The Section of Spanish and Latin American Studies is one of the most renowned units of its kind in the UK for the world-class level and innovative scope of its research, which has recently been awarded a 5*, the highest distinction in the nationwide Research Assessment Exercise. It stands out for its unique student population, including a high number of Spanish and Latin American undergraduates and postgraduates, which brings a particular richness and variety of experience and knowledge to our courses and seminars. Our ten permanent members of staff, from six different countries, specialise in diverse aspects of cultural history and critique, with a strong emphasis not only on the literary and linguistic but also the audiovisual expression of the Latin America and Iberian peninsula past and present.
We offer a variety of single subject and combined degrees including BA Spanish and Latin American Studies, BA Spanish and Portuguese, BA Portuguese with Hispanic Studies, BA French with Portuguese, BA Spanish with Portuguese, BA Hispanic Studies and Humanities, BA Spanish and German, BA Spanish and French, BA Linguistics and Spanish, and MA Spanish and Latin American Studies (History and Critique/Visual Culture). In addition, courses in Spanish and Latin American Studies are also offered for the MA Medieval Studies, MA Renaissance Studies, and MA/MSc Gender, Society and Culture. Research supervision to MPhil and PhD level is offered in all the main areas of Spanish and Latin American culture. Research in Spanish and Latin American Studies at Birkbeck focuses on Language and Identity, the cultural history of Medieval and Islamic Iberia, Visual Art of Renaissance Spain, Native Cultures of Latin America, Modern Spanish Cultural History, Film and Visual Arts, Modern Latin American Cultural History, Brazilian and Portuguese Visual Geography, Cultural Theory, and Poetry and Poetics.