¡Hola!

With more than 500 million speakers globally, Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world and an official language in 25 countries.

Connect with diverse cultures around the globe

Spanish is spoken by nearly 500 million people worldwide, and is the official language of countries in South America, Central America, the Caribbean, North America, Africa and Europe – which means that if you speak Spanish, you’ll be able to connect more meaningfully with Hispanic cultures all around the world. Studying Spanish will open up new career opportunities and give you the chance to study abroad and travel.

You’ll take a placement test to make sure you’re in the right class for your level, whether you’re a beginner or have studied Spanish before. The Spanish and Latin American studies program will provide you with a wide range of opportunities to develop your Spanish language skills while increasing your awareness of Spanish and Latin American cultures through authentic written, spoken and audiovisual materials. You’ll be able to choose from cultural studies subjects in areas as diverse as Hispanic food studies, cinema, popular culture, literature and gender studies. There are opportunities to do overseas intensives and go on exchange as part of your studies, there are even scholarships and grants you can apply for to help get you there. There's also opportunities for you to do work with Spanish language industry partners to help you develop highly valued workplace skills.

Where can Spanish and Latin American studies take you?

Spanish and Latin American Studies will provide you with ample opportunity to develop your linguistic and cultural proficiency. You’ll be able to develop and enhance skills highly-valued by industry including teamwork, clear communication, leadership, mentoring, professionalism and intercultural competence. Competency in Spanish can increase your competitiveness in the Australian and global job markets across a range of areas including international relations, diplomacy, community development, translation and interpretation, teaching, communications, research and government..

Studying Latin American studies and the Spanish language has confirmed my love for languages. I have always had a great interest in learning languages because I think they are the best way to genuinely approach a culture and they match my desire for moving around – but I have also discovered that a language gives your brain a different type of flexibility and knowing a new language and a new culture allowed me to learn more about my own through comparison.

Margherita Mezzasoma
Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Spanish and Latin American Studies and Politics and International Studies

Where do I start?

Before you begin studying a language, there are a couple of steps you will need to take:

1. Pick how you’ll study your chosen language

There is a wide range of options available to students interested in studying Spanish and Latin American Studies

2. Apply/Enrol

You’ll need to create an account and apply for your chosen course before taking the language questionnaire and placement test.

Visit your chosen course page and begin the application process.

3. Online placement test

The language questionnaire and online placement test makes sure you're placed in the right class for your ability and background in Spanish and Latin American Studies. It's important to note that you should not study for this test or get a friend to take it for you as it will assess your current ability. Your test results will determine what level class you're placed in.

Once you have completed your placement test, you will be placed in one of the below entry points:

Spanish 1 entry point
For students who have very little or no knowledge of Spanish.

Spanish 3 entry point
For students who have undertaken two or three years of secondary school Spanish or who have been admitted to the program after proving adequate knowledge of Spanish, adequate placement test results or equivalent.

Spanish 5 entry point
For students who have obtained VCE Spanish, adequate placement test results, or approved equivalent.

Take placement test

Back to languages