Hispanic Studies

Welcome to the Graduate Program in Hispanic Studies at Western!

A degree in Hispanic Studies delivers a world-class, interdisciplinary academic experience. But it's more than just a program - it's a rich experience filled with language, culture, extra-curricular activities, research, teaching, and community engagement so your graduate wti hthe skills you need to find a rewarding career in a multicultural world.

This program distinguishes itself from others because of our innovative approaches to Hispanic Studies. In our Literature and Culture programs we focus on connections in time, geography and medium. Our strengths lie in Transatlantic studies, Visual arts, text and music, Digital Humanities and their place in Hispanic Culture. The Linguistic stream focuses on an experimental approach to language acquisition, language loss, heritage speakers and language change due to contact.

Among other opportunities offered in our programs, students may be able to participate in the ground breaking research that takes place in the CulturePlex, the Digital Humanities lab which is unique in Canada.

The Own Your Future doctoral professional development program will help you become a career-ready graduate with the skills necessary to excel in your studies and achieve your future goals. By participating in the program, you will assess your own strengths and opportunities for growth, choose what skills you want to enhance during your time at Western, and learn how to articulate the skills you gained in your degree to optimize your future career opportunities. To learn more, visit www.uwo.ca/ownyourfuture.

Program Length

• 12 Terms

Program Design

• Full-time study
• Thesis-based

Funding Information

• Graduate Student Funding Support Package

Applicants are encouraged to apply for the following scholarships (if eligible):

• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS)
• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fee schedules (per term) are posted on the Office of the Registrar's website at http://www.registrar.uwo.ca/student_finances/fees_refunds/fee_schedules.html

Graduate Student Affordability Calculator

Use this helpful tool to estimate how much money you will need to pay for your tuition, fees, housing, food, and other necessities for a 12-month (three term) academic year.

Admission Requirements

• A minimum of 80% overall average in the Master's degree.
• Sample of previous academic work (written work ie: previous essay).
• CV
• Statement of Interest (Letter of Intent). This statement is typically between 300-1000 words. This letter should address: your specific area of academic interest (the research topic you want to work on and with whom), how your past education and other experiences have prepared you to be successful in our graduate program, what you hope to achieve in our graduate program, and why our program is the best place for you to pursue your interests.

Additional Requirements

• Students are expected to gain reading knowledge in a language other than Spanish and English before graduation.

English Language Proficiency

*Exit Requirement: Applicants whose first language is not English must furnish evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language:

• The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Minimum acceptable score is 550 for the paper and pencil version, 213 for the computer version, or 86 for the internet version with no individual score below 20. [Western's TOEFL ID is 0984].
• The International English Language Testing Service (IELTS Academic). Minimum acceptable score is 6 out of 9.
• The Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL Assessment). Minimum acceptable score is 60.
• Fanshawe College’s ESL Program. The requirement is graduation from Level 10, English for Academic Purposes, with a minimum 80% in all components.

Application Deadline

• February 1 - Acceptance notification at the beginning of April