Modern Languages (Arabic and Spanish) and Latin

Arabic, Spanish, and Latin is a combination of rare linguistic ambition that spans the ancient, medieval, and modern worlds and three very different but historically interconnected linguistic and cultural traditions. Latin is the foundation of much of Western European literary and intellectual life, the language of Roman literature, medieval philosophy, and early modern scholarship. Spanish descended from Latin and carries a literary and cultural heritage running from the medieval period through the Golden Age to contemporary global fiction and poetry.

Arabic represents a parallel and sometimes intersecting tradition of extraordinary richness, the language of Islamic civilisation, Andalusian culture, and contemporary life across the Middle East and North Africa.

This four-year full-time degree at the University of St Andrews develops genuine linguistic competence in all three languages alongside deep engagement with the cultures and traditions they represent. You will explore connections and contrasts between them, including the significant period of Arab-Iberian cultural exchange in al-Andalus that links all three. A year abroad is integrated into the programme, giving you extended immersion in Arabic and Spanish-speaking environments.

A typical entry tariff of 200 points applies.

Graduates from this programme carry a combination of linguistic range, historical depth, and cultural intelligence that is genuinely unusual and highly valued. Careers in translation, diplomacy, academic research, international journalism, publishing, the foreign office, and cultural organisations are all natural destinations. The classical foundation in Latin is valued in law, academia, and historical research, while the Arabic and Spanish combination opens doors across the Middle East, North Africa, Spain, and Latin America.

Postgraduate study in classical studies, Hispanic studies, Arabic studies, or comparative literature is a natural continuation.