MA French and Spanish
About this course
MA (Hons) in French and Spanish, a French and Francophone Studies and Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies degree centred on the study of two major world languages in diverse cultural contexts. Students complete a full academic year abroad, which can be spent studying or working in one or two destinations. This includes options to spend two semesters at a single institution, one semester at two different institutions in different destinations, arrange work or volunteering with a private company or charity, or apply to an established placement scheme such as the British Council’s English Language Assistants programme. The first year covers foundational topics through modules such as resistance and collaboration, the Fifth Republic, colonisation and decolonisation, and May 1968. The second year examines cultural themes through modules including Cultural Responses to War, Migration, Exile, Diaspora, Crime and Detection in Literature, and Gender and Culture. The third year consists of the year abroad spent studying or working. The final year allows students to focus on advanced areas such as film, literature, history, politics, language, linguistics, and media and cultural production.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: from AAA to ABB (required: a language other than English at B) IB: 34 points with 655 at HL
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Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 62%: 139 offers from 225 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 11 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 78%
- Learning opportunities: 75%
- Assessment and feedback: 66%
- Academic support: 91%
- Organisation and management: 81%
- Learning resources: 80%
- Student voice: 65%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 25 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 10%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 6 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 75%
- Working and studying: 20%
Most common jobs
- Sales occupations: 20%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 20%
- Information Technology Professionals: 10%
- Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation: 10%
- Teaching Professionals: 10%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 55 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 2%
- North West: 8%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 3%
- East Midlands: 6%
- West Midlands: 1%
- East of England: 2%
- London: 41%
- South East: 8%
- South West: 4%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 23%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 100%
Modules
- resistance and collaboration
- the Fifth Republic
- colonisation and decolonisation
- May 1968
- feminism
- linguistics and language sciences
- business, economics and informatics
- politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations
- art and architectural history
- history, classics and archaeology
- Celtic and Scottish ethnology
- philosophy, divinity and law
- Cultural Responses to War
- Migration, Exile, Diaspora
- Crime and Detection in Literature
- Gender and Culture
- The Coming-of-Age Narrative
- Introduction to European Cinema
- Dynamics of Language and Power
- Languages Beyond University
- study in one or two destinations
- work in one or two destinations
- study in one destination and work in another
- two semesters at a single institution
- one semester at two different institutions (in different destinations)
- arrange to work or volunteer with a private company or charity
- apply to an established placement scheme, such as the British Council’s English Language Assistants programme
- Student Wellbeing Service
- Student Counselling
- Student Disability and Learning Support
- University emergency helpline (available 24 hours a day)
- film
- literature
- history
- politics
- language
- linguistics
- media and cultural production
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of MA French and Spanish at University of Edinburgh earn?
The median salary is £29,000 after 3 years, £37,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £28,500 and £55,500. The £37,500 median after five years is £3,500 more than the UK median for French studies.
What do graduates of MA French and Spanish at University of Edinburgh do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on MA French and Spanish at University of Edinburgh?
78% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for MA French and Spanish at University of Edinburgh?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 187 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for MA French and Spanish at University of Edinburgh?
62% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 139 offers from 225 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does MA French and Spanish at University of Edinburgh include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory year abroad.
How many students continue on MA French and Spanish at University of Edinburgh?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.