MA Italian and Spanish
About this course
MA (Hons) in Italian and Spanish, an Italian and Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies degree centred on the study of two complementary European languages and their global cultural contexts. The first year covers a wide range of foundational subjects through linguistics and language sciences, business, economics and informatics, politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations, and history, classics and archaeology. The second year introduces thematic modules such as Cultural Responses to War, Migration, Exile, Diaspora, Crime and Detection in Literature, and Gender and Culture. The third year consists of a period abroad spent studying or working across destinations including Bologna, Florence, Milan, Rome, and Venice. The final year focuses on advanced linguistic and cultural study through modules such as spoken Italian and Spanish - discussing, reflecting and presenting on culture, politics and society, essay and creative writing, and Italian-to-English and Spanish-to-English translation of literary and journalistic texts.
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 44%: 29 offers from 66 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 39 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 83%
- Learning opportunities: 66%
- Assessment and feedback: 64%
- Academic support: 88%
- Organisation and management: 63%
- Learning resources: 86%
- Student voice: 58%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 60 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 94%
- Left higher education: 4%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 1%
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 55 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 96%
- Baccalaureate: 3%
- Other HE qualification: 1%
Modules
- 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 Portuguese or Catalan (either from scratch, or continuing from Year 1) to expand your knowledge of Iberian languages and cultures
- study different aspects of linguistics
- Bologna
- Catania
- Florence
- Milan
- Pisa
- Rome
- Siena
- Verona
- Venice
- 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)
- spoken Italian and Spanish - discussing, reflecting and presenting on culture, politics and society
- essay and creative writing
- Italian-to-English and Spanish-to-English translation of literary and journalistic texts
- film
- literature
- history
- politics
- language
- linguistics
- media and cultural production
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of MA Italian 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 £4,500 more than the UK median for Italian studies.
Are students happy with the teaching on MA Italian and Spanish at University of Edinburgh?
83% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for MA Italian and Spanish at University of Edinburgh?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 175 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for MA Italian and Spanish at University of Edinburgh?
44% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 29 offers from 66 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does MA Italian 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 Italian and Spanish at University of Edinburgh?
94% of students continued into their second year, and 4% left higher education.