Latin American Politics

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.

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 option modules are subject to availability

Core modules

• Researching the Americas: Latin America and the Caribbean
• Democratisation in Latin America

Optional modules

Students choose four option 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 Economies: Beyond Neoliberalism
• Social and Economic Development of Contemporary Brazil
• 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

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 as it contains a substantial politics focus.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of seminars, lectures, presentations, research skills training, and independent reading and research. Assessment is through essays, group and individual presentations, analytical exercises and the dissertation.

Fieldwork

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

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.

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.