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Hispanic Studies and Italian enables you to learn the languages and explore the culture of both the Spanish and Italian-speaking world.
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. As well as developing your Spanish language skills, you also take modules that focus on areas of Hispanic culture. Currently, we offer modules on Spanish cinema, the Cuban revolution, and Catalan culture, as well as more general options on the history and politics of the Spanish-speaking world.
Italy is a cornerstone in culture, art and history across Europe. By learning Italian, you give yourself a tool to explore this cultural richness and to open your eyes to its Roman heritage, the Renaissance, modern architecture, fashion and car design. Italian is spoken not only in its home country, but also by over 15 million people in Switzerland, North America and Australia.
Studying at our Canterbury campus gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in both languages. There are many overseas students on campus, and our proximity to airports, the Channel ports and the Eurostar terminals at Ashford and Ebbsfleet make it quick and easy to get to mainland Europe.
Our facilities include multimedia laboratories, which offer a variety of interactive language-learning programs and dictionaries, and access to audio, video and computer-assisted language learning facilities.
Between Stages 2 and 3 of your degree, you spend a year studying or working abroad in a Spanish or Italian-speaking country, usually six months in each country, where you can experience the cultures you have been studying first hand and improve your language skills.
Hispanic Studies and Italian is therefore an ideal combination to enable you to gain a broad cultural understanding and to embark on an international career.
Independent rankings
In the National Student Survey 2016, 88% of our Hispanic Studies students were satisfied with the quality of teaching on their course. Iberian Languages at Kent was ranked 1st for research quality in The Complete University Guide 2017.
Italian at Kent was ranked 14th in The Times Good University Guide 2017 and 1st for research quality in The Complete University Guide 2017.
Course structure
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
On most programmes, you study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also be able to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes so you can customise your programme and explore other subjects that interest you.
Year abroad
Going abroad as part of your degree is an amazing experience and a chance to develop personally, academically and professionally. You experience a different culture, gain a new academic perspective, establish international contacts and enhance your employability.
All Hispanic Studies and Italian BA students are required to spend a year abroad between Stages 2 and 3, evenly split between two countries where the respective languages are spoken. You are expected to adhere to any academic progression requirements in Stage 2 to proceed to the year abroad. If the requirement is not met, you may have to postpone your year abroad.
The year abroad is assessed on a pass/fail basis and does not count towards your final degree classification. You spend the year working as an English language assistant or in approved employment, or studying at one of our partner universities. For a full list of our partner universities, please visit Go Abroad.
Teaching and assessment
Italian
Teaching is by lectures and seminars. We have extensive technical facilities, including audio, video and computer-assisted language learning.
Depending on the modules you select, assessment throughout all stages of the course varies from 100% coursework, to a combination of examination and coursework, in the ratio 50:50, 60:40, 70:30 or 80:20.
Hispanic Studies
All Spanish language modules involve three hours teaching each week, with the exception of the beginners’ language modules at Stages 1 and 2 which involve four hours. They include 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 one-hour lecture and a one-hour seminar 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.
Programme aims
For programme aims and learning outcomes please see the programme specification for each subject below. Please note that outcomes depend on your specific module selection:
- Hispanic Studies (joint honours)
- Italian (joint honours)
Careers
Graduate destinations
There are numerous employment prospects open to languages graduates, and popular choices include:
- teaching either Spanish or Italian, or English as a foreign language
- translation and interpreting
- working in international organisations
- going into the Armed Forces.
Some graduates choose to go on to further study, where options include a PGCE, TEFL, a PhD or Master's in various aspects of language and culture, or another subject altogether.
Help finding a job
The School of European Culture and Languages' Employability programme, includes 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.
The University also has a friendly Careers and Employability Service, which can give you advice on how to:
- apply for jobs
- write a good CV
- perform well in interviews.
Career-enhancing skills
The ability to speak two European languages other than English and the enhanced confidence you gain from your experience of studying or working abroad are key assets in the global employment market. Alongside these specialist skills, you also develop the transferable skills graduate employers look for. These include the ability to:
- think critically
- communicate your ideas and opinions
- manage your time effectively
- work independently.
Independent rankings
Iberian Languages at Kent was ranked 8th for graduate prospects in The Times Good University Guide 2017. Hispanic Studies students who graduated from Kent in 2015 were the most successful in the UK at finding work or further study opportunities (DLHE).
Italian students who graduated from Kent in 2015 were the most successful in the UK at finding work or further study opportunities (DLHE).
The average starting salary for graduates of this degree is £17,000, according to Which? University (2017).
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice.
It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
New GCSE grades
If you’ve taken exams under the new GCSE grading system, please see our conversion table to convert your GCSE grades.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | BBB including B in Italian or Spanish |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University will not necessarily make conditional offers to all Access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If we make you an offer, you will need 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 for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 15 points at HL, including Italian or Spanish HL A1/A2/B at 4/5/5 or SL A1/A2/B at 5/6/6 |
International students
The University welcomes applications from international students. Our international recruitment team can guide you on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country.
If you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes.
Meet our staff in your country
For more advise about applying to Kent, you can meet our staff at a range of international events.
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. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2017/18 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.
UK/EU fee paying students
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
In accordance with changes announced by the UK Government, we are increasing our 2017/18 regulated full-time tuition fees for new and returning UK/EU fee paying undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses will also rise from £4,500 to £4,625. This was subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. This fee will ensure the continued provision of high-quality education.
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.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Fees for Year Abroad/Industry
As a guide only, UK/EU/International students on an approved year abroad for the full 2017/18 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Please note that for 2017/18 entrants the University will increase the standard year in industry fee for home/EU/international students to £1,350.
General additional costs
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Funding
University funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
Government funding
You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.
The Government has confirmed that EU students applying for university places in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will still have access to student funding support for the duration of their course.
Scholarships
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. The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
The scholarship is also extended to those who achieve AAB at A level (or specified equivalents) where one of the subjects is either Mathematics or a Modern Foreign Language. Please review the eligibility criteria.