Institut Ramon Llull

An aerial shot of Barcelona with the cathedral at the centre

Catalan Language and Culture

The Institut Ramon Llull (IRL) is the public body responsible for promoting Catalan language and culture internationally. As part of its mission, the Institut partners with universities around the world, including the University of Leeds.

At the University of Leeds, the Institut Ramon Llull is based within the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies. It supports a programme of academic and cultural events regarding the language, history, cinema, politics and contemporary cultures of the Catalan-speaking Countries: Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, the Valencian Country the Catalan-speaking areas of Aragon (Spain), Andorra, Northern Catalonia (France), and the city of Alghero in Sardinia (Italy).

The Institute is named in honour of Ramon Llull (Mallorca, 1232-1316), one of the most influencial figures of Catalan literature. A prolific and multi-faceted author, Llull wrote in Latin, Arabic and Catalan. He was one of the first writers to use the vernacular language (Catalan, in his case) to discuss theological, philosophical and scientific ideas which were typically reserved for Latin, the scholarly language at the time.

For more information, email institutramonllull@leeds.ac.uk.

Catalan at Leeds

At the University of Leeds, Catalan language and culture are taught in collaboration with the Institut Ramon Llull. Catalan is available as a Discovery module to students from a wide range of Schools and Degrees across the university. It is also offered as part of a BA in Spanish or any Spanish Joint Honours degree.

There are three progressive modules, open to both beginners and more advanced learners. They include language and cultural contents:

Students might also have the opportunity to spend their Year Abroad in a Catalan-speaking region, where they can further develop their fluency and cultural knowledge.

Why study Catalan?

A map of the Catalan speaking parts of Europe

Spoken by over 10 million people, Catalan is a major European language with a long literary tradition and a vibrant contemporary culture. It is the official or co-official language of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Valencia, Andorra, and is also spoken in Northern Catalonia (France), parts of Aragon (Spain), and Alghero (Italy).

Studying Catalan offers a gateway to a dynamic multilingual culture at the South of Europe and the Mediterranean. Whether your interest is linguistic, literary, artistic, political, or social, learning Catalan will enrich your profile and open doors to international opportunities, research, and cultural exchange.

Opportunities

Students learning Catalan at Leeds can take part in academic and cultural activities, such as guest lectures or film screenings, and benefit from our strong links with the Institut Ramon Llull.

Take part in free summer campuses in Valencia, Mallorca, Catalonia and Andorra to boost your language skills and cultural understanding
Access to fully funded professionalisation seminars in Barcelona or the UK, such as subtitling and literary translation
Participate in free language tandem programs, online film forums or international gatherings (Trobada Internacional d'Estudiants i Professors de Català a l'Exterior, TIPECE).

Institut Ramon Llull