Degree courses in Spanish Studies and Latin American Studies have been offered in Portsmouth since the early 1970s and they have a reputation for excellence and innovation. There are over 300 students of Spanish language and related area studies, making the department one of the largest Hispanic departments in the country. One of the most attractive aspects of the programmes is that you do not need to have Spanish or Portuguese at 'A' level to start a course. We have years of experience in taking students with little or no knowledge of the language and training them to become competent in the language as well as providing them with a secure knowledge of the area they are studying. The courses are structured to develop a range of skills and competencies throughout the four years of study.
Students thereby gain the analytical and practical skills sought after by employers.
We currently send students to Mexico and Costa Rica, as well as to over a dozen centres in Spain and Portugal, including Granada, Seville, Santiago de Compostela, Lisbon and Salamanca. There are active Hispanic and Latin American Societies which organise theatre trips, conferences, guest speakers and the occasional Salsa evening. These events are bolstered by the presence of exchange students from Spain and Portugal and other nationalities. Equally important is the friendly relationship between staff and students which encourages discussion and participation.