Spanish and Linguistics, MA (Hons)

Spanish is the official language in 20 countries and widely spoken in additional territories, including the United States. This flexible programme at the University of Edinburgh combines the study of Spanish with linguistics, offering an excellent joint honours option. It explores Spanish in its cultural context—through literature, film, poetry, and theatre from Spain, Latin America, and the Caribbean—while developing advanced language skills. Students begin with tailored courses based on their experience, progressing to intensive training in spoken and written Spanish, including varieties and registers. By the third year, participants gain intercultural competencies through a year abroad, complemented by optional courses.Linguistics in this programme examines how language functions, covering sounds, words, sentences, and meaning creation, as well as its social variations, evolution, and acquisition in children. Students use specialist equipment to test hypotheses on linguistic phenomena. Edinburgh, a vibrant cultural hub, provides an ideal setting, with Spanish taught since the early 20th century. The four-year structure allows for interdisciplinary choices, such as Basque or Portuguese, and includes a full year abroad to enhance employability.