ObjectivesManchester offers a very wide range of course unit options in Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American Studies. The fourteen permanent members of academic staff are supported by native language assistants in Spanish, Catalan, Portuguese and Brazilian Studies, and by lecturers from other departments with special interests in Spanish and Latin American, history and linguistics.
Entry requirementsSelected entry requirements A level: Grades BBB. This must include Spanish and either English or History. AS level: Two AS-Levels may be accepted in place of the third A-Level. Unit grade information: The University of Manchester welcomes the provision of unit grade information which, like all other available information, will inform the consideration of applications. Unit grades will not normally form part of offer conditions, except for Mathematics programmes. GCSE: English Language at grade C or above. Key Skills qualification: The University warmly welcomes applications from students studying the Key Skills qualification. However, as the opportunities to take these modules are not open to all applicants, currently this is not an essential requirement of the University. International baccalaureate: 32 points overall, including Spanish and either English or History at grade 5 or 6 at Higher level. Additional entry requirements Additional entry requirements exist for this course. You may view these by selecting from the list below.
Academic titleBA American & Latin American Studies
Course descriptionThe subjects you can study here include the literatures, culture, and history of the Iberian peoples throughout the world in Spanish, Portuguese, and Catalan from the medieval period to the present. These can be combined with other ancient and modern European and Middle Eastern languages, history, linguistics, English, sciences, and business studies. Whichever programme you choose, you will study the modern language, written and spoken, to a high level.
You spend your third year abroad in a Spanish speaking country under approved conditions.
Special features
The third year is spent abroad in a Spanish speaking country under approved conditions.
Throughout your undergraduate degree you will take the core language programme, which will train you to understand Spanish, especially to write and speak it fluently and accurately. The programme is completely taught by native Spanish teachers of the Instituto Cervantes. Emphasis is placed on the development of written and oral skills, and you work with a wide variety of materials. The programme consists of:
-two classes per week (three for ab-initio students) focussing on comprehension, translation, and grammar skills, and on writing effective Spanish;
-one oral class per week with native speakers, involving audio-visual material, comprehension exercises, student presentations, and discussions
-Similar courses are offered in Portuguese (both Brazilian and European) and Catalan.
Course content for year 1
The Manchester courses have been carefully designed to equip you with the best possible grounding in all areas of Hispanic Studies covered in the Department through introductory and intermediate courses at first and second year level.
In the first year, you are introduced to the culture and history of the Spain, Portugal and Latin America.
Course content for year 2
In second year, as in final year, a range of courses from all areas of study (from medieval to contemporary) is open to all students. Through this arrangement you are equipped to make an informed choice of specialist final year course units.
Course content for year 3
Spent abroad in a Spanish speaking country under approved conditions.
Course content for year 4
Following a year abroad, you will be ready for the challenges of the final year, and will select course units from a wide range of options and special subjects.
Your final degree classification will be decided by a combination of examination and coursework results, although the overall bias is weighted towards examination results. In your final year, you may choose to submit a dissertation instead of one of the examined papers.
Associated organisations
-Instituto Cervantes.
-Institut Ramon Llull
-Instituto Camões
-Brazilian Embassy
-Cañada Blanch Foundation (Valencia)
Career opportunities
Graduates of this programme embark on a wide range of careers. Some of these are international (for example, business, industry, finance); others involve the communication skills which good linguists always develop (for example, the media, PR). Many graduates go on to further study, for a professional/vocational qualification or higher degree.
Open days
University Open Days
The University hold open days twice a year (usually June and October) where you have the opportunity to tour the campus and find out more about the facilities and courses we offer.
School Visit Days
If your application is successful you will be invited to a visit day specifically for your area of study. On this day you will find out more about the School and its resources, meet members of staff and current students and discuss study aims and qualifications with admissions staff.
Interviews
We do not normally interview applicants. We make offers after carefully considering your UCAS application.
Course fees: Tuition fees for Home/EU students commencing their studies in 2009 will be approximately £3250 per year. These fees will be subject to change in the light of government announcements to all universities.