Objectives and competences

The master's degree in Latin American Studies offers specialist training in advanced knowledge of Latin American social, economic, political and cultural institutions that allows students to practice both in the academic field and in specialized organizations in Latin America. The master's degree provides a specialisation in the knowledge of advanced theoretical and methodological frameworks that give access to the doctorate.

Likewise, the master's degree offers training that enables professionals to apply the disciplines involved in activities related to the fields of culture, communication, publishing and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The subject of the master's degree is of great interest both in the field of research and in the professional field. The subjects studied, of broad spectrum, include the social and political relations of America from the pre-Hispanic period to the present, in addition to the economic and cultural phenomena that have occurred and that make up the Latin American reality.

Organization and methodology

The master's degree in Latin American Studies is an official master's degree of 60 credits (25 compulsory credits + 20 optional credits +15 compulsory Master's Thesis). With the possibility of doing it with a full-time dedication that would be one year or part-time, in year and a half, two or three years, depending on the student's availability.

The master's degree's vehicular language is Spanish. The classes are taught in the classrooms of the Faculty of Geography and History. Seminars, talks and visits to institutions are also held.

It is a master's degree that has classes scheduled for the afternoons from 2pm to 8pm from Monday to Friday.

Evaluation

In general, the evaluation of the achievement of learning in relation to the competences of a subject can be continuous or unique, see: Regulations regulating the teaching plans of the subjects and the evaluation and qualification of learning (approved by the Governing Council on May 8, 2012).

The continuous evaluation incorporates the various evidences indicated in the teaching plan of the subject, which are collected progressively and integrated throughout the teaching-learning process. It is the preferred evaluation system and the majority.

 

In addition to the details of continuous assessment, the course plan also includes the characteristics of single assessment, recognised as a right of the student who, when exercising it, waives continuous assessment.

After the continuous assessment and single assessment period, and after the publication of the final grades, a reassessment period is opened.

Each teacher sets out the various possible assessment modalities. The evaluation is based on the European system, with continuous evaluation, with the presentation of various works and tests throughout the course (exams, individual and group work, exercises, etc.). Attendance to classes is generally mandatory. Although each teacher may indicate specific formulas, at least 75% of the classes (including tutorials and practical activities) must be attended in each subject.

For more information, please see the teaching plans peritnents in each subject.

Calendar

First semester MASTERS

Teaching and continuous assessment: from 16 September 2025 to 24 January 2026

Single assessment: from 13 to 24 January 2026

TFM evaluation: from 5 to 21 from February 2026

Reassessment: 3 and 6 of March 2026


Second semester MASTERS:

Teaching and continuous assessment: from 3 February to 20 from June 2026

Single assessment: from 2 to 20 June from 2026

TFM evaluation: of 16 June in 4 July and of 1 in 27 September 2026

Reassessment: 7 and 9 July 2026

See teaching calendar.

Final work

In this subject, of fifteen credits and compulsory, the student must prepare and present before a court an original and unpublished academic work. In this work, the fundamental questions in relation to the subject must be raised and, as a result of the analysis of the materials used, it must show that the student is able to elaborate a rigorous academic text and to transmit a coherent and critical reflection on it.

 

To prepare this Master's Thesis (TFM), in which the student must demonstrate that he/she is able to integrate and apply the competencies and contents acquired during the Master's Degree, each student will have a TFM director, who will be a PhD professor of the Master's Degree with research experience.

The TFM may have different modalities:

 

  • Case study: analysis of a particular aspect, from primary sources.
  • Academic essay or state of the art on a general problem, using updated sources and bibliography and taking into account ongoing debates within academic fields.

The subject presents two main aspects that the student will have to work on during the semester: the methodology and the contents.

By methodology we understand all those formal and method aspects that characterize a minimally carefully done academic work:

  • the design of the research: general conception, subject dimension, initial analytical questions, working hypothesis approach, bibliographic research, critical interpretation of data and readings;
  • the expression of this research in a work formally correct from an academic point of view: well presented, coherent, logically argued, with references to support readings, with devices such as footnotes, sources of information, etc.

By contents we understand a set of data, information, reflections and interpretations related to the questions that have been chosen as the object of study, focused and defined. It should be emphasized again that the initial questions or object of study must be manageable within the student's time and possibilities.

The subject in the whole curriculum

The aim of the TFM is for the student to use all the skills, knowledge and knowledge acquired throughout the master's degree so that he/she is able to produce an original and rigorous academic work based on his/her own research.

Previous knowledge

 

It is recommended that the student enrol the TFM when he is in a position to finish the master's degree so that he can use all the skills, knowledge and knowledge previously acquired. Likewise, it is recommended that the student take a minimum of 30 credits of the master's degree in advance and that in the same semester in which he/she is studying the TFM, the teaching load he/she enrolls is as low as possible.

Regulations for Master's Degree Final Projects of the Faculty

Mobility

There are international mobility options to carry out a study stay at another European university through the Erasmus+  Program or, also, students can take advantage of the Erasmus+ Placement program to do internships abroad.

For more information, see the following link:

http://www.ub.edu/uri/estudiantsUB/estUB.htm

To receive information about international mobility grants (such as those offered by the ERASMUS programme) and all the possibilities available for a stay abroad, please contact theInternational Relations Office from the Faculty of Geography and History.
Segell d'acreditació

Tutorial action plan

The master's degree coordination welcomes students in personalized tutorials in order to guide students and answer any doubts that arise prior to enrolment and during the course.

The coordinator of the Master's Degree in Latin American Studies is Chiara Pagnotta

The doubts of an administrative nature, can be attended by both the coordinator of the master's degree and the Secretary of Master's and PhD of the center

The master's degree has links of collaboration with the Student Care Service (SAE), an office that offers all kinds of advice to the student, both academically and professionally. Depending on this collaboration, master's degree students can go to this Service  individually to be advised on different issues, including work topics.

Most Frequently Asked Questions of University Master's Degrees.

Scholarships and grants

It is advisable to consult the scholarships and grants for university master's students to find out about the requirements, procedures and deadlines for applying for a scholarship or grant.

There are scholarships and grants at any university stage and of all kinds: to carry out research, to participate in exchange programmes, to access summer courses, to extend studies or research abroad, to work as a reader, to do work placements in other countries, etc.

All this information is accessible from the MónUB scholarship portal.