Career Prospects

The UCL Institute of the Americas was established in July 2012 prior to which its staff were members of faculty at the Institute for the Study of the Americas in the University of London's School of Advanced Study. When we moved to UCL we brought with us our suite of MA and MSc degree programmes. The career progression of our past graduates is very good, and an overview of the career paths is provided below.

A number of students study our Masters degrees as a stepping stone towards research degrees. We invariably have at least two PhD students registered at the Institute who have previously studied with us at Masters level, although some of those wishing to develop an academic career make the decision to move on to gain experience in another higher education institution. Others take the research skills they have developed during the Masters into the policy sector, working for think tanks or government agencies, while yet others work in areas of market research.

Some of our students have keen commercial interests. In recent years one particular area of business that has attracted the attention of our graduates has been the alternative energy sector, which is currently booming in a number of Latin American countries. We always have some early- and mid-career professionals that take a year out and come to us to develop regional expertise. Within this group there are generally one or two freelance journalists, who continue writing and submitting pieces whilst studying in London and then step up in their careers to work for more prestigious, global news agencies, broadcasting corporations and media groups.

A significant subset of students seeks and finds work in the third sector - NGOs and charitable organisations. This group is often building on previous experience in the sector to develop regional expertise and move on to manage national offices or even regional programmes after graduating. Younger students, often straight from their first degree, might take the opportunity to work voluntarily for NGOs or charities while studying for their Masters, in this way adding vital experience to their CVs. These graduates tend to work as interns for a year or so after graduating before finding their first fully remunerated post.

The excellent record of career progression of our graduates can only be enhanced by our recent institutional move. The global reputation of UCL is unquestionable and taking a Masters Degree from the Institute of the Americas will be a great addition to your curriculum vitae. What is more, the UCL Careers Service is second to none, with a dedicated team of professionals eager to help you maximise your chances of landing that ideal job. Regardless of the degree programme you follow or the field in which you develop your career, as a graduate of the Institute you will always receive a warm reception when requesting a reference. We are keen to support your career progression; we welcome news of your achievements and celebrate your continuing success.

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Page last modified on 13 jun 13 14:41 by Paul A May

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