Spanish Language and Literature (in Universities) Schools and Programs in Spain

Spanish Language and Literature (in Universities) Studies in Spain

Spanish Language and Literature is the university study of the Spanish language (its grammar, history, varieties and use) and of literature written in Spanish, from medieval texts to contemporary Spanish and Latin American writing. In Spain it is taught as a four-year bachelor's degree under several names, and many of the same universities also run Spanish courses for foreign students.

Degrees and qualifications

Like other Spanish bachelor's degrees, the grado has 240 ECTS credits over four years. Depending on the university, it is called Filología Hispánica, Estudios Hispánicos, or Lengua y Literatura Españolas. At the Universidad de Murcia, for example, the Grado en Lengua y Literatura Españolas is taught in Spanish at the Facultad de Letras, with 80 first-year places and a cut-off mark (nota de corte) of 5.93 in 2025-26.

After the degree, students can take an official master's degree of 60 to 120 credits. A common choice is a master's in teaching Spanish as a foreign language (ELE), such as those of the Universidad de Granada, the Universidad Antonio de Nebrija and a joint programme led by the Universidad de A Coruña with Galician partners. Other master's degrees focus on literature, linguistics or editing, and lead on to a doctorate.

Spanish courses for international students

This directory category also includes the university language centres that teach Spanish to foreigners. These are not degree programmes, but they are often the first step for students who later enrol in a grado or master's:

• Alcalingua, Universidad de Alcalá: Spanish courses for foreigners, ELE teacher training, and DELE and SIELE exams
• Estudios Hispánicos, Universitat de Barcelona: a DELE exam centre that runs a 580-hour intensive programme for international students, with a final certificate and ECTS credits
• Spanish-for-foreigners programmes at the Universidad de Oviedo, Universidad de Cádiz, Universidad de Málaga, Universidad de Extremadura and Universidad de Córdoba

The DELE diplomas are official qualifications that certify Spanish proficiency, awarded by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Education, and they cover all CEFR levels from A1 to C2. Private language schools can also be accredited by the Instituto Cervantes; accredited centres go through an evaluation that is repeated every three years.

Where to study in Spain

The national register of degrees (RUCT) lists 26 bachelor's records containing "Hispánic" and another 10 named Lengua y Literatura Española(s), including some being phased out. Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia and Alcalá de Henares have the most schools in our directory. Examples of current degrees:

• Estudios Hispánicos at the Universidad de Alcalá, the Universidad de Cantabria, the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and the Universitat de València
• Filología Hispánica at the Universitat de Barcelona, the Universidad de Granada, the Universidad de Sevilla and the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
• Lengua y Literatura Españolas at the Universidad de Murcia and the Universidad de Santiago de Compostela
• Lengua y Literatura Hispánica at the Universidad de La Rioja

Admission and recognition

Teaching is in Spanish, so international students need a solid level of the language; check each university's requirement. Students who finished secondary school abroad usually apply for UNEDasiss accreditation before applying to universities. Holders of a foreign degree who want to enrol in a master's or prove their academic level can request a declaration of equivalence. Non-EU students staying more than 90 days need a study visa, which the Spanish consulates also issue for Spanish language studies.

Careers

Graduates work in secondary and university teaching, teaching Spanish as a foreign language, publishing and proofreading, cultural management and communication. The Universidad de Murcia also points to applied fields such as forensic linguistics, natural language processing and human-machine interfaces.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Filología Hispánica and Estudios Hispánicos?

Mostly the name. Both are four-year, 240-credit degrees in Spanish language and literature; the exact content varies by university.

Can I take a Spanish course at a Spanish university without enrolling in a degree?

Yes. Many universities have language centres for foreigners, such as Alcalingua at the Universidad de Alcalá or Estudios Hispánicos at the Universitat de Barcelona, which offer courses, certificates and DELE exams.

What is the DELE?

The DELE is the official Spanish proficiency diploma awarded by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Education, available at every CEFR level from A1 to C2.

Can I train to teach Spanish as a foreign language in Spain?

Yes. Several universities offer an official master's degree in teaching Spanish as a foreign language (ELE), for example the Universidad de Granada and the Universidad Antonio de Nebrija.