3-Term Pathway - International Foundation Year in Social Sciences and Humanities - Continue to Bachelor of Arts - Spanish Studies and Geography

This program will prepare students for entry to Year 1 of an undergraduate degree in a wide range of subjects, including many based at the £10m LICA building. Popular subjects include law, film studies, sociology, linguistics and politics.

Explore the beautiful surroundings, take part in international field trips and learn from world-renowned lecturers while gaining a detailed, working understanding of Spanish language, culture and society.

This exciting programme will allow students to gain a detailed understanding of geography while giving them the skills and knowledge to engage with the discipline in preparation for a placement year overseas in a Spanish speaking country. During the four years, students will be able to draw on expertise from two specialist departments: Languages and Cultures, and Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC).

Situated between the idyllic rural settings of the north and the bustling cities of Liverpool and Manchester, Lancaster’s location enables students to explore some of the most unique areas of geographic interest in the UK. Students will gain a wealth of hands-on experience with field trips to places such as the Yorkshire Dales, Cumbrian coast and Lake District, as well as international locations such as Croatia.

Students will develop a fundamental understanding of human geography in the first year Geography modules. These modules equip students with a well-rounded introduction to some of the key themes in geography, as well as providing them with the skills used by geographers to analyse problems in both the human and physical aspects of the discipline. In addition, students will take language classes, determined by their current level of ability.

Additionally, they will also take a specialist module that will prepare them for their year abroad.

Students will spend their third year working or at one of the partner institutions in a Spanish speaking country, where students will practise and develop their language abilities, while continuing to enhance their geographical skills and knowledge. Students can spend this year either studying or working, both of which will provide them with the opportunity to analyse the social, cultural, political and economic issues related to the area, complementing both their Spanish and geography studies.

Students will also be offered further optional module choices, which could include the study of Global Consumption, Urban Infrastructure in a Changing World, and the Geographies of Health, and there will be fieldwork opportunities in locations such as Croatia.

In addition to their subject knowledge, students will gain communication and IT skills, and will become familiar with data handling and environmental sampling and analysis. Throughout their degree, considerable weight is placed upon enhancing employability and such skills are greatly valued by potential employers.

Beginners Languages

Studying a language from beginners level is somewhat intense in nature so Lancaster only allows students to study one language from beginners level. Please bear this in mind when looking at the first year module options. If students apply to study a degree with a language from beginners level, their optional modules will only include higher level languages and modules in other subject areas.