To study Spanish is to explore the linguistic features and literary traditions of the world’s third most widely-spoken language. From the very first term of the undergraduate course at Oxford, students read prose, drama, and poetry dating from the fourteenth century to the present day. They gain oral and written proficiency in Spanish alongside a profound knowledge of Hispanic cultures.
Exeter College has been at the forefront of Spanish research and teaching ever since the subject was established as a degree course at Oxford more than a century ago. The College is home to the King Alfonso XIII Professorship of Spanish Literature (first held by Salvador de Madariaga) and the Queen Sofía Research Fellowship in Modern Peninsular Spanish Literature. Beyond Castilian, Exeter actively supports the study of Catalan language and culture by awarding the annual J. L. Gili Bursary in Catalan Studies to students who propose a relevant project. One recent recipient examined reactions to Gaudí among current students of architecture in Barcelona, while another investigated the survival and evolution of Catalan under Franco.
