Spanish
With over 500 million speakers all over the world, Spanish is the official language of more than twenty countries in Europe, America and Africa, and its presence is rapidly increasing elsewhere in the world. Spanish is the second language for global communication, with a strong, established and growing presence in the Arts, Business and Sciences, offering improved chances of employability. Latin America has a huge population of Spanish speakers, and as Australians increase their engagement with Latin America, it is now vital for graduates, leaders and professionals to possess an understanding in order to participate in an informed and thoughtful way with this diverse and complex part of the world.
Why Choose
You may study Spanish and Latin American Studies at UQ:
- From introductory to advanced level
- Take courses in Spanish language, Latin American and Spanish literature, film and cultural studies, applied linguistics and translation studies
- Take a minor in Latin American Studies, the only one offered in Queensland
UQ is also a hub for Queensland’s Spanish speaking community, hosting events like the Latin American Film Festival and the annual UQ Latin American Colloquium – a pivotal business forum with Latin America’s ambassadors to Australia.
As a graduate you may find yourself working in the field of diplomacy, international relations, law, health or academia, social welfare or finance. For those wishing to teach, you may wish give yourself further credential to by sitting for the exam to obtain a Diploma of Spanish as a Foreign Language (DELE). This is an official title certifying degree of competence and mastery of the Spanish language. It is granted by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Spain and is recognised worldwide.
Undergraduate
- Bachelor of Arts
- Spanish Major
- Spanish Minor (visit Courses and Programs for further details)
- Bachelor of International Studies
- Spanish Major
- Diploma in Languages
- Spanish Major
- Dual Degrees
Honours
Pathways
Students may study Spanish courses as electives in their degree, or complete a Spanish Major.
Spanish Majors can be undertaken by students from:
- Introductory level (no previous knowledge of Spanish) or by continuing students of Spanish (students who have studied Senior Spanish at school)
- Students who are native or fluent speakers of Spanish.
Separate course starting points apply for students in each category.
A pathway that shows courses over 3 years is available.
Courses available in each stream are also listed on UQ's Courses and Programs site.
Unsure where to start?
Go to our online language course placement advisor and answer a short questionnaire. In most cases the system will recommend the starting course you should enrol in. For more complex cases, you will be advised how to proceed.
Language Course Placement Advisor
Looking for an elective course?
Courses concerning Culture, literature, history, film and society can be studied as electives within your degree, or some may count towards the Major in Spanish. To find out more about the other courses offered, please consult the Courses and Programs site.
Postgraduate
What our graduates are doing
PhD with South American travel
Zac took Spanish as part of his Arts degree and enjoyed the program enough to pursue further study. After graduating and taking time off to travel, Zac started a PhD in Spanish at the School of Languages. He now travels back and forth between Australia and South America to research for and write his thesis.
"I had such a great time in Spanish class, and the tutors really engaged my passion for learning. They taught me about all of the worlds Hispanic cultures, from Mexican to Chilean to Spanish, as well as the language skills that I'd need in those countries.When I finally got to travel to South America, I could connect with the locals on a deeper level thanks to linguistic and cultural skills. And when I came back, I thought, why not take a step further and write a PhD thesis based on my experiences overseas? The degree in Spanish set me on this path of discovery and learning, one that I hope will continue for many years."
Zac has a Bachelor of Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts (Spanish) from The University of Queensland.
Get Involved
As a student at UQ, you have many opportunities to get involved and enhance your language learning experience, including exchange, joining clubs and participating in conversation classes.
Events
There are a number of school events and seminars held throughout the year such as the Latin American Film Festival and public lectures which students are encouraged to attend. Details for these events are published on the School Events page.
Exchange Opportunities
Going on exchange will allow you to further advance your linguistic proficiency while living and studying abroad. UQ has agreements with Universities in over 40 countries around the world, with many in Spain and Latin America such as:
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Santiago, Chile)
- Universidad Javeriana (Bogotá, Colombia)
- Universidad de Salamanca (Salamanca, Spain)
- Universidad Anáhuac (México DF)
- Universidad de Lima (Lima, Peru)
See UQ Abroad for information about the exchange program.
In 2015 Spanish student Grace went on exchange to Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile as part of her Bachelor of International Studies degree. Read her story here.
Clubs and Societies
Joining a club or society is a great way to learn new skills and meet new like-minded people. There are over 190 affiliated clubs and societies at UQ. The Latin American Student Association (LASA) is one such club with a focus on sharing all there is to share about the Latin American Culture. Visit clubs and societies for a full list, and find one that interests you.
Spanish @ UQ learning community
All UQ students enrolled in Spanish are automatically enrolled in the Spanish and Latin American Studies Community Site through Blackboard. This site provides information, resources and communication tools with regard to things such as international exchange programs, job opportunities, film festivals, events and scholarships. You can find it by typing 'Spanish @ UQ' in a Blackboard search (under 'Community Search').
Conversation Classes
Creating a sense of community is something we value at UQ. Conversation classes are a great way for you to not only practice your language skills but an opportunity to meet others studying Spanish, allowing you to build a network of contacts which may last for the duration of your University life and continuing long after you graduate. Conversation classes run each semester with the details announced in tutorials. You can also keep an eye on the school noticeboards and the Spanish @ UQ Community on Blackboard for current details.
Internships
Internships provide you with an opportunity to develop your skills beyond the classroom and gain a competitive edge in the job market. Information regarding available internships will be circulated at the relevant time throughout the year.
Language Assistants Program in Spain 2017-2018
The Language and Culture Assistants Program is an initiative of the Spanish Ministry of Education. The Program is primarily devoted to providing scholarships for Australian university students –majoring in any subject- and graduates, preferably with some knowledge of Spanish (not compulsory).
Its main objective is to provide Australian native English speaking university students and graduates with the opportunity to obtain work experience whilst supporting the teaching of English in Spain, in primary or secondary education, or in public language schools (12-16 hours a week).
Students will spend a full academic year in Spain from October to May or June, or six months from January to June. Preferred placement in different Spanish regions can be requested.
For the next school year 2017-2018 the online application period will commence in January 2017 and finish in early April.
Visit the Spanish Ministry of Education website for further information.