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Hispanic Studies and History enables you to learn about the culture and the language of the Spanish-speaking world while undertaking a detailed study of the past.
Overview
Outside Spain, Spanish is the official language of all countries in South and Central America except Brazil, and is widely spoken in many parts of North America. The programme gives you the opportunity to explore the languages and cultures of Spain and Spanish America while developing your language skills.
You have the opportunity to spend a year abroad in a Spanish-speaking country and we offer advanced language modules focusing on translation and interpreting – valuable skills when looking for employment. Portuguese is also optional for joint honours students. Our facilities include multimedia laboratories, which offer a variety of interactive language learning programmes and dictionaries, and access to audio, video and computer-assisted language learning facilities.
The School of History has established itself as one of the leading History departments in the country, recognised for its research excellence, flexible programmes and quality teaching. You are taught by passionate academics, active researchers and recognised experts. You can tailor your modules to your own interests, and use your expanding knowledge of Hispanic culture and language to focus on European history or that of Colonialism.
This degree programme therefore is ideal for those wanting to gain a broad and detailed understanding of our world, one that is international in scope and that spans across the years.
Independent rankings
Over 90% of Modern Language and Linguistics students at Kent were satisfied with the quality of teaching on their course, according to The Guardian University Guide 2017 and in The Complete University Guide 2016, German was ranked 1st for research quality.
In the National Student Survey 2015, 92% of Hispanic Studies students were satisfied with the quality of teaching on their course.
Also in the National Student Survey 2015, 93% of History students were satisfied with the overall quality of their course.
Course structure
The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.
Year abroad
The University of Kent has Erasmus agreements with several universities in Spain and Latin America. See Study Abroad A - Z countries and courses.
Teaching and assessment
Hispanic Studies
The teaching of all Spanish language modules combines small group seminars, conversation classes run by a native speaker, short lectures in Spanish, work in a language laboratory and work on computer-assisted language learning materials. The culture and literature modules normally involve a combination of lectures and seminars each week.
Stage 1 is assessed by 100% coursework (essays, class participation) in some modules, and a 50:50 combination of coursework and examination in others. Stage 2/3: depending on the modules you select, assessment varies from 100% coursework (extended essays), to a combination of examination and coursework, in the ratio 60:40 or 80:20.
History
Teaching is by a combination of lectures, providing a broad overview, and seminars, which focus on discussing particular issues and are led by student presentations. Lectures and seminars use a variety of materials, including original documents, films and documentaries, illuminated manuscripts, slide and PowerPoint demonstrations.
The School of History uses a mixture of assessment patterns. The standard formats are 100% coursework or 60% examination and 40% coursework.
The School also has excellent student support arrangements. Alongside our Student Support Officer, each student is assigned an academic tutor. All module convenors keep regular office hours, and the School has a policy of returning at least one essay on each module in a one-to-one personal meeting allowing for additional verbal feedback and discussion.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- provide a sound grounding in the Spanish language in all its aspects, through extensive reading in Spanish and through the use of Spanish as a spoken and written medium
- provide a good working knowledge of another Hispanic language (ie Catalan)
- provide you with the opportunity to spend half or a full academic year in Spain;in most cases as an exchange student at a Spanish university, or as a language assistant in a Spanish school
- develop a critical awareness of the broad canon of Hispanic cultures and societies from the 16th century to the 21st century
- develop a specialist knowledge of a range of areas within the broad canon of Hispanic studies
- train you in the field of translation from and into Spanish
- provide a gateway to related thematic studies comprising various bodies of knowledge and methodological approaches
- provide teaching which is informed by current research and scholarship
- provide a means of access to intercultural awareness and understanding
- provide opportunities for the development of personal, communication, research and other key skills appropriate for graduate employment both in industry and in the public sector
- develop general critical, analytical and problem-solving skills which can be applied in a wide range of situations.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- the Spanish language
- a second Hispanic language
- Iberian literature and cultures from the 16th to the 21st centuries
- Latin-American literature and cultures from the 16th to the 21st centuries
- Iberian and Latin-American history
- critical and cultural theory.
Intellectual skills
You develop the following intellectual skills:
- academic study and enquiry
- the ability to evaluate information critically
- the ability to synthesise information from a number of sources in order to gain a coherent understanding of the subject
- the ability to utilise problem-solving and communication skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) for the coherent expression and transfer of knowledge
- analysis, evaluation and interpretation of a variety of texts and other cultural products in a critical manner
- the ability to study and reach conclusions independently
- organisation and presentation of ideas within the framework of a structured and reasoned argument.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in how to:
- communicate effectively in Spanish and another Iberian language for a range of purposes and audiences
- develop language skills in these three related areas:reception (listening and reading);production (speaking and writing); and mediation between at least two languages (translation and interpreting)
- demonstrate detailed knowledge and effective understanding of the various structures and registers of Peninsular and American Spanish and another Iberian language
- translate accurately and efficiently into and from the target language
- analyse critically a variety of texts (for example, journalistic, historical or literary)
- appreciate cultural diversity
- mediate and display qualities of empathy in an intercultural context.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in:
- communicating effectively with a wide range of individuals using a variety of means
- evaluating your own academic performance
- utilising problem-solving skills in a variety of theoretical and practical situations
- accurate and effective note-taking and summarising skills
- library and bibliographical research
- ustilising techniques for using language source materials in two Hispanic languages
- taking responsibility for personal and professional learning and development
- time management and prioritising workloads, thinking and performing under pressure
- teamworking
- leadership
- creative and flexible working
- information technology.
Careers
Hispanic Studies
The School of European Culture and Languages provide an active Employability programme, including work-related modules and work placements. Both of these are a key part of the ‘Languages in the Classroom’ module, designed for budding language teachers, which combines traditional learning methods with practical teaching experience.
History
The School of History is also committed to providing programmes that allow our students to gain and hone the valuable skills required to meet the demands of the modern workplace. Career prospects for History graduates are wide ranging, due to the valuable transferable skills acquired and developed during the course of study.
Graduates find themselves prepared for a variety of career options, including research careers within government and NGOs; museums, galleries and libraries; records management and information officers in a variety of workplaces; journalism; numerous roles in the public sector; teaching; and politics.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | BBB including grade B in History, Classics-Ancient History or Classics - Classical Civilisation |
| GCSE | Grade B in a modern European language other than English |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above. |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | The university will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) on a case by case basis please contact us via the enquiries tab for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 15 at HL, including a modern European language other than English 4 at HL or 5 at SL, and History 5 at HL or 6 at SL |
International students
The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.
Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2016/17 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
The University of Kent is currently considering whether to increase its regulated full-time tuition fees for all returning Home and EU undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250 in September 2017. This would be subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses might also rise by 2.8%.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk
UK/EU/International students on an approved Year Abroad for the full 2016/17 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Those on an approved Year in Industry pay an annual fee of £865 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Details of our proposed funding opportunities for 2016 entry can be found on our funding page.
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. For 2016 entry, the scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our scholarships pages. Please review the eligibility criteria on that page.