3.5-Term Pathway - Foundation Certificate in Humanities - Continue to Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - European Studies with Spanish (Year Abroad)

Program Description For students who've finished high school but don’t meet the entry requirements for university, a Foundation Certificate can help them gain entry to an undergraduate degree. After completing this pathway option students qualify for progression to the 1st year of an undergraduate degree at the University of Essex.

A student’s course length is determined mainly by their English language level (UKVI IELTS score). Students on all course lengths take a set of common or similar modules to gain a solid base of skills for university. Students taking a course longer than 2 terms, will take additional modules designed to improve one or more of their English language level, academic skills, and basic knowledge of particular subjects.

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - European Studies with Spanish (Including Year Abroad)

Students will examine Europe’s economic, legal, and sociological context, as well as its historical origins whilst acquiring an understanding of Europe’s rich cultural traditions. The artists, writers, musicians, composers and film-makers of Europe have exerted a cultural influence that even now is not eclipsed by the dominance of America on the world’s stage.

Alongside their European studies modules, students also become fluent in Spanish. They spend their third year in a Spanish-speaking country, immersing themselves in the Spanish and European cultures. Language is fundamental to people’s thought, their relationships, and their civilizations. Through language they transmit knowledge, from inviting someone for coffee, to promoting the latest scientific theory, to settling global political disputes. How could speaking another language change the way people think about and describe the world?

At Essex, their teaching and research offers maximum flexibility for students to study areas that interest them, so they can pursue a wide range of topics including:

• European identity and the development of the EU • Representations of non-Europeans in art • Europe’s colonial history • Religion in Europe • EU law

The study of Europe is vital for ongoing discussion of what Europe’s future ought to be; a discussion that will profoundly affect every European citizen. Through a course in European studies, students will acquire the knowledge, skills and experience to make an active contribution to one of the most important political and cultural processes of the century.

Based within the Interdisciplinary Studies Centre (ISC), students will have access to expertise in modern languages, literature, film, history of art, history, politics and sociology, with experienced staff in all disciplines.

* Please note that this delivery option of the course includes a year abroad.

Essex supports students in expanding their education through offering the opportunity to spend a year or a term studying abroad at one of their partner universities. Studying abroad allows students to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden their degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that they are mature, adaptable, and organised.