Catalan Studies - 2025 entry
Catalan is a Romance language spoken in Northern Spain (Catalonia, Valencia, the ‘Franja de Ponent’, Southern France, Andorra, the Balearic Islands, and in the city of Alguer (Alghero) on Sardinia.
Catalonia is home to a fiercely proud people and boasts a rich artistic history which includes the work of Dalí, Gaudí and Miró., while all the territories in which Catalan is spoken, the so-called ‘Països Catalans’ are vibrant, diverse, and have their own singular characteristics.
The prominence of Catalonia both in a Spanish and a European context makes Catalan Studies an important discipline. The region's cultural, intellectual and political heritage offers significant avenues for rewarding and worthwhile study. The capital of Catalonia, Barcelona, is one of the world's major cultural and economic centres.
Sheffield has, since the 1950s, been recognised as an international centre of excellence for the teaching of Catalan and related research. We have a native language teacher part-funded by the Institut Ramon Llull. Our close-knit Catalan community extends beyond the classroom to regular social events for staff and students.
Modules
Catalan Beginners (you will take 40 credits from this group).
| Title | Credits | Core |
|---|---|---|
Catalan Beginner This unit aims to consolidate a general foundation in the language and culture in order to cope with a range of predictable, everyday communicative situations encountered when interacting at a basic level, orally and in writing, with sympathetic native speakers during, for instance, a brief visit abroad (CEF level A2). | 20 | Core |
An Introduction to the Social and Political History of Iberia and Latin America This module examines the historical trajectory of Spain, its emergence as a state in the Iberian Peninsula, its imperial expansion overseas into Latin America, the eventual independence of the colonies and their development and consolidation into the various modern-day states we know today. The module will explore the social, political and cultural characteristics of these states and its peoples and highlight the importance of understanding their complex history in the formation of their identities and their cultural and political values. | 20 | Core |
| Languages and Cultures Essential Skills | 0 | Core |
In your second year, whilst continuing to develop your spoken and listening language skills, you will also deepen your understanding of political, social, and cultural contexts. You will also have the opportunity to engage with more specialised thematic modules which explore the relationship between language, culture, and identity. Modules could include:
- Arts of Persuasion
- Why Read?
- Translation
- That is not my (Hi)story
- Language and the Self
- Languages of Gender and Sexuality
- Revolutions and Revolutionary Trends
You'll spend your third year abroad, immersed in your chosen language and culture.
Your final year on the BA Modern Languages and Cultures is about deepening the language and cultural expertise you have developed through your previous study and year abroad. You will then apply this learning to contemporary global issues and a range of career-relevant scenarios. Modules could include:
- A Languages and Cultures dissertation or translation
- Social Approaches to Multilingualism
- Tales of Cities
- Comparative Critique of Consumer Culture
- Migration and its Representations
- Global Careers in Languages
- Music and Performance
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it is up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research, funding changes, professional accreditation requirements, student or employer feedback, outcomes of reviews, and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.
Information last updated:
Results and Clearing 2025
The University of Sheffield has some places for additional high achieving students available through Clearing this year.