University of Nottingham

What you'll study

This PhD is a thesis-driven research programme enabling you to develop an original project in any area of Hispanic and Latin American Studies. Typical research topics include literature and literary history, film and visual culture, cultural studies, translation studies, language and linguistics, colonial and postcolonial studies, memory and diaspora, gender and sexuality, and the political and social histories of Latin America.

Your programme is built around independent research under the guidance of a principal supervisor and one or more advisers drawn from the School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies and related departments. You will normally follow a personalised training plan comprising research methods training, attendance at research seminars and workshops, and opportunities to present work in progress at internal and external seminars and conferences. Where appropriate, you may take advanced modules or short courses to strengthen theoretical, linguistic or methodological skills (for example, archival research methods, oral history techniques, digital humanities tools, or specialist language training).

Typical milestones include an initial research proposal and upgrade or confirmation of doctoral status, annual progress reviews, and the submission and viva voce examination of a thesis. The final thesis must make a significant original contribution to knowledge in your chosen field and is assessed by internal and external examiners.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a good honours degree (usually at least a UK upper second-class level) and a relevant postgraduate qualification with a substantial research component, for example an MA, MPhil or MRes in Hispanic Studies, Latin American Studies, Modern Languages, History, Cultural Studies or a closely related discipline. Candidates without a taught master’s but with appropriate research experience or publications may be considered on an individual basis.

A clear, well-developed research proposal and evidence of strong academic writing are essential. You should demonstrate competence in the language(s) relevant to your project (typically Spanish and/or Portuguese); ability to work with primary-language sources and, where relevant, archival materials or fieldwork; and the potential to complete a substantial original research project.

Applications normally require academic references, a CV, and writing samples. International applicants must meet the University’s English language requirements for doctoral study.

Career prospects

Graduates of the PhD in Hispanic and Latin American Studies pursue a wide range of careers. Many remain in higher education and research, taking up academic posts, postdoctoral fellowships or teaching roles in universities and colleges. Others apply their expertise in cultural organisations, museums, archives and heritage institutions, or in policy and development roles with governmental and non-governmental organisations focused on Latin America and the Spanish-speaking world.

Additional career paths include publishing and journalism, translation and interpreting, international relations and diplomacy, cultural project management, education and language teaching, and roles in the creative industries. The research, language and project-management skills developed during the PhD are also valued in think-tanks, media organisations and the private sector.

Why study at University of Nottingham

The University of Nottingham offers doctoral candidates a supportive research environment within a well-established School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies. You will benefit from close supervision by staff with expertise across the Hispanic and Latin American fields and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration with history, politics, film, and modern languages colleagues.

Postgraduate researchers have access to comprehensive library and archival resources, specialist language training facilities and regular research seminar series and workshops. There are also opportunities to gain teaching experience, participate in collaborative projects, and present work at conferences. The University’s global network and established international partnerships facilitate fieldwork and research exchanges where these are relevant to your project.

Overall, Nottingham provides the academic infrastructure, supervisory expertise and research training needed to complete a rigorous and impactful doctoral thesis in Hispanic and Latin American Studies.