This MPhil course of study includes lectures, seminars and individual supervision, with teaching provided by University and College Lecturers. The MPhil comprises a Core Course and two taught modules of your choice. Assessment takes the form of three assessed essays of 5,000 words and a 15,000-word thesis. A background in literary or cultural studies, anthropology, modern languages, area studies, history or economics, sociology, politics or development is useful but not essential. Evidence of interest in or commitment to Latin America is expected. By the end of the course students will have: developed a critical view of the contribution made by the academic study of Latin America and of some of its specific disciplines to the humanities and the social sciences; developed an understanding of the benefits and challenges of interdisciplinary approaches to research on Latin America; become familiar with some of the main themes of contemporary debate; presented their own ideas in a public forum; developed intellectual and practical research skills and tested their ability to produce a piece of advanced scholarship in conformity with the research techniques, standards of argument and accepted style of presentation of an academic discipline.