About us

The Department of Spanish and Latin American Studies is one of the most renowned of its kind in the UK:

• Top-rated research: in 2008, 20% of our research activity was awarded 4* in the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). This is the highest mark possible, denoting research that is world-leading in its originality, significance and rigour.
• Research centres: our department is home to the following research centres:
• Centre of Iberian and Latin American visual Studies (CILAVS): this research centre offers a unique environment for collaborative, cross-disciplinary and comparative research on visual subjects in the Hispanic and Lusophone world, including Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Iberoamerican Museum of Visual Culture on the Web: this is Birkbeck's pioneering on-line resource on the visual cultures of Latin America, Spain and Portugal.
• Our academic staff members specialise in diverse aspects of cultural history.
• Our courses: we offer a variety of single subject and combined courses covering the rich and fascinating languages, history, culture, cinema and art of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking societies.
• Our location: we are in the heart of London's University quarter in Bloomsbury, minutes away from world-class institutions such as the British Museum, the British Library and Senate House. As a part of Birkbeck's thriving School of Arts, we are housed in historical buildings on Gordon Square.

If you want to talk to us about our department, you can visit us at an Open Evening, come to one of our events or contact us directly.