What’s it like to study at the Department of Iberian and Latin American Studies?
With years of experience teaching busy students, we pride ourselves on delivering a study experience that our students appreciate. We offer part-time evening courses at all levels, which means a number of students combine their studies with us with full-time jobs or other daytime responsibilities. At postgraduate and MPhil/PhD level, we also offer full-time study options.
Fitting in with busy lives
Our part-time BA programmes are tailored to the needs of people who work:
- We teach from 6pm to 9pm, and our students only come to class two or three evenings a week.
- Classes in Iberian and Latin American Studies, including Spanish and Portuguese language courses, take place at Birkbeck’s conveniently located School of Arts building at Gordon Square in Bloomsbury.
- Birkbeck’s main library, which is now open seven days a week till 11.45pm, is less than five minutes away (check our opening hours).
- Other major libraries such as Senate House and the British Library, as well as some of London’s best bookshops, are within a short walking distance.
- There are lecture-free reading weeks to help you cope with studying, usually in early November and early February.
Find out more about what it's like to study here.
World-class teaching
Our language courses are taught by experienced tutors from Spain and Latin America and are entirely held in the target language.
- The teaching is based on a great variety of original media including films, TV and radio programmes, music, newspapers and books.
- All other modules are taught either in English or in the target language, depending on the level and the nature of the contents.
High expectations
We believe that the best learning experience occurs where students are motivated and informed, so we have high expectations of the students who join us:
- Our language courses involve doing homework and other exercises on a regular basis.
- You will be expected to do some reading in preparation of most classes, and you will be assessed through essays that will usually be written during the winter break and the spring break.
- End-of-year exams are held during the month of May.
