to C2. Students with less Spanish can start in English: Alicante teaches Spanish cultures from an intercultural perspective in English, and SIGE notes that the University of Seville has courses in English for students whose Spanish is not yet strong enough.
Published prices give an idea of the cost. For 2026-27, a 90-hour subject at the Universidad de Barcelona costs from €910.80 and a 60-hour course in Alicante costs €700. The Granada culture workshop costs €100 per week in 2026. Check what each price includes.
Where to study it
The SpainExchange directory lists 18 schools for Spanish civilization and culture: 16 in Spain, one in Chile and one in Argentina. Granada has four of them and Barcelona three. The others are in Seville, Madrid, Málaga, Alicante, Bilbao, Valencia, Ávila and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. They include university centres for foreign students, private language schools and study abroad providers. Barcelona SAE, for example, places students in the Hispanic studies courses of the Universidad de Barcelona, which cover history, geography, art, literature, politics and economics in English or Spanish.
When comparing programmes, check the language of instruction, the number of hours and credits, who issues the transcript and whether the home university accepts it.
Careers
On its own, a culture course is a complement to a degree. Together with a high level of Spanish it supports work in teaching Spanish as a foreign language, translation, tourism, cultural management, publishing, journalism and international relations. There are no official employment figures for this field as such; ask each university for the outcomes of its graduates.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to speak Spanish to study Spanish culture in Spain?
Not always. Courses taught in Spanish often require level B1, but the Universidad de Alicante and the universities that work with SIGE in Seville also offer culture courses in English.
Can I earn university credits with these courses?
Yes, at many centres. A 90-hour subject at the Universidad de Barcelona carries 12 ECTS credits and a 60-hour course in Alicante carries 6. Your home university decides whether it accepts them, so ask before you enrol.
What is the CCSE test?
It is an Instituto Cervantes exam on the Spanish Constitution and on Spain's social and cultural reality. It is one of the legal requirements for residents who apply for Spanish nationality.