Latin American Studies with Business Management

Latin American Studies with Business Management at the University of Essex offers a unique interdisciplinary programme designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the social, political, economic, and cultural aspects of Latin America, combined with essential business management skills. This innovative course aims to equip students with a deep knowledge of Latin American history, politics, societies, and contemporary issues, while also developing their competence in key areas of business, including management, entrepreneurship, strategy, and international commerce. The programme is ideal for students interested in careers working across Latin American regions or in organizations that operate within or have links to Latin America. Throughout the course, students will have the opportunity to study relevant language skills, enhance their intercultural communication abilities, and gain practical insights into doing business in Latin American countries. The curriculum integrates academic rigour with practical experience, often including opportunities for placements, internships, or study abroad exchanges, fostering a global perspective and real-world readiness. With expert teaching staff experienced in Latin American studies and business disciplines, students will benefit from a supportive learning environment that encourages critical thinking, research, and engagement with current regional issues. The programme prepares graduates for diverse career paths such as international trade, development agencies, governmental organizations, private enterprises, or further academic research. Students will also develop transferable skills including analytical thinking, problem-solving, cross-cultural communication, and project management, which are highly valued in the global job market. By combining area studies with business expertise, this degree provides a distinctive profile that aligns with the increasing demand for professionals with regional knowledge and business acumen in the global economic landscape. Graduates will be well-equipped to contribute effectively in roles that require a nuanced understanding of Latin American contexts alongside solid management capabilities, making them versatile and competitive in various international professional sectors.

Detailed Course Facts

• GBP 9000 Year (EEA)
• GBP 11950 Year (Non-EEA)

• English

Course Content

The special characteristics of our courses are flexibility and choice. In your first year, you usually take four or five modules that include pre-requisite(s) for your course but, in many cases, mean you can try subjects you have not come across before. If you are taking a humanities or social science, then you have the greatest choice, as most of our first-year modules do not assume any specialist knowledge.
With a small number of exceptions, if you successfully complete the first year of your BA, then you are qualified to enter the second year of that course and a range of other courses: for example, if you take economics, politics, philosophy and sociology, then you have a choice of at least nine possible single or joint honours courses at the end of your first year. This means you can change your course, providing you have taken the appropriate pre-requisites and places are available. We offer a range of optional modules in your second- and final-years and most courses allow you to undertake a final-year project, an individual piece of research on a topic that interests you.
We operate a credit framework for our awards, which is based on principles widely used across the UK university sector. Each module has a credit rating attached and our standard three-year course consists of 360 credits (120 credits in your first year, and 240 credits across your second and final years).
Please note that module information on our course finder provides a guide to course content and may be subject to review on an annual basis.

Year 1

Introduction to Accounting;
Introduction to Contemporary Latin America;
Introduction to Latin American History;
and two from: Spanish to Portuguese Conversion, Advanced Portuguese, Intensive Initial Spanish or Advanced Spanish; and

Year 2

Organisational Behaviour;
Spanish and/or Portuguese language option;
Perspectives on Operational Management; Doing Research for a BA Dissertation;
one Latin American half-option; and
one Latin American or non-Latin American option

Year 3

Year abroad

Year 4

Spanish and/or Portuguese language option;
Final-year Dissertation; and
Advanced Organisational Behaviour; and
Business Strategy; and
One Latin American option

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

• A-levels: ABB-BBB
• GCSE English: C
• IB: 32-30 points (we consider IB certificates at the Higher Level on a case-by-case basis)
• Achievement of the Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 6 level three credits at distinction and the remainder at merit (or above) or achievement of the Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 45 level three credits at merit (or above).
• Spanish can be started from scratch. If Portuguese is taken as the major language, you must achieve an A-level in either Portuguese or Spanish (or equivalent).

English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall with minimum 5.5 in each component (or equivalent). Different requirements apply for second year entry.

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Essex.

Funding

For up-to-date information on funding opportunities at the University of Essex please visit: www.essex.ac.uk/funding.

Latin American Studies with Business Management at the University of Essex offers a comprehensive interdisciplinary programme designed to equip students with a deep understanding of Latin American history, culture, politics, and economics, alongside essential business management skills. This degree aims to prepare graduates for a range of careers in international business, diplomacy, development, journalism, and academia, where knowledge of Latin American affairs combined with managerial expertise is highly valued. The programme covers various aspects of Latin American society, including its contemporary political landscape, economic challenges, social movements, and cultural diversity, integrating these insights with core management principles such as strategic planning, leadership, marketing, and organizational behavior.

Students enrolled in this programme can expect to study modules that explore Latin American history and society, Latin American politics and governance, and language modules focused on Spanish or Portuguese to facilitate effective communication in the region. Alongside language training, there are modules dedicated to international business, marketing, project management, and entrepreneurship, enabling students to develop practical skills applicable to real-world settings. The course emphasizes experiential learning through group projects, case studies, and potentially international placements, providing students with valuable practical experience.

The university's facilities support learning with modern classrooms, extensive library resources, and dedicated Latin American studies research centers. As part of the programme, students benefit from opportunities such as study abroad options, internships, and collaborative projects with Latin American institutions, which enrich their cultural understanding and professional networks. The programme is designed to develop critical thinking, intercultural competence, and business acumen, qualifying graduates to operate effectively in diverse international contexts. It prepares students not only for careers focused specifically on Latin America but also for roles in multinational corporations, NGOs, and governmental agencies working in or with Latin American countries.

Overall, the Latin American Studies with Business Management degree at the University of Essex combines area studies with practical business training to create versatile graduates capable of engaging with Latin America on an academic, diplomatic, and commercial level. The programme's multidisciplinary approach ensures students gain a holistic understanding of the region’s complexities, positioning them for successful careers in an increasingly interconnected world.