Spanish Language Courses

Spanish is the language of over 400 million people. It is spoken officially in 23 countries and is the de facto second language of the United States, with approximately 40 million native Spanish speakers.

Our Spanish studies program will enable you to become familiar with the Spanish language as spoken in its contemporary cultural context and provide you with an informed understanding of the Spanish-speaking world through the study of language, literature, film, art, civilisation and history.  

At an undergraduate level, Spanish studies is available in language, culture, film, linguistics and history. Honours and postgraduate programs at Masters and Doctorate levels are also available.   

Our exchange programs with universities in Spain and Latin America will enhance your learning by offering in-country exposure to these societies and cultures. Our graduates gain skills that are valued in diplomacy, journalism, arts, education, mining, hospitality, tourism and business. 

The Spanish Studies major specialisation at UNSW enables you to study Spanish at a number of levels in order to attain proficiency. Courses are offered from the introductory level to the advanced levels.

You will not only develop your knowledge of the Spanish language, but also gain intercultural awareness and understanding of the Spanish-speaking world. You will study cultures, communities, societies, history, film and literature in the Spanish-speaking world.

The Spanish language plays a key role in expressing the cultures and identities of the places in which it is spoken. Spanish Studies will provide you with a privileged form of access to the cultural resources and complex patterns of life in other countries.

Developing competence in Spanish will have an important place in promoting relationships and mutual understanding between countries and peoples.

There are two main components of the Spanish Studies major. The first is a focus on the acquisition of competence in the Spanish language.

Acquiring target language competence involves a wide range of knowledge and understanding as well as skills in self-expression, both oral and written, and skills in comprehending other people's expression, both oral and written.

The second component is the study of aspects of the cultures and societies associated with the Spanish language. We draw upon other disciplines in order to inform understanding of Spanish cultures.

These disciplines include linguistic, literary, cultural, historical, developmental and social productions.