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International Relations of the Americas MSc

London, Bloomsbury

Spend a year focusing on international relations in the Americas, from both an inter-American and global relations standpoint – on this specialist UCL Master’s. You’ll gain the skills essential for analytical study and learn to think about, and critically assess, hemispherical and global issues facing societies and policymakers in the region. The ideal stepping stone to a career in research, journalism, teaching, and work in government or NGOs.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£16,000
£8,000
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£33,000
£16,500
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 27 Jun 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

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 useful but not essential.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

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.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

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. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

On this programme you will develop the ability to understand and critically assess the issues currently facing societies and policy makers in the Americas. You will study a broad range of issues including:

  • Political and historical dynamics
  • Climate change and environmental issues
  • Tackling financial inequalities
  • Societal issues such as the war against drugs and criminal cartels

Who this course is for

This programme is suitable for students who wish to develop their understanding of International Relations in the Americas for further research or a career in this field.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

The UCL Institute of the Americas offers the largest teaching portfolio for the study of Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America and the United States in the UK. Being multidisciplinary, you will be taught by leading experts on social sciences and modern history all under one roof. 

Students in the Institute benefit from teaching by world-leading scholars at the cutting edge of research that was ranked 1st in Area Studies and Impact in the REF 2021.

The Institute actively maintains and builds ties with cultural, diplomatic 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.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Upon completing this degree, you will have skills well suited for jobs in sectors such as: 

  • Policy and governments.
  • NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations).
  • Business and financial services.
  • Media and journalism.
  • Academia and education.


"UCL Americas provided me with the confidence and skills to advance my career in ways that I didn’t expect. I would strongly recommend this programme to anyone passionate about comparative politics, international relations, and human rights in the region."

Natalia Koper, MSc International Relations of the Americas, 2015-16.

UCL Americas provided me with the confidence and skills to advance my career in ways that I didn’t expect. I would strongly recommend this programme to anyone passionate about comparative politics, international relations, and human rights in the region.

UCL Portico building with welcome sign between columns.

Natalia Koper

International Relations of the Americas MSc

Employability

Graduates will have acquired transferable skills attractive to employers in a wide range of businesses and sectors:

  • Theoretical and critical analysis.
  • Writing and communication skills
  • Time management

You will also learn to solve problems and issues and to build positive working relationships. 

Networking

The institute runs seminar series and events with invited speakers from academia, government, and NGOs. They also host career talks with returning alumni from different organisations and professions.

Our central London location gives students access to networking activities and events across the capital. You will be able to attend events in the high commissions and embassies of the Americas in London.

Finally, UCL student union societies can also further develop your interests and experiences. You may wish to consider joining:

  • Mexican Society.
  • Women and Politics Society.
  • African Caribbean Society.
  • Diplomacy Society.
  • Government and Politics Society.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of seminars, lectures, presentations, independent reading and research.

Assessment is through written assignments including essays and primary source analysis, presentations, podcasts, policy briefs and a dissertation.

Contact time takes various forms:

  • Lectures.
  • Seminars.
  • Dissertation supervision.
  • Assessment feedback sessions.

The credit value of the module indicates the total learning hours you will spend to achieve its learning outcomes. One credit is often equated to 10 hours of notional learning, which includes all contact time, self-directed study, and assessment.

For full-time students, typical contact hours are around 7- 8-hours of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials per teaching week per module. Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments.

In term three and the summer period students will be completing their own dissertation research, keeping regular contact with their dissertation supervisors.

Modules

To ensure study of the entire Americas regions, you will take two compulsory modules in subjects such as International Politics of Latin America, and Post-Cold War US Foreign Policy. This will set the foundation for the whole Master's, preparing you for further topics and for your research dissertation.

In term one, you will start a research skills module which provides guidance for undertaking the research dissertation in term three. You will be exposed to concepts of research design and research methods, thus gaining the necessary knowledge to develop your research dissertation.

In terms one and two you will select three modules of further substantive-subject options from a broader range of modules. These modules further develop key concepts learnt in the compulsory modules, in addition to adding new topics. During term two, you will also prepare your research project proposal, giving continuity to activities in your research skills module.

In term three, you will fully develop your research dissertation in consultation with a specifically designated dissertation supervisor. Many of our Master's students undertake fieldwork in order to carry out research for their dissertation projects. 

Part-time students will split the taught modules between year 1 and year 2. The core modules will be taken in year 1, the research skills module is usually taken in year 1, the dissertation is taken in year 2.

All part-time students must complete a minimum of 60 credits in their first year. These include any core modules that need to be taken in year 1.

Compulsory modules






Optional modules

Politics, Society and Development in the Modern Caribbean




Histories of Exclusion: Race and Ethnicity in Latin America








Environment and Development in Latin America: Revisiting the Open Veins



(In)Security in the Americas: Transnational Challenges

Environment and Science in the Making of Modern Latin America


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 are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in International Relations of the Americas.

Fieldwork

Many of our Master's students undertake fieldwork in order to carry out research for their dissertation projects.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £16,000 £8,000
Tuition fees (2025/26) £33,000 £16,500

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

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.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

Funding opportunities at the Institute of the Americas can be found here.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Aziz Foundation Scholarships in Social and Historical Sciences

Value: Full tuition fees (equivalent to 1yr full-time) (1 year)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK

Next steps

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.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study International Relations of the Americas at graduate level
  • why you want to study International Relations of the Americas at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Please note that some funding schemes have an earlier application deadline; please view the Funding section for further details.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Institute of the Americas
Institute of the Americas

ia-programmes@ucl.ac.uk

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