Latin American Studies

This is a 21-month programme which spans six academic terms, including a fieldwork project in Latin America (up to three months). The course will be informed by five core disciplines: history, political science, sociology, economics and international relations. Major trends in the development of Latin America will be analysed with reference to the main categories of explanation advanced to interpret that development.

The course will provide you with a critical understanding of the major elements in the development of Latin America over the past two hundred years. You will be taught to relate economic and political trends, and to assess the importance of international influences. The course will demonstrate the way in which different disciplines contribute to an overall understanding of the historical development of the continent. You will also be taught the importance and the limitations of the comparative method of analysis.

In your first year, you will take three courses in preparation for examination in three written papers at the end of Trinity term in the year of registration. Additionally, you will be required to attend and participate in the research methods course organised in collaboration with other units from the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies, and to satisfy the assessment criteria for that course.

During the first year, you will also work with your supervisor on your thesis proposal and preparation for field work. You will write a number of essays to be arranged with the various tutors of each of the courses. You will be required to submit five of these marked essays to the Latin American Centre (LAC) Administrator (two by the beginning of Hilary term and a further three by the beginning of Trinity term). The timetable and subject of the essays should be arranged with the tutors of the respective courses. Examinations at the end of the first year will serve to qualify for entry to the second year of the course.

In the second year, you will be expected to write a thesis of not more than 30,000 words, including footnotes and appendices, but excluding bibliography. The assessment of the thesis constitutes 33.3%.

You will sit two additional examination papers, or with the permission of your supervisor, the LAC Administrator and the relevant department, you may take methodologies or other examination papers from another MPhil of the University of Oxford as appropriate. In the second year, you will be required to attend a viva voce as part of the examinations process.

A lively programme of LAC seminars, workshops and conferences with visiting speakers complements the MPhil programme, and you are encouraged to make the most of these opportunities to meet with and learn from fellow Latin Americanists.

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies.

Latin American Centre alumni work in a wide range of careers, both within and outside of Latin America, in the public and private sectors.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. In certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information, please see our page on changes to courses.

Other courses you may wish to consider

If you're thinking about applying for this course, you may also wish to consider the courses listed below. These courses may have been suggested due to their similarity with this course, or because they are offered by the same department or faculty.

All graduate courses offered by the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies

African Studies MSc

Area Studies DPhil

Contemporary Chinese Studies MSc

Japanese Studies MPhil

Japanese Studies MSc

Latin American Studies MPhil

Latin American Studies MSc

Modern Chinese Studies MPhil

Modern Middle Eastern Studies MSc

Modern South Asian Studies MPhil

Modern South Asian Studies MSc

Russian and East European Studies MPhil

Russian and East European Studies MSc

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Entry requirements