We are one of the longest-running established centres for the study of Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies in the UK. Research at Liverpool is characterised by wide-ranging interests in the national and global dimensions of Latin American Studies, with a particular emphasis on social science, historical and cultural studies research.
Research activity in Latin American Studies is at the forefront of developments in literary, historical, cultural studies, and the social sciences. We are the home to major journals, including the Bulletin of Hispanic Studies, the Bulletin of Contemporary Hispanic Studies, and Modern Languages Open. Our research enhances our understanding of ‘Latin American studies’ as our research relates to the multiple geographical and linguistic contexts that make up the Hispanic and Lusophone worlds.
You will benefit from interdisciplinary and cross-institutional supervision tailored to your research interests. Latin American Studies is part of the Language-Based Area Studies pathway of the ESRC North-West Doctoral Training Centre, which includes the University of Manchester and Lancaster University. This means you can access the resources, facilities, modules and expertise across 3 top UK universities. ESRC funding is available for 1+3 (MA and PhD) and +3 (PhD) research for projects with a social science focus in Latin American Studies. Prospective applicants with a humanities focus can apply through the modern languages pathway of the AHRC North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership.
We welcome research proposals that are in areas matching the expertise of our researchers. Potential themes of your research could include:
You’re also welcome to suggest your own theme for a potential research project. Some current and recent PhD topics include:
We work closely with local and regional cultural organisations such as FACT, the National Museums Liverpool, the Tate Gallery and the Bluecoat leading to public events on Latin American digital art, Brazilian popular culture, and Latin American film and literature.
Our Latin American Studies Network fosters a robust research environment based on expertise in the Department. This Liverpool-based multidisciplinary network brings together experts in Latin American and North American studies to support research in the field, exchange ideas, and to provide opportunities for collaborations amongst the members.
We have hosted the annual conference of the Society for Latin American Studies, which is home to the ‘Bulletin of Latin American Research’ and the ‘Bulletin of Hispanic Studies’.
Potential supervisors for this PhD include:
View the staff list for the Department of Languages, Cultures and Film for details of potential supervisors across the department.
If you’d like any help finding a supervisor, please email HLC-PGR@liverpool.ac.uk.
You may need the following documents to complete your online application:
Finally, register and apply online. You'll receive an email acknowledgment once you've submitted your application. We'll be in touch with further details about what happens next.
Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.
Full-time place, per year - £5,006
Part-time place, per year - £2,503
Full-time place, per year - £24,600
Part-time place, per year - £12,300
Fees stated are for the 2025-26 academic year.
We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.
Find out more about the additional study costs that may apply to this degree.
If you're a UK national, or have settled status in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan worth up to £30,301 to help with course fees and living costs.
There’s also a variety of alternative sources of funding. These include funded research opportunities and financial support from UK research councils, charities and trusts. Your supervisor may be able to help you secure funding.
We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that could help pay your tuition fees and living expenses.
If you’re awarded this prestigious scholarship, you’ll receive significant funding to support your postgraduate research. This includes full payment of your PhD fees and a cash bursary of £17,000 per year while you study. One award is available in each academic year.
If you’re a UK student, either born in or with strong family connections to Merseyside, you could be eligible to apply for financial support worth up to £12,000 per year for up to three years of full-time postgraduate research (or up to five years part-time pro-rata).
Apply to receive tailored training support to enhance your sporting performance. Our athlete support package includes a range of benefits, from bespoke strength and conditioning training to physiotherapy sessions and one-to-one nutritional advice.
The Department of Languages, Cultures and Film is part of the School of Histories, Languages and Cultures, with departments steeped in history and disciplines which have been taught for over a century.
Facilities for postgraduate researchers include designated shared office space and access to a vast repository of journals in the areas of Comparative and World Literature, including e-journals, through the Sydney Jones Library.
You will join a lively community with colleagues from all disciplines collaborating through institutional research groups and forums.
You’ll have access to the newly opened Newton Interpreting Suite. The suite uses the latest industry-standard technology, making it fully ISO compliant. It features five interpreter booths, a 12-person conference table, and an AV comms room to allow hands-on experience of interpreting in real time.
These are the trailblazers, the leaders, the true originals. Our postgraduate researchers are shaping their future, and the future of the world we live in, advancing knowledge with each discovery.
Want to find out more about studying a PhD with us? Chat with our postgraduate research student ambassadors and ask any questions you have.
Discover the qualifications you'll need to apply for this course.
We typically require a UK master’s degree and 2:1 undergraduate degree, in subjects relevant to the proposed field of research, or equivalent academic qualifications from non-UK institutions.
You'll need to demonstrate competence in the use of English language, unless you’re from a majority English speaking country.
We accept a variety of international language tests and country-specific qualifications.
International applicants who do not meet the minimum required standard of English language can complete one of our Pre-Sessional English courses to achieve the required level.
| Qualification | Details |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.5 overall, with no component below 6.0 |
| TOEFL iBT | 88 overall, with minimum scores of listening 19, writing 19, reading 19 and speaking 20. TOEFL Home Edition not accepted. |
| Pearson PTE Academic | 61 overall, with no component below 59 |
Do you need to complete a Pre-sessional English course to meet the English language requirements for this course?
The length of Pre-sessional English course you’ll need to take depends on your current level of English language ability.
If you don’t meet our English language requirements, we can use your most recent IELTS score, or the equivalent score in selected other English language tests, to determine the length of Pre-sessional English course you require.
Use the table below to check the course length you're likely to require for your current English language ability and see whether the course is available on campus or online.
| Your most recent IELTS score | Pre-sessional English course length | On campus or online |
|---|---|---|
| 6.0 overall, with no component below 6.0 | 6 weeks | On campus |
| 6.0 overall, with no component below 5.5 | 10 weeks | On campus and online options available |
| 6.0 overall, with no more than one component below 5.5, and no component below 5.0 | 12 weeks | On campus and online options available |
| 5.5 overall, with no more than one component below 5.5, and no component below 5.0 | 20 weeks | On campus |
| 5.0 overall, with no more than one component below 5.0, and no component below 4.5 | 30 weeks | On campus |
| 4.5 overall, with no more than one component below 4.5, and no component below 4.0 | 40 weeks | On campus |
If you’ve completed an alternative English language test to IELTS, we may be able to use this to assess your English language ability and determine the Pre-sessional English course length you require.
Please see our guide to Pre-sessional English entry requirements for IELTS 6.5 overall, with no component below 6.0, for further details.
Have a question about this research opportunity or studying a PhD with us? Please get in touch with us, using the contact details below, and we’ll be happy to assist you.