Italian and Spanish BA, 4 years

Start date:

2020
2021

Course information

Typical offer AAB-ABB

UCAS code RR34

Institute code L34

Taught by Modern Languages

Admissions enquiries
+44 (0)116 252 5281
ahladmissions@le.ac.uk

Course enquiries
+44 (0)116 252 2620
ArtsAdmissions@le.ac.uk

Modern Languages website

Achieve linguistic fluency in Italian and Spanish as well as developing in-depth knowledge of two highly influential and internationally relevant cultures.

Course description

Course description

Our Italian and Spanish BA is designed for students who have studied either Spanish or Italian to A-level and want to study both of those languages at degree level. You'll build your linguistic skills while developing your understanding of the social, political, and cultural forces that have shaped contemporary Spain, Latin America, and Italy. This course allows you to take one of the languages from Beginners level if you wish to. You will divide your time equally between both Italian and Spanish and by the end of the course you will reach an equivalent standard of knowledge and ability in both languages.

Leicester is one of the top ten places in the UK to study Modern Languages (The Guardian University Guide 2020) and we rank high for student satisfaction in the annual National Student Survey.

In addition, at the end of your first year, you will attend one of our fully-funded Summer Schools where you will be able to immerse yourself in the language and culture you are studying. If you choose to study one of the two languages at beginners level you will spend the summer school in the country of your beginners language. If you are studying two languages at advanced level you may choose which one of those countries to visit.

As part of the course, you will study abroad for a year, where you can live as a student or work as a teaching assistant, with tutors on hand to help throughout the year. We have links with several universities in Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and Latin America. Alternatively, you may take up an approved work placement.

Throughout the course you will develop your written skills in Italian and Spanish through the production of short pieces of creative writing and other activities such as online language learning and the use of materials taken from television and radio, with oral classes conducted in small groups, mostly by native speakers. We have state-of-the-art language laboratories that can help you learn through interaction with a range of audio and visual media, plus interpreting booths and a dedicated open access space for you to study in.

Here at the University of Leicester, we offer a rich and diverse learning experience, with great facilities, knowledgeable staff who are experts in their fields, and a unique chance to study abroad and build your international communication skills. You will be able to immerse yourself in a rich culture of research-led experience in a supportive and tailored learning environment.

Developing your foreign language skills opens up a wide and exciting range of careers and gives you a powerful advantage in business.

Download a prospectus (PDF, 11MB)

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

  • A/AS-levels: AAB-ABB at A-level including Italian or Spanish. Two AS-levels may be considered in place of one A-level. General Studies is accepted
  • EPQ with A-levels: ABB-BBB at A-level including Italian or Spanish + EPQ at grade B
  • Access to HE Diploma: Pass Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3, 30 of which must be at distinction. Plus grade B in A-level (or equivalent) in Italian or Spanish
  • International Baccalaureate: Pass Diploma with 30 points including grade 6 in Higher Level Italian or Spanish
  • BTEC Nationals: Pass Diploma at D*DD. Plus Grade B at A-level (or equivalent) in Italian or Spanish

If you want to study both languages at Advanced level, you should have an A-level (or equivalent) in both languages.

Other national and international qualifications considered. If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course, you can apply for the International Foundation Year – Society and Culture run by the Global Study Centre. The GSC provides academic support to help you progress to your chosen undergraduate degree at the University of Leicester.

Second year entry may be possible with suitable qualifications.

Selection Process

When considering your application, we will look for evidence that you will be able to fulfil the objectives of the course and achieve the standards required. We will take into account a range of factors including previous exam results.

Applicants are not normally interviewed. If you receive an offer you will be invited to visit the department.

Native Speakers

If your native language is French, Italian or Spanish, and you wish to study this language at Leicester, you will normally be required, in the first year of study, to take English language modules in lieu of the foreign language modules in your native tongue. If you have native speaker fluency in both English and your chosen foreign language(s), you will normally be required to substitute content modules for the relevant language modules.

English Language Requirements

IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.

International Qualifications

Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.

Countries list

Fees and funding

Fees and funding

UK and EU Students

Starting in 2021

Tuition fees for 2021/22 are yet to be confirmed. As an indication of what you might pay, the fees for students who started in 2020/21 were:

  • £9,250 in your first year. Tuition fees are subject to government regulations and may change in future years
  • Year Abroad: your fee will be £1,250 for that year

Find out more about scholarships and funding.

International Students

Starting in 2021

Tuition fees for 2021/22 are yet to be confirmed. As an indication of what you might pay, the fees for students who started in 2020/21 were:

  • £17,450 per year
  • Year Abroad: £4,362.50, which is 25% of the full-time tuition fee

Find out more about scholarships and funding.

Careers and employability

Careers and employability

In most cases your Year Abroad can include a year-long teaching assistantship or you could spend one or two semesters on a work placement approved by the University.

Our annual Careers Week includes seminars exploring diverse career paths. Speakers have come from European embassies and the EU.

In most cases your Year Abroad can include a year-long teaching assistantship or you could spend one or two semesters on a work placement approved by the University.

Our annual Careers Week includes seminars exploring diverse career paths. Speakers have come from European embassies and the EU.

Graduate destinations

Graduates from our Modern Languages degrees have gone on to work for a wide range of employers including:

  • Amazon Emirates
  • Airlines Ford Credit
  • Europe Ministerio de Educación
  • Cultura y Deporte (Spain)
  • Resilient PLC
  • STA International
  • Sweet Cherry Publishing

After graduating from Leicester, Joanna went on to work for one of the largest translation services in the world.

Career Development Service


Get career-ready at Leicester with guidance from our award-winning Career Development Service. We're here to give you a lifetime offer of support, even after graduation. Our team of specialist careers advisers and mentors will help you every step of the way. From supporting you with CVs and interviews, to volunteering opportunities and placements, we're here to help you reach your professional goals.

Related courses

Related courses

French and Italian

BA, 4 years

French and Spanish

BA, 4 years

European Studies

BA, 4 years

Browse all courses

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Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable Development Goals

We are committed to providing skills and knowledge to help prepare you tackle global challenges. We have mapped our undergraduate degrees for learning which aligns to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This degree includes learning which relates to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:

Find out more about the UN Sustainable Development Goals

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Course structure

Year 1

Year 1

If you study Italian at Advanced level and Spanish at Beginner level, you will study these three modules:

On the other hand, if you study Spanish at Advanced level and Italian at Beginner level, you will study these three modules:

You will also study:

You will then choose two modules from the lists below. You should choose one module for each language studied.

Italian modules

Spanish modules

At the end of Year 1, you will attend the Modern Languages Summer School.

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Year 2

Year 2

If Italian is your Advanced level language you will study:

Or, if Spanish is your Advanced level language, you will study:

You will then choose four modules from the lists below. You should choose no more than two for each language.

Italian modules

Spanish modules

Cross-language modules

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Year Abroad

Year Abroad

The Year Abroad is a fundamental element of our Modern Languages degrees, during which time you will study or work in one or two countries related to your course. Alternatively, you can apply to spend a year working as a British Council language-teaching assistant or on some other work placement of your choice, subject to approval. It is even possible to split the year between study abroad and work placement, giving you the best of both worlds. However, it is possible, in exceptional cases, to complete this degree in three years, without a year abroad.

Studying abroad is central to what makes our graduates stand out. You will acquire life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. You will have the chance to perfect your spoken and written language and engage with new societies, whilst building your independence and becoming more employable. Whether you go on to work in the private sector, the state sector, a non-governmental organisation, or become self-employed you will find the experience invaluable. Find out more from our Study Abroad Unit.

Please note that a year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See our Fees and Funding section for details.

Modern Languages at Leicester has links with several European universities, administered through the Erasmus+ scheme. In addition, if you are eligible for a loan from Student Finance you can apply for a travel grant from them.

  • For the latest information on the future of the Erasmus+ scheme at UK universities please see our Brexit microsite

We have links with the following universities:

Spain

Italy

We also have links with some universities outside Europe and the EU. If you are receiving financial assistance from Student Finance your support will continue and you may also be eligible to apply for additional travel grants or scholarships. We have links with the following universities:

Colombia

Mexico

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Final Year

Final Year

You will study these two modules:

You will then choose four modules from the lists below. You should choose no more than two for each language.

Italian modules

Spanish modules

Cross-language modules

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Why Leicester?

Job prospects are excellent: 96% of our language students are employed (or studying for a Masters degree) six months after graduating. (DLHE)

In the 2018 National Student Survey (NSS) we were ranked número uno for student satisfaction in Spanish teaching.

The summer school in your chosen country between Years 1 and 2 is part of your course so there's no extra cost.

We were ranked 10th in the UK for modern language teaching in the Guardian University Guide 2020.

Modern Languages at Leicester

It was the fully funded overseas summer school which attracted Alice to Leicester.

Teaching and learning

Summer School

When you take one of our Modern Languages courses, you will attend one of our fully-funded summer schools during the summer vacation at the end of your first year, which is an integral part of your degree.

Whether you choose to study in Massa Marittima or Florence (Italy) or Santiago de Compostela (Spain), you will live with selected local host families and enjoy language tuition in small groups each morning. In the afternoons, and some evenings and weekends, you'll take part in cultural and social activities for a complete immersion in the heart of the society, country and region you are visiting. If you choose to study one of the two languages at beginners level you will spend the summer school in the country of your beginners language.

The benefits you'll gain are invaluable - you'll build your confidence in your chosen spoken and written language, gain crucial transferable skills (on completion of the summer school you will receive a HEAR certificate), discover new cultures, and build life-long friendships.

Teaching

Language skills are taught in small groups, mostly by native speakers. Our courses stress the importance of communicative ability as well as linguistic accuracy, and oral skills are highly valued.

Cultural studies modules are taught through a mixture of lectures and seminars, which encourage discussion and debate around prepared topics and texts.

The use of online tutorials and exercises on Blackboard, the University’s virtual learning environment, allows us to include interactive training in our courses and to facilitate learning in specific areas such as essay writing and grammatical terminology.

Assessment

You will be assessed throughout each year by a combination of continuous assessment, seminar presentations, essays, and formal exams at the end of each semester. While final year work is most heavily weighted in determining the degree class, your achievements during your second year and your year abroad are also taken into account.

You will have regular meetings with your personal tutor to discuss progress in your studies. Your personal tutor will also provide a sympathetic ear for all matters of personal concern, whether academic, financial, housing, career or social. 

Independent learning

When not attending lectures, seminars or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. To help with your independent learning, you can access the Library and our social study spaces in halls of residence.

Your contact hours will depend on the option modules you select. You can see details of the contact hours on individual module pages.

Academic support

Our Student Learning Development Team provides help in the following areas:

  • study and exam skills
  • academic writing
  • presentations
  • dissertations
  • numerical data skills
  • referencing sources

Our AccessAbility Centre offers support and practical help for students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, including physical, mental health or mobility difficulties, deafness, or visual impairment.

Teaching staff

You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. PhD research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader. Our teaching is informed by the research we do. You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles.

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Course Qualification Duration UCAS Code Availability
Course Italian and Spanish Qualification BA Duration 4 years full-time UCAS Code RR34 Availability Apply Now