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Race, Ethnicity and Postcolonial Studies MA

London, Bloomsbury

Modern society demands deeper expertise in issues of race, inequality and injustice. The Race, Ethnicity and Postcolonial Studies MA is an opportunity to gain an education in this field, while acquiring critical, theoretical and methodological skills. Taught by renowned scholars, including those from the UCL Sarah Parker Remond Centre for the Study of Racism and Racialisation, you’ll gain important knowledge applicable to a variety of careers. 

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£16,800
£8,400
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£35,400
£17,700
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2026
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 26 Jun 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this course 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


The course is offered by the Centre for Multidisciplinary and Intercultural Inquiry (CMII) within UCL’s School of European Languages, Culture and Society (SELCS). Supervision and teaching is available from world-leading researchers, with 83% of SELCS-CMII research activity being graded 4* ‘world leading’ and 3* ‘internationally excellent’ in the REF 2021. 

The Race, Ethnicity and Postcolonial Studies MA addresses some of the most urgent and painful questions of our time. Students learn through engagement with a range of critical, theoretical and methodological tools, always returning to the core questions of the study of racism: what is it to be human and what do humans owe each other? You will be encouraged and enabled to unpack and interpret these questions through a range of approaches, including work on economic crises, the remaking of states and nations, climate catastrophe, bodies and health, political philosophy and the terrible histories of racial violence and expropriation.

Our course does not regard racism as a frozen formation and we support students to develop their analysis of contemporary questions of racism and empire. The course will introduce you to the knowledge, skills and methods that will enable you to develop your own specialised interests in this field both academically and professionally. 

Who this course is for

This course is suitable for students with a first degree in the humanities, social, political and historical sciences or relevant disciplines, who wish to explore the politics, history and ethics of race, racism, social justice and post-coloniality.

Our students are highly motivated and many come with extensive experience and expertise in political campaigning, cultural production and work with civil society. However, we do not assume any previous formal training in this area of study. In fact, many of students choose our course because they have had little opportunity to study the questions that they feel are most important.

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

What this course will give you

The Race, Ethnicity and Postcolonial Studies MA, reframes the trajectory of intellectual history through an attention to questions of racism and the boundaries of the human. This interdisciplinary course asks a range of questions about historical and contemporary racisms, and the legacies of colonialism and empire. It approaches the postcolonial through attention to gender and sexuality, nationalism and religion, and science and technology. Our students (and our staff) come to the course with a sense of urgency – and we work together to examine questions surrounding racism and racialisation in distressing and confounding times.

Teaching staff from the UCL Sarah Parker Remond Centre, are active and committed scholars who bring training and expertise from a range of areas, including: social theory, literary and cultural studies, geography, politics and anthropology. Our taught modules go beyond any one discipline and draw upon multiple resources to build a critical account of the origins and development of race-thinking, as well as its enduring power.

This is an intensive course and our students cover an enormous amount of ground in their taught modules. You will be brought into contact with a range of examples drawn from different locations, periods and political struggles throughout history. The history of colonial modernity provides the foundation upon which to build our understanding of contemporary conflicts over racial inequality, racial hierarchy and social justice. You will analyse the structural and institutional aspects of these social and political problems and see how they have been manifested in culture, politics and everyday life. Importantly, the course affords opportunities to look at the movements that have resisted racism, injustice and inequality, seeking rights, racial justice and liberation.

Our students become formidable thinkers and practitioners. They learn to see the value in complexity and to swerve the shallow framings of culture wars. Our course offers an opportunity to immerse yourself in the histories of raciality and to think seriously with others about how we might undo that history and make something better. This is an intellectual project that requires varied voices and our course references multiple traditions of thought and of resistance.

Our taught course is an important element of the mission of our centre. Our MA students, current and past, are an essential part of our intellectual community. We see our role as supporting them to translate the course’s expansive thinking on racism into other contexts and projects.

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

The foundation of your career

Popular career paths for SELCS & CMII graduates include publishing, journalism or translation (20.7%), health and social care (10.6%), teaching and education (10.1%), IT and technology (5.9%), hospitality, leisure and tourism (4.2%), PR, advertising, marketing (4.8%), policy and government (3.1%), accountancy and financial services (2.2%), performance and creative arts (1.4%) and media (8.7%)*. 

Employers of SELCS & CMII graduates include KPMG LLP, BBC, TransPerfect Translations Ltd, Macmillan Cancer Support, Alzheimer’s Society, Apple, British Library, HBO, The Guardian, NHS Healthcare Trusts, international and UK Government. * 

Some SELCS & CMII graduates pursue careers that make special use of their cultural knowledge or language skills, including working for translation services or in industry such as Charities, NGOs and international development (3.1%), while others continue with academic research and HE (4.5%).* 

*Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates in the 2017-2022 cohorts.

Employability

This course approaches race and racism through a wide range of topics. It includes a mix of history, theory and politics in relation to racism, ethnicity and post-coloniality. Equipping graduates with interdisciplinary skills and cultural knowledge valued by employers.

The aim is to foster your ability to think critically and express your ideas rigorously in written and verbal forms; to be clear about the political and ethical problems associated with this history and to be empowered to act in pursuit of racial justice and equality in a variety of institutional contexts.

The course aims to provide a good general foundation for students who wish to pursue further research and study in many humanities and social science disciplines. That foundation includes training in research methods and transferable skills, which can be further enhanced through optional module choices.

Networking

Our location offers students access to special collections in modern languages and culture at UCL and other world-class libraries nearby such as Senate House and the British Library. These resources, besides their collections of books, articles, videos, sound recordings and non-public online resources, offer a wide range of seminars, lecture series and other opportunities to exchange ideas. Other libraries and research centres within walking distance of campus include the British Museum, Institute of Historical Research and The Warburg Institute.

The multidisciplinary research culture across UCL and at the Sarah Parker Remond Centre for Research on Racism and Racialisation, ensures that there is a wide range of seminars, lecture series and other opportunities to exchange ideas.

UCL Careers also offers a range of services, providing access to skills development, recruitment and networking events.

Teaching and learning

The course is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, directed reading, tutorials and private study. Term 3 is devoted to revision sessions and the dissertation project. Teaching methods are likely to vary depending on faculty, department and individual module leaders.

Students will be assessed by a variety of methods, which may include coursework, presentations, written essays, unseen examinations and the research dissertation. Teaching sessions are interactive, with a limited amount of lecturer presentation and an emphasis on student participation and critical discussion.

For full-time students, typical contact hours are around 8 - 10 hours per week in Terms 1 and 2. Approximately one-third of the hours are allocated for assessment exercises. 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. For a full-time postgraduate course, we recommend around 20 - 25 hours of independent study a week.

Part-time postgraduate course contact hours would usually be 4 - 6 hours per week, across 2 - 3 days in Terms 1 and 2, and we would recommend around 10-12 hours of independent study a week.

In Term 3 and the summer period, students will be completing dissertation research, keeping regular contact with their dissertation supervisors. Hours expected to be dedicated to private reading far exceed the hours of class attendance. Students should therefore be careful to ensure that they are setting aside enough time for reading.

Modules

During the academic year, you take 60 credits of taught compulsory modules (usually comprising of three modules) which guide students through the foundational knowledge of our field and provide you with the specific skills to research and write essays and the dissertation.

Alongside the core taught modules, you will study 60 credits of optional modules from the suggested list (usually four 15-credit modules spread across Terms 1 and 2). We strongly recommend you select at least some of the optional modules taught by core SPRC staff. These modules will form the foundation of your MA and broaden your understanding of contemporary debates around racial theory, inequality and associations with power and conflict, from historical and contemporary perspectives.

During Term 2, in addition to your taught modules, you will start formulating your dissertation proposal. This work will continue into Term 3 and across the remainder of the academic year. You develop your dissertation outline and structure with support from your supervisor. You will have an opportunity to present your dissertation research to your peers and to a wider audience. You then spend the summer researching and writing your 12,000 word dissertation on a topic to be determined in discussion with your academic supervisor.

In Year 1, you take two compulsory modules (45 credits) and up to 45 credits of optional modules (usually two or three 15-credit modules in Terms 1 and 2). These modules are designed to work as a postgraduate-level foundation and provide you with the specific skills to research and write essays and the dissertation. These modules set the foundation for the whole MA, preparing you for further learning and for your dissertation.

In Year 2, you take a compulsory module alongside optional modules (up to 45 credits). These modules develop your understanding of contemporary debates around racial theory, inequality and associations with power and conflict, from historical and contemporary perspectives, as well as developing key concepts learnt in Year 1. You also formulate and develop your dissertation outline and structure with support from your supervisor. You spend the summer of Year 2 researching and writing your 12,000 word dissertation on a topic to be determined in discussion with your supervisor.

Compulsory modules







Optional modules

























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 MA in Race, Ethnicity and Postcolonial Studies.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27) £16,800 £8,400
Tuition fees (2026/27) £35,400 £17,700

Postgraduate Taught students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Where the course 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 with a fee status classification of UK, a fee deposit will be charged at 2.5% of the first year fee.

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, 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.

The department strives to keep additional costs low. Additional costs may include expenses such as books, stationery, printing or photocopying. Students receive a free printing allowance each year and pay for any additional printing (see details), while books and journal articles are usually available via the UCL library as hard copies or via e-journal subscriptions.

For in-person teaching, 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 £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. 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

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

Dutch Studies Bursary

Deadline: 1 November 2025
Value: From £1,250 to £2,500 (1 year)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK, EU, Overseas

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 course of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Race, Ethnicity and Postcolonial Studies at graduate level
  • why you want to study Race, Ethnicity and Postcolonial Studies at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this course
  • how your personal, academic and professional background meets the demands of this course
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

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

Applicants should be able to show that they have an interest in developing critical analysis of racialised hierarchies and inequalities.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (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: 2026-2027

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Centre for Multidisciplinary and Intercultural Inquiry
Centre for Multidisciplinary and Intercultural Inquiry

selcs-cmii.enquiries@ucl.ac.uk

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