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The Latin American Politics MSc provides students with an opportunity to develop their general and specialist knowledge of major issues in the politics of Latin America. 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 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 develop a detailed understanding of the political histories of major Latin American countries, key public policy issues, the challenges of democratisation and democratic consolidation, and the domestic and international influences on political developments in the region. They will gain the key research and analysis skills necessary for professional development in the field of Latin American politics.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of two core modules (15 credits each), four optional modules (60 credits in total), 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 Latin American Politics.
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
- Researching the Americas
- Democratization in Latin America
Optional modules
Students choose four optional modules from a selection that includes the following:
- Histories of Exclusion: Race and Ethnicity in Latin America
- The International Politics of Latin America
- Latin American Economics
- Politics, Society and Development in the Modern Caribbean
- State and Society in Latin America: Ethnographic Perspectives
- Money and Politics in Latin America
- The Politics of Human Rights in Latin America: Transitional Justice
- The Caribbean from the Haitian Revolution to the Cuban Revolution
- The Latin American City: Social Problems and Social Change in Urban Space
- Globalisation and Latin American Development
- Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean
- The Politics of Human Rights in Latin America: Challenges to Democratization
- 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 a maximum of 30 credits from other departments or from other University of London colleges, subject to the Programme Director's approval.
Dissertation/report
All students write a dissertation of 15,000 words on a research topic of their choice (linked to the subject area of one of their taught modules), provided that it contains a substantial politics focus.
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, research skills training, and independent reading and research. There is a range of assessments including essays and a short 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, international NGOs, teaching, or for further research in this field.
Employability
Students on this degree 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. On the basis of such contacts, recent programme graduates have found employment in government (the Foreign and Commonwealth Office), NGOs (Amnesty International, Caritas) and political risk-analysis firms, while others have undertaken PhD research.
Why study this degree at UCL?
In the UK the Institute of the Americas occupies a unique position in the academic study of the region in promoting, co-ordinating and providing a focus for 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 and business organisations with interests in the Americas, and it 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 social sciences and the humanities.
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 competence in Spanish, French and/or Portuguese, and wish to develop their understanding of Latin American Politics 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 Latin American Politics at graduate level
- why you want to study Latin American Politics 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
