Spanish, Portuguese & Latin American Studies (Hispanic Studies) MScR
Awards: MScR
Study modes: Full-time, Part-time
Funding opportunities
Programme website: Spanish, Portuguese & Latin American Studies (Hispanic Studies)
A Masters by Research (MScR) programme is ideal if you would like to complete a short piece of independent research in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies. It is a good stepping stone to a PhD, but is equally of value as a stand-alone qualification.
As a Masters by Research student, you will be part of a wider masters community, while specialising in what most interests you right from the beginning of the programme. This is how it is different to a taught Masters (MSc).
Spanish was formally added to the University’s curriculum in 1919 and, in the century since, has developed into one of the best-established subject areas of its kind in the UK, with teaching and research in Portuguese, Basque, Catalan, Latin American, Portuguese and Spanish studies.
Join our interdisciplinary community and undertake a project comprising research assignments and a 15,000 word dissertation under the guidance of an experienced and well-published supervisor.
Research excellence
In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), our research in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies was submitted in Modern Languages and Linguistics (Panel D - Arts and Humanities; Unit of Assessment 26).
The results reaffirm Edinburgh’s position as one of the UK’s leading research universities - third in the UK.
As published in Times Higher Education's REF power ratings, this result is based on the quality and breadth of our research in the unit of assessment.
We specialise in the major areas of Spanish, Latin American and Lusophone (including Brazil and Lusophone Africa) literary and cultural studies, and film and visual culture.
We have particular strengths in:
- the Spanish Golden Age
- Modern Spanish narrative
- Latin American poetry and narrative, especially in Chile and Argentina from the 19th to 21st centuries
- Women's and Gender Studies
- Indigenous and Afro-descendant filmmaking
- Memory and Post-Memory Studies
- Caribbean Studies
- Diaspora studies and Visual culture (film, graphic arts, performance)
- Lusophone African literatures
- Portuguese contemporary culture
Go beyond the books
Beyond the Books is a podcast from the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at research and the people who make it happen.
Listen to a mix of PhD, early career and established researchers talk about their journey to and through academia and about their current and recent research. Guests include Dr Isabel Seguí (Series 2 - Episode 4), former Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, talking about research on Women’s Nonfiction Filmmaking in Peru.
This programme is delivered and assessed through:
- two 20-credit courses on research skills, methods and problems
- two 40-credit supervised research assignments
- one 60-credit supervised 15,000 word dissertation
Find out more about compulsory and optional courses
We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MScR | Hispanic Studies | 1 Year | Full-time | Programme structure 2024/25 |
MScR | Hispanic Studies | 2 Years | Part-time | Programme structure 2024/25 |
This programme includes 40 credits of training on research skills, methods and problems.
Between the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC), the Careers Service and the Institute for Academic Development (IAD), you will find a further range of programmes and resources to help you develop your postgraduate skills.
You will also have access to the University’s fantastic libraries, collections and worldwide strategic partnerships.
Join in
As part of our research community, you will be immersed in a world of knowledge exchange, with lots of opportunities to share ideas, learning and creative work.
Activities include:
- a regular seminar series in European Languages and Cultures (with talks by staff, research students and visiting speakers)
- our annual Cunninghame-Graham Lecture
- our weekly informal Spanish-language reading group ‘Poema de la semana’
- film screenings
- workshops
Our graduates tell us that they value LLC’s friendliness, the connections they make here and the in-depth guidance they receive from our staff, who are published experts in their field.
On campus
The Main University Library holds academic books, journals and databases, including around:
- 27,000 books and 5,000 journals in Spanish
- 5,000 books and 2,680 journals in Portuguese
The Library is also the home of the University's Centre for Research Collections which brings together:
- more than 400,000 rare books
- six kilometres of archives and manuscripts
- thousands of works of art, historical musical instruments and other objects
Spanish and Latin American treasures in these collections include:
- a 1629 edition of Cervantes
- early translations of The Lusiads, Luís de Camões' epic poem of 1572, widely regarded as the most important work of Portuguese-language literature
- paintings by Murillo and Picasso
- the renowned musicologist Jan Fairley’s rich collection of Latin American music recordings and interviews
Browse the University's holdings in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies
Many of our Special Collections are digitised and available online from our excellent Resource Centre and Computing Labs in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC).
Our in-house Portuguese Language Centre is one of only four in the UK sponsored by the Instituto Camões. It houses a dedicated student resource centre, including books and films in Portuguese.
We play a key role in the Centre for Contemporary Latin American Studies at the University. It brings together staff and students from a number of different subject areas at Edinburgh, including:
- film, media and art
- geography
- politics
- history
- social anthropology
- linguistics
The University of Edinburgh is proud to host the extension of the Cervantes Institute in Edinburgh, exploring cultural links between Spanish-speaking countries and Scotland.
This unique partnership has led to a global first in creating a Catedrático Cervantes/Cervantes Chair, held by Alexis Grohmann, Professor of Contemporary Spanish Literature.
The collaboration means that, for the first time, the Cervantes Institute (which spans four continents and 47 countries) is running events and activities in Scotland.
In the city
As a research student at Edinburgh, you will be based in a world-leading festival city with fantastic cinemas, theatres, galleries, museums, and collections.
Many of them are located close to the University's Central Area, making them very easy to access when you are on campus.
For example, the National Library of Scotland is less than one kilometre from our School. It has an outstanding collection of early modern Spanish material.
We have very close links with the Spanish Consulate in Edinburgh, and with communities of Spanish and Portuguese speakers in the city.
These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.
You should have near-native speaker competence in the relevant language(s).
MScR: A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a related subject.
International qualifications
Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:
English language requirements
Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
- Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
- PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 65 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
- Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 7 in each component.
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
Degrees taught and assessed in English
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:
We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).
If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.
Find out more about our language requirements:
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MScR | Hispanic Studies | 1 Year | Full-time | Tuition fees |
MScR | Hispanic Studies | 2 Years | Part-time | Tuition fees |
Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.
Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:
- borrowing money
- taking out a loan
- family support
- personal savings
- income from work
- employer sponsorship
- scholarships
Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study
Featured funding
You may be eligible to apply for a Muriel Smith Scholarship for this programme, which covers tuition fees for a maximum of one year.
If you are a current student or graduate of the University of Edinburgh, you are also eligible to apply for a John Orr Research Award. This award of £2,300 per annum is for masters research in any Romance literature, language or dialect.
Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4086
- Contact: llc.PGResearch@ed.ac.uk
- School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures
- 50 George Square
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9LH
Applying
Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.
MSc by Research Hispanic Studies - 1 Year (Full-time)
MSc by Research Hispanic Studies - 2 Years (Part-time)
Programme start date | Application deadline |
---|---|
8 September 2025 | 30 June 2025 |
If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.
You must submit two references with your application.
The online application process involves the completion of a web form and the submission of supporting documents.
For a Masters by Research programme, you should include:
- a sample of written work of about 3,000 words (this can be a previous piece of work from an undergraduate degree)
- a research proposal - an outline of your proposed area of study, helping us gain a clearer picture of what you hope to achieve
See our guidance:
Before you apply, you should look at the interests and expertise of our research community on the School website. This will help you decide if this programme is right for you and your supervision needs.
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
Further information
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4086
- Contact: llc.PGResearch@ed.ac.uk
- School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures
- 50 George Square
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9LH