Spanish
The study of Spanish encompasses a large and varied part of the world.
Languages in the Hispanic world
With currently around 400 million native speakers in more than twenty countries where Spanish is an official language, español is one of the three major languages in the world. Today it is used in Spain, Hispanic America, some parts of Africa, and increasingly in the United States of America. Other languages spoken in the Hispanic world include Catalan, Galician and Basque (Spain) as well as hundreds of indigenous languages in Hispanic America, among them Nahuatl, Quechua, Aymara and Guarani.
In addition to Spanish, at Cardiff we also offer courses on both Catalan language and society.
Suitable qualified students may study Spanish as a beginner - see the How to apply section for more details.
Hispanic cultures and society
At Cardiff we consider the linguistic skills that you will acquire or perfect with us as a key competence for studying
- Hispanic cultures, in particular literature and film
- the history and society of Spain and other countries where Spanish is spoken.
Your understanding of the Hispanic world and its languages will be deepened and enhanced during your time abroad, immersed in the culture of a Spanish-speaking country.
Joint Honours Spanish degrees
Students who chose to study more than one subject (Joint Honours degree) can combine Spanish with Politics, Economics, History, Philosophy, Education, Sociology or another language taught at Cardiff, to name only the most common choices.
Spanish beyond your studies
To speak Spanish and understand Hispanic cultures is to be in touch with a richly vibrant cultural, literary and political world. In addition, Spain's presence in Europe and the speed of growth in Spanish America make a profound knowledge of Spanish language and Hispanic cultures a great asset in life. Graduates in Spanish take up employment in a wide range of fields, including international politics or business, consultancy, sales and marketing, the media and publishing, banking, the arts, the Civil Service, teaching, and translating/interpreting.
The skills acquired in Hispanic Studies are applicable to a range of endeavours in which critical analysis and problem solving skills are needed.