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The bachelor’s program in Culture and Economy: Spanish Studies is characterized by its interdisciplinary, international, and flexible nature. By attending modules at two schools, the students learn different scientific ways of thinking. It taught me a lot, and so did the international campus with students from around the world. After graduating from the program, students have a lot of career options. I decided to stay at the university and pursue the Mannheim Master in Management. Now, I work as a project manager at the KfW Group. If I had to do it all again, I would definitely still choose to study the bachelor’s program in Culture and Economy.
The Bachelor’s program in Culture and Economy: Spanish Studies prepared me well for the job I do today. I work at the new BMW plant in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, where I am responsible for sustainability and environmental protection. I was able to address sustainability communication as part of my bachelor’s thesis, and my studies as a whole taught me how to work within multidisciplinary and multinational teams.
Program facts and information
Degree: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Standard period of study: 6 semesters (3 years)
ECTS credits: at least 180
(approx. 120 in the core subject, approx. 60 in the specialist subject)Language of instruction: Spanish, German, English
Language requirements: Proficiency in Spanish is recommended (but may be proven at a later date). You can attend preparatory language courses at the Department of Romance Languages during your studies.
If you are not a German citizen or do not have a German university entrance qualification (Abitur or equivalent school leaving certificate), you must prove German language proficiency at C1 level.Program start: Fall semester (September)
Academic calendarSchool: School of Humanities
Semester fee: € 204,30 (further information)
Tuition fees for international students from non-EU countries: €1,500
Tuition fees for a second degree: €650Program overview
The core subject, Spanish Studies, teaches students about Spanish literature, culture and language. Through courses in Literary Studies, students learn the basic principles of scientific literary analysis. Courses on culture focus on the cultural history of Spain and involve the analysis, for example, of films, music, advertisements, and articles. Students also study linguistics (including the theories and methods of language acquisition and development, and multilingualism) and receive language instruction. You can complement your studies by taking courses in Business Spanish or intercultural communication.
Students can choose between business administration and economics as specialist subjects. If they choose business administration, they attend courses in finance, marketing, management, business informatics, accounting, and production. The University of Mannheim also focuses on seminars in business ethics. In economics, students acquire knowledge in statistics and learn more about micro and macro economics. Another focus is on economic history.
Why study Culture and Economy: Spanish Studies at the University of Mannheim?
The bachelor's program in Culture and Economy: Spanish Studies combines specialized knowledge of Spanish linguistics, literary, cultural and media studies with a solid understanding of economics or business administration. This combination of aspects to form one degree program is unique in Germany. As such, graduates of the program, with their knowledge of the humanities and business administration or economics, and their proficiency in Spanish, are particularly sought-after on the labor market.
Romance Studies at the University of Mannheim have an excellent reputation and achieve top positions in the CHE university ranking.
The University of Mannheim is also one of the leading institutions in Germany for business administration and economics.
With 450 partner universities, and students from 100 countries, Mannheim is one of the most international universities in the country, and provides students with an inspiring learning environment that facilitates excellent teaching and research.
Career opportunities
Graduates of the program know and understand economic concepts and processes, and are therefore particularly in demand in roles that combine communication, economics and business administration. They work, for example, as project managers in PR agencies, in business consultancy, marketing or in sales.
Required interests and skills
- read frequently,
- enjoy analyzing the Spanish language and culture,
- ideally, have a good level of proficiency in Spanish at the start of the program,
- not be put off by complex texts, theories, and methods,
- be capable of critical thinking and like discussing topics,
- enjoy writing academic texts,
- like giving presentations,
- be very proficient in German and have good English language skills.
To study Economics as your combination major, you should be very good at math and find statistics and politics interesting. To study Business Administration as your combination major, you should be good at math and find marketing, management, and business ethics fascinating. You should also be able to learn and apply course content quickly.
Program structure
Module catalog
You can find further details on how the program is structured in the module catalog.Studying abroad
The University of Mannheim is part of a global network. The School of Humanities is partners with over 150 universities worldwide, and, in collaboration with the International Office, can help you plan a period of study abroad. We recommend that students go abroad during the fourth or fifth subject-specific semester, but it is possible to make individual arrangements. Studying abroad is optional, and is encouraged by the School.Internships
A six-week internship in Germany or abroad is integrated into the program of study. Our program managers can help you to find an internship, create your application documents, and advise you on the recognition of internships.Further study
The following degree programs are partly or fully available in English:
Mannheim Master in Management (M.Sc.)
Master’s program in Economics (M.Sc.) if you completed the module on economics (Vertiefung Volkswirtschaftslehre) during the bachelor's program (see selection statutes)
The following degree programs are (mainly) taught in German:
Master’s program in Culture and Economy (M.A.)
Master’s program in Language and Communication (M.A.)
Master’s program in Literature, Media and Culture in the Modern Era (M.A.)
Application and selection
At the University of Mannheim, a traditional numerus clausus (within the meaning of a minimum grade required for admission) does not exist. In our selection process, we take the following criteria into account:
- the grade average achieved in your university entrance qualification,
- the grades achieved in Mathematics and your best foreign language,
- relevant work experience and extracurricular activities.
German language proficiency
If you are not a German citizen or do not have a German university entrance qualification (Abitur or equivalent school leaving certificate), you must prove German language proficiency at C1 level.Selection statutes
Under “Application and selection” we have compiled the most important selection criteria of the program for you. For more detailed explanations of the selection process and the legally binding requirements of the degree program, please refer to the selection statutes.Application
- The application deadline for our bachelor's programs for the fall semesters starts on 1 June and ends on 15 July.
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The University of Mannheim is the most popular university in Germany
In the students' vote on the Studycheck.de platform, the University of Mannheim has reached the top position among all universities. This makes the University of Mannheim the most popular university in Germany.
read more about the award (in German)