Catalan Philology: A Safe Career Bet

Catalan philology studies are experiencing a moment of opportunity. Given the growing need for professionals trained in Catalan language and literature, and the projected retirements in the education and administrative sectors, the Generalitat de Catalunya (Government of Catalonia) announced a pilot scholarship program for the 2025-2026 academic year at the Education Fair. The measure is part of the second edition of the "Tria Filologia Catalana" (Tria Catalan Philology) campaign, which seeks to highlight the employment potential of this university degree.

According to data from the Agency for the Quality of the University System (AQU), 96.7% of Catalan philology students at the University of Barcelona are working, most in jobs related to their studies, and 83% do so three months after completing their studies. These figures contrast with the usual perception of these studies as unprofitable and point to a paradigm shift. The 21% increase in enrollment for the degree between the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years seems to confirm this.

The campaign, coordinated with university departments of Catalan philology, aims to dispel myths about these programs and highlight the diversity of career opportunities. The institutional discourse emphasizes the need to ensure professional success in a field considered key to the country.

Demand for generational change

The Department of Language Policy, the Department of Education, and the Consortium for Linguistic Normalization predict a wave of retirements in the coming years, both in the teaching profession—Catalan teachers for secondary schools, for adults, for reception classrooms, and for courses abroad—and in the public administration (plans). Furthermore, the private sector is also seeking professionals with professional knowledge of Catalan to work in publishing houses, media outlets, advertising agencies, etc.

In response to this growing labor demand for specialists in Catalan language and literature, the Department of Language Policy of the Government of Catalonia is expanding and launching, for the second consecutive year, a campaign to promote access to Catalan philology studies. This initiative, which was already well-received last year, is consolidating and growing, with a significant new development: the launch of a scholarship program worth more than €100,000, which plans to offer 25 monthly grants of approximately €500 to students throughout Catalonia.

Pilot scholarship program

The call will be governed by criteria of academic excellence, economic situation, and language proficiency, among others, and will reserve five scholarships for students with knowledge of languages linked to immigration and two for those who wish to study Aranese as part of Occitan studies. The remaining 18 will be open to the general public. The initiative was created as a pilot project with the intention of continuing and expanding it based on the results and impact it generates.

"The language needs the best professionals to respond to the challenges we face as a country, and the market demands graduates with a Catalan philology," recently stated the Minister of Language Policy, Francesc Xavier Vila. "With these scholarships, we are making it easier for the talent of the new generations to be channeled toward studying Catalan language and literature without any financial obstacles."

The campaign expands its reach

The new edition of the "Tría Filología Catalana" campaign maintains its commitment to social media and contact with creators and professionals, but incorporates new formats such as urban posters and a promotional filter on TikTok and Instagram. The link with the educational field is also strengthened, with specific materials for teachers and counselors, and a more academic presence.

Currently, the philology faculties of a dozen universities offer these studies. Catalan language and literature studies can also be taken at 147 universities around the world, many of which are part of the Study Network.