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The MSc in Globalisation and Latin American Development focuses on the study of economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean and it is designed to prepare a new generation of regional leaders in international development. The programme focuses on the challenges and opportunities that globalisation and democracy offer to developing countries in the Americas and their impact for sustainable and equitable economic development.
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 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
We encourage our students to understand development studies from an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach. Our main focus is on historical and contemporary patterns of economic development and the social impact of economic growth and redistribution. Consequently, our programme provides the students with high-quality training in theories of economic development, social science methods, and principles of policy analysis.
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 MSc in Globalisation and Latin American Development.
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
Our core module on Latin American Development examines different theories of economic growth, identifies some potential explanations of the current patterns of economic development in Latin America, and analyses how the region has responded to challenging global transformations.
Students also take a core module in research methods that includes sessions on research design, qualitative and quantitative methods, and fieldwork preparation.
- Globalisation and Latin American Development
- Researching the Americas
Optional modules
Additional to the core modules, students can take a number of optional modules that examine the political, sociological, historical, and anthropological aspects of development. Students choose four optional modules from a selection that includes the following:
- Latin American Economics
- Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean
- Democratization in Latin America
- The Latin American City: Social Problems and Social Change in Urban Space
- Money and Politics in Latin America
- The International Politics of Latin America
- State and Society in Latin America: Ethnographic Perspectives
- Histories of Exclusion: Race and Ethnicity in Latin America
- The Politics of Human Rights in Latin America: Transitional Justice
- The Politics of Human Rights in Latin America: Challenges to Democratization
- The Caribbean from the Haitian Revolution to the Cuban Revolution
- The Making of Modern Latin America: History, Politics and Society
- Challenges to Development in Brazil
- Gender, Politics, and Public Policy in Latin America
- Politics, Society and Development in the Modern Caribbean
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 research topic of their choice related to globalisation and economic development in Latin America.
Fieldwork
Many of our MSc students undertake fieldwork in order to carry out research for their dissertation projects.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, independent reading and research, seminar discussions and research skills training. Assessment is through essays, term papers, presentations, analytical exercises 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
After completing the programme, our students generally go into careers in the development sector in the UK, Europe, and and Latin America. Our recent graduates have found jobs in international organisations, government institutions (UK and Latin America), NGOs, charitable organisations, think tanks, global news agencies, media groups, higher education institutions, and development consultancy organisations.
Some of our MSc graduates have also successfully gone on to PhD studies in top universities in the UK and the US.
Employability
Our MSc graduates will have excellent opportunities to expand their professional networks and establish personal contacts that enhance their future employability. Through institute staff members' extensive professional and personal contacts in the region, and through participating in the institute's extremely active events programme, students will meet potential colleagues in government and the foreign service, development agencies and the international NGO community, business and finance, and print and electronic media. Numerous programme graduates have found employment in industry, state agencies and the third sector via these routes.
Why study this degree at UCL?
UCL is one of the world's top ten universities and the UCL Institute of the Americas has the largest programme of teaching, research and events on the Americas in the UK, covering Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada and the United States.
In addition to tuition by world-leading scholars, students benefit from access to a wide range of events, seminars, and conferences on the Americas delivered by scholars, policy-makers, diplomats, activists and other experts on the region.
The institute provides a unique environment in which to study the Americas and excellent networking opportunities are available through our strong links with academic, cultural, diplomatic, policy and business institutions with interests in the region.
Department: Institute of the Americas
What our students and staff say
"My research falls within two related fields of interdisciplinary study - Environmental Sociology and Agroecology. I have been particularly involved in the theoretical development of environmental sociology as sub-discipline. Working with colleagues from the Americas and Europe, I have sought to shed light on the negative impacts of the globalised food regime on the cultural practices, ecological conditions and livelihoods of small-scale farmers and to promote a better understanding of the productive capacity and socio-ecological merits of the agroecological approach to food sovereignty. The most enjoyable part of my role is sharing and discussing ideas with students. As a teaching fellow I have a lot of contact with students, in them I see hope for the future. UCL is full of bright minds and burning ambitions. Being a personal tutor and supporting students to define and pursue their life and learning goals is a privilege I cherish. "
Dr Graham Woodgate
Globalisation and Latin American Development MSc, International Relations of the Americas MSc
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 Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline (economics, political science, development studies, history, and sociology), or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard from a recognised higher education institution. They should have some competence in Spanish and Portuguese and wish to develop their understanding of Latin American economic development for further research and/or a career in this field.
We welcome applicants with development-related work experience in government, NGOs, international organisations, and media.
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?
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.
When we assess your application we would like to learn:
- why you want to study Globalisation and Latin American Development at graduate level
- why you want to study Globalisation and Latin American Development 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
