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This MA offers students the opportunity to develop an understanding of the diverse societies of both the South American continent and the Caribbean from a multidisciplinary and comparative perspective. The programme's graduates have established careers in research, journalism, teaching and policy formulation and implementation in both government agencies and NGOs.
Key information
Programme starts
September 2021
Modes and duration
Application dates
Tuition fees (2021/22)
Note on fees:
The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.
Entry requirements
Normally an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. A basic reading competence in Spanish, French or Portuguese is desirable. Students without such skills may be considered but are advised to undertake a separate language course prior to or during their programme.
English language requirements
If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.
The English language level for this programme is: Good
UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level. International Preparation Courses
Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.
International students
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below.
Select your country:
About this degree
Students will gain a broad empirical knowledge of the diverse societies of Latin America and the Caribbean from the perspective of at least two disciplines, together with an awareness of the general patterns of differences and commonalities in the histories, politics, economies and cultures of the different linguistic territories of the region.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of two core modules (30 credits), four optional modules (60 credits), and the research dissertation (90 credits). Please note: All optional modules are subject to availability.
Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded a MA in Caribbean and Latin American Studies.
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.
Compulsory modules
- The Caribbean from the Haitian Revolution to the Cuban Revolution
- Researching the Americas
Optional modules
Students choose four optional modules from a selection that includes the following:
- Politics, Society and Development in the Modern Caribbean
- Democratization in Latin America
- Histories of Exclusion: Race and Ethnicity in Latin America
- Money and Politics in Latin America
- The Politics of Human Rights in Latin America: Transitional Justice
- The Politics of Human Rights in Latin America: Challenges to Democratization
- Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean
- Latin American Economics
- Globalisation and Latin American Development
- The International Politics of Latin America
- State and Society in Latin America: Ethnographic Perspectives
- The Latin American City: Social Problems and Social Change in Urban Space
- From Slavery to Freedom? Race, Class, Gender and Union in the Nineteenth Century United States
- The Making of Modern Latin America: History, Politics and Society
- Challenges to Development in Brazil
- Gender, Politics, and Public Policy in Latin America
Students may choose elective modules up to a maximum of 30 credits from other UCL departments or University of London colleges, subject to the Programme Director's approval.
Dissertation/report
All students write a dissertation of 15,000 words (90 credits) on a topic relating to the Caribbean, or Latin America and the Caribbean.
Fieldwork
Many of our Master's students undertake fieldwork in order to carry out research for their dissertation projects.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of seminars, lectures, presentations, independent reading and research. Assessment is through varied assignments including essays, an oral presentation and the dissertation.
Additional costs
There may be travel costs associated with fieldwork. The institute has limited funds available to students to help towards the costs of fieldwork. These funds are awarded on a competitive basis on the criteria of academic performance to date, the quality of the research proposal and the importance of fieldwork for completing the research.
For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.
Funding
Funding opportunities at the Institute of the Americas can be found here.
Scholarships relevant to this department are displayed below.
Miller Bursary
- Note:
- Deadline: 30 July 2021
- Value:
- £5,000 (1 year)
- Eligibility:
- UK
- Criteria:
- Based on both academic merit and financial need
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
Careers
Graduates of this programme will be well placed to use their skills and knowledge to find employment in government, business, journalism, finance and international NGOs, teaching, or for further research in this field.
Employability
Students will have excellent opportunities to expand professional networks enhancing their future employability. Through institute staff members' extensive contacts in the region, and through participating in the institute's extremely active events programme, students will meet potential colleagues in government and the diplomatic service, development agencies and the international NGO community, business and finance, and print and electronic media. On the basis of such contacts, recent graduates have found employment in government (Foreign & Commonwealth Office), NGOs (Amnesty International, Caritas) and political risk-analysis firms, while others have undertaken PhD research.
Why study this degree at UCL?
The Institute of the Americas occupies a unique position at the core of academic study of the region in the UK, promoting research and postgraduate teaching on the Americas, including Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America and the United States.
The institute actively maintains and builds ties with cultural, diplomatic, third sector and business organisations with interests in the Americas, and provides resources to the wider academic community, serving and strengthening national networks of North Americanist, Latin Americanist and Caribbeanist scholars.
Students benefit from tuition by world-leading scholars in an academic environment at the cutting-edge of research in the humanities and social sciences.
Department: Institute of the Americas
What our students and staff say
"UCL combines all the advantages of working within a small and friendly department within a large, global university. The proximity to the amazing libraries and other resources has been highly beneficial to both my research and teaching. I also appreciate the small class sizes (both at BA and MA level) which mean you can really get to know your students and follow their progression, which makes for a rewarding teaching experience. Also, great colleagues, doing innovative research in the field."
Dr Kate Quinn
Caribbean and Latin American Studies MA, Latin American Politics MSc, Latin American Studies MA
UCL Institute of the Americas
Application and next steps
Applications
Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.
This programme requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found in our How to apply section.
There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at: ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught/application.
Who can apply?
Applicants must have a UK Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate subject, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard from a recognised higher education institution. They should have some competence in Spanish, French and/or Portuguese, and wish to develop their understanding of Caribbean and Latin American Studies for further research or a career in this field.
Application deadlines
- All applicants
- 31 May 2021
Please note that some funding schemes have an earlier application deadline; please view the funding section for further details.
For more information see our Applications page.
Apply nowWhat are we looking for?
When we assess your application we would like to learn:
- why you want to study Caribbean and Latin American Studies at graduate level
- why you want to study Caribbean and Latin American Studies at UCL
- what particularly attracts you to this programme
- how your academic background meets the demands of this challenging programme
- where you would like to go professionally with your degree
Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to elaborate on your reasons for applying to this programme and how your interests match what the programme will deliver.
UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.
Page last modified on 28 August 2021
