| The award | How you will study | Study duration | Course start | Domestic course fees | International course fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA | Full-time | 4 years | September | GBP 9250 per year | GBP 17500 per year |
If you have A-levels in French and Spanish, this degree gives you the chance to develop your skills in two major world languages, as well as gaining an insight into the cultural life of societies across the Francophone and Spanish-speaking worlds.
You'll improve your spoken and written French and Spanish in core modules, and you'll be introduced to the cultural, political and historical contexts in which each language is spoken. Because the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies is so large and diverse, we offer a wide range of optional modules exploring the literature, cinema, philosophy, social issues and histories of Francophone and Spanish-speaking societies.
You could learn another language from scratch - Catalan, Portuguese, or something unrelated like Japanese, Korean or Hebrew - or pick up practical skills like translating and interpreting. You'll have the opportunity to shape your degree to suit your interests and gain skills that are highly valued by employers.
Leeds offers great facilities for French and Spanish students. The most exciting resources we have are the cultural branches of the governments of Spain and Portugal - the Cervantes and Camões Institutes have branches on campus, as does the cultural arm of the Catalan autonomous government, the Ramon Llull Institute.
The institutes seek to promote language teaching and greater understanding of Spanish-speaking, Lusophone and Catalan cultures around the world. Working with our degree programmes, they host many cultural events and academic activities for our students.
In addition our fully-equipped Language Zone hosts digital language labs, audio/video practice booths and Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL). Our Interpreter Training Suites also offer you the chance to explore a career in interpreting, and our Electronic Resource Information Centre houses specialised computing facilities to support translation studies.
Course content
A joint honours degree allows you to study the same core topics as students on each single honours course, but you'll take fewer optional and discovery modules so you can fit in both subjects.
You'll spend your first year taking core modules to consolidate your skills in speaking, reading, writing and listening in both languages. You'll also be introduced to the cultural context of both languages. You'll also take one Cornerstone module, which is aimed at helping you make connections between your two subjects, or learn another language if you choose.
In your second year, once you have this knowledge base, you'll continue with language classes and you'll also choose from a range of optional modules. The end of the year will be very different - you'll spend a term abroad in either a Francophone or Spanish-speaking country, before setting off to spend your third year living in a country where your other language is spoken.
When you return to Leeds in your final year, you'll take advanced language classes and choose from further optional modules. You could work on translation or interpreting, postcolonial conflict in the Francophone world, Spain's transition to democracy or Latin American architecture among others. You'll also apply the skills you've gained to a dissertation on a topic of your choice.
Course structure
These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Entry requirements, fees and applying
Entry requirements
A-level: AAB including A in French and A in Spanish.
Career opportunities
A Joint Honours degree in French and Spanish allows you to communicate in two major world languages. With Latin America in particular growing economically, this puts you in a great position to explore a wide range of careers.
Your degree will also equip you with transferable skills that are highly sought by employers - advanced communication, critical and analytical thinking, team work and self-reliance. Spending time abroad will demonstrate that you are adaptable, and you'll have the organisational skills that come from managing two subjects.
As a result, graduates have excellent employment prospects and have gone into a wide range of careers in the creative industries, education, business and finance, law, journalism, publishing and charity work. Others have pursued language-based roles in translating and interpreting, or they've gone onto further training in these areas.
Careers support
We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That's one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.
Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.
The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.
Study abroad and work placements
You'll spend a term of Year 2 and the whole of the following year in Francophone and Spanish-speaking countries. It's the perfect opportunity to surround yourself with another culture while sharpening and refining your language skills every day. For many of our students, it's the highlight of their degree.
You'll spend a year in one country and a term in the other, but it's up to you where you spend the longer period. On your term abroad you can complete a work placement or study at a partner university. In the year-long residence, you can also decide to teach English. Whatever you decide, you'll gain a new perspective and valuable work experience.
Read more about French Residence Abroad
Read more about Spanish Residence Abroad
Contact University of Leeds to find course entry requirements.
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