Javier Alvarez-Jaimes
Job Title
Associate Professor
Employer
North Carolina Central University
Canadian Immigration Updates
Review details about the recently announced changes to study and work permits that apply to master’s and doctoral degree students. Read more
Overview
The Graduate Program in Hispanic Studies offers a dynamic curriculum focusing on a contextualized knowledge of the languages, literatures, and cultures of Latin America, Spain, and other Spanish-speaking communities within the US and Canada.
What makes the program unique?
Cutting-Edge Research:
The doctoral program in Hispanic Studies provides a wide variety of graduate courses taught by a growing team of faculty members specializing in innovative research, from Medieval Spanish literature to 21st-century Latin American and Caribbean cultures. The program offers solid academic training through our research clusters, reading groups, and research seminar. Students may participate in or even lead these initiatives, both within the department and in interdisciplinary centres, such as Green College, the Public Humanities Hub, and the Liu Institute for Global Issues.
Professional Development:
We provide a comprehensive Teaching Assistant training program as well as academic and professional development workshops—on grant writing, publishing, and conference attendance, among other topics—to help graduate students diversify their skillset and make an impact on society. 70% of graduates from our PhD program successfully landed careers in academia according to a career outcome survey.
Community Involvement:
Our annual Graduate Student Symposium allows graduate students to present their research to the entire Department. The biennial FHIS Graduate Student Conference, organized by the graduate students themselves with the assistance of faculty members, offers a platform to share research results with the wider academic community, network with local and international peers, and plan large-scale academic events. Through the FHIS Learning Centre, graduate students may also volunteer as tutors to help undergraduate students become proficient in the languages that are taught in our Department. In addition, the FHIS Cultural Club encourages students to discuss noteworthy social and cultural phenomena with our tight-knit community, engaging with current debates in our disciplines.
Quick Facts
Program Enquiries
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Contact the program
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Admission Information & Requirements
1) Check Eligibility
Minimum Academic Requirements
The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:
Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.
English Language Test
Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.
Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:
TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based
Overall score requirement: 90
Reading
22
Writing
21
Speaking
21
Listening
22
IELTS: International English Language Testing System
Overall score requirement: 6.5
Reading
6.0
Writing
6.0
Speaking
6.0
Listening
6.0
Other Test Scores
Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:
The GRE is not required.
2) Meet Deadlines
Application open dates and deadlines for an upcoming intake have not yet been configured in the admissions system. Please check back later.
3) Prepare Application
Transcripts
All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.
Letters of Reference
A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.
Statement of Interest
Many programs require a statement of interest, sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.
Supervision
Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.
Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Hispanic Studies (PhD)
Applicants should browse faculty profiles and indicate in their application who they are interested in working with. However, it is not necessary for applicants to contact faculty members prior to their application.
Citizenship Verification
Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.
4) Apply Online
All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.
Research Information
Research Highlights
We invite you to learn more about our research by visiting our departmental research spotlight webpage.
Tuition & Financial Support
Tuition
| Fees | Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / Refugee / Diplomat | International |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | $116.25 | $168.25 |
| Tuition * | ||
| Installments per year | 3 | 3 |
| Tuition per installment | $1,875.34 | $3,294.66 |
| Tuition per year (plus annual increase, usually 2%-5%) | $5,626.02 | $9,883.98 |
| Int. Tuition Award (ITA) per year (if eligible) | $3,200.00 (-) | |
| Other Fees and Costs | ||
| Student Fees (yearly) | $1,144.10 (approx.) | |
| Costs of living | Estimate your costs of living with our interactive tool in order to start developing a financial plan for your graduate studies. | |
* Regular, full-time tuition. For on-leave, extension, continuing or part time (if applicable) fees see UBC Calendar.
All fees for the year are subject to adjustment and UBC reserves the right to change any fees without notice at any time, including tuition and student fees. Tuition fees are reviewed annually by the UBC Board of Governors. In recent years, tuition increases have been 2% for continuing domestic students and between 2% and 5% for continuing international students. New students may see higher increases in tuition. Admitted students who defer their admission are subject to the potentially higher tuition fees for incoming students effective at the later program start date. In case of a discrepancy between this webpage and the UBC Calendar, the UBC Calendar entry will be held to be correct.
All fees for the year are subject to adjustment and UBC reserves the right to change any fees without notice at any time, including tuition and student fees. Tuition fees are reviewed annually by the UBC Board of Governors. In recent years, tuition increases have been 2% for continuing domestic students and between 2% and 5% for continuing international students. New students may see higher increases in tuition. Admitted students who defer their admission are subject to the potentially higher tuition fees for incoming students effective at the later program start date. In case of a discrepancy between this webpage and the UBC Calendar, the UBC Calendar entry will be held to be correct.
Financial Support
Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.
Program Funding Packages
All doctoral students are guaranteed a minimum funding package of $24,000 per year for the first five years of full-time study through a combination of Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, awards, and scholarships. We offer a variety of additional financial aid options, including a Graduate Research Grant to conduct doctoral research and a Graduate Student Travel Grant to attend conferences abroad.
Average Funding
Based on the criteria outlined below, 8 students within this program were included in this study because they received funding through UBC in the form of teaching, research, academic assistantships or internal or external awards averaging $34,866.
- 7 students received Teaching Assistantships. Average TA funding based on 7 students was $10,840.
- 4 students received Research Assistantships. Average RA funding based on 4 students was $4,717.
- 5 students received Academic Assistantships. Average AA funding based on 5 students was $2,450.
- 8 students received internal awards. Average internal award funding based on 8 students was $18,587.
- 1 student received external awards valued at $6,667.
Study Period: Sep 2022 to Aug 2023 - average funding for full-time PhD students enrolled in three terms per academic year in this program across years 1-4, the period covered by UBC's Minimum Funding Guarantee. Averages might mask variability in sources and amounts of funding received by individual students. Beyond year 4, funding packages become even more individualized.
Review methodology
Review methodology
Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)
All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.
Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)
Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)
Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union.
Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)
Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.
Financial aid (need-based funding)
Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans.
All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.
Foreign government scholarships
Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.
Working while studying
The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.
International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 24 hours a week during academic sessions.
A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement.
Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals
Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.
Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.
Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.
Cost Estimator
Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.
Career Outcomes
9 students graduated between 2005 and 2013: 1 graduate is seeking employment; for 1 we have no data (based on research conducted between Feb-May 2016). For the remaining 7 graduates:
RI (Research-Intensive) Faculty: typically tenure-track faculty positions (equivalent of the North American Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor positions) in PhD-granting institutions
TI (Teaching-Intensive) Faculty: typically full-time faculty positions in colleges or in institutions not granting PhDs, and teaching faculty at PhD-granting institutions
Term Faculty: faculty in term appointments (e.g. sessional lecturers, visiting assistant professors, etc.)
Sample Employers in Higher Education
Mount Royal UniversityUniversity of Lethbridge
University of Prince Edward Island
University of British Columbia
University of Aberdeen
Sample Employers Outside Higher Education
Davey Tree Expert Co.Sample Job Titles Outside Higher Education
Area ManagerInterpreter, translator
PhD Career Outcome Survey
You may view the full report on career outcomes of UBC PhD graduates on outcomes.grad.ubc.ca.Disclaimer
These data represent historical employment information and do not guarantee future employment prospects for graduates of this program. They are for informational purposes only. Data were collected through either alumni surveys or internet research.Alumni on Success
Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats
These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in Hispanic Studies (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.
ENROLMENT DATA
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applications | 5 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 6 |
| Offers | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| New Registrations | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Total Enrolment | 14 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 18 |
Completion Rates & Times
This program has a graduation rate of 67% based on 9 students admitted between 2011 - 2014. Based on 8 graduations between 2020 - 2023 the minimum time to completion is 3.41 years and the maximum time is 8.42 years with an average of 5.26 years of study. All calculations exclude leave times.
Disclaimer
Admissions data refer to all UBC Vancouver applications, offers, new registrants for each registration year, May to April, e.g. data for 2022 refers to programs starting in 2022 Summer and 2022 Winter session, i.e. May 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023. Data on total enrolment reflects enrolment in Winter Session Term 1 and are based on snapshots taken on November 1 of each registration year. Program completion data are only provided for datasets comprised of more than 4 individuals. Graduation rates exclude students who transfer out of their programs. Rates and times of completion depend on a number of variables (e.g. curriculum requirements, student funding), some of which may have changed in recent years for some programs.
Upcoming Doctoral Exams
Friday, 25 April 2025 - 12:30pm - Room 200
Mirta Roncagalli
Neohumanismo: Una Propuesta de Regeneración Ética y Sociopolítica en el Ensayo Español del Siglo XXI
Monday, 25 August 2025 - 9:00am - Room 200
Jennifer Nagtegaal
Expanded Comics: Multimediality, Performance, and Extra Multimodality under Post-Postmodernism
Research Supervisors
Supervision
Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.
Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Hispanic Studies (PhD)
Applicants should browse faculty profiles and indicate in their application who they are interested in working with. However, it is not necessary for applicants to contact faculty members prior to their application.
Doctoral Citations
A doctoral citation summarizes the nature of the independent research, provides a high-level overview of the study, states the significance of the work and says who will benefit from the findings in clear, non-specialized language, so that members of a lay audience will understand it.
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Dr. Albarran investigated new discourses about reproduction in contemporary Spanish literature. She analyzed the work of three women authors that explore the topic of procreation through novels, memoirs, and diaries. This work informs the concept's critical re-evaluation in light of technological change and a rethinking of some of the basic tenets of feminist thought. |
| 2018 | Dr. Izquierdo studied the constructivist art movement that established itself in Montevideo, Uruguay during the nineteen thirties and forties. Although this movement has often been viewed as an individual enterprise of its founder Joaquin Torres Garcia, Dr. Izquierdo argues in favor of ways in which we can view the collective experience in arts. |
| 2017 | Dr. Barnard studied connections between prisons and culture in contemporary Spain. Her research explored how cultural texts and practices changed understanding of the penitentiary system and suggested alternatives to punishment. Linking prisons, belonging, movement, and borders, she illuminates a central challenge facing today's Spain. |
| 2016 | Dr. Lara studied literary works of the Mexican guerrilla during the 1960's and 70's. He argues that the tensions and articulations between mourning and memory, utopia, and apocalyptic visions recreate a symbolic space where guerrillas, their families, and friends work for the reconstruction of memory, recognition, love and justice. |
| 2016 | Dr. Alvarez-Jaimes completed his doctorate in Hispanic Studies. He investigated how the perception produced by the news about poverty and violence in an urban community in Colombia motivated the practice of hip hop. His research offers a new understanding of how dialogue can shape political actions and influence the transformation of marginalized spaces. |
| 2015 | Through a dual linguistic and literary analysis, Dr. Wubbold examined a selection of contemporary Mayan poems. Her research focuses primarily on the use of polysemous terminology and poetic devices. This study reveals how complex networks of symbolic meaning are conceptualized and encoded in language and poetic expressions unique to Mayan culture. |
| 2014 | Dr. Rubio Gijon studied crime fiction films produced in Francoist Spain and Peronist Argentina from 1951 to 1955. He argues that by using the crime fiction genre, which helps to maintain the dominant ideology, the films oppose authoritarianism through narrative and formal strategies such as visual elements from film noir or Italian Neorealism. |
| 2014 | Dr. Fraser studied collective and personal love in Latin American poetry of the Cold War. She found that, contrary to the stereotype of the "passionate Latin American poet/lover/revolutionary", the coexistence of these two loves was tense and required creative strategies of resolution. Her work challenges assumptions about the region's literature. |
| 2013 | Dr. Grillo examined representations of race and ethnicity in discourses by Peruvian Andean indigenous authors, from the conquest of Peru by Spaniards in the 16th century to the present. She argues that an idea of race is imposed to Andean subjects through discourses on religion and education, and can be traced back to the beginning of colonization. |
| 2011 | Dr Karamán examined the role of Neo-Classicism and Graeco-Roman cultural heritage in shaping social and political institutions in Uruguay in the early nineteenth century. Popular culture contested the aspirations and achievements of the ruling class thus establishing a debate the impact of which still permeates contemporary political and cultural life. |
Pages
Sample Thesis Submissions
Further Information
Specialization
Hispanic Studies offers opportunities for advanced study in the literatures of Spain and Spanish America with courses ranging from topics in Spanish and Latin American literature and culture to the possibility of studying literary and cultural theory or issues in second-language instruction.
Faculty Overview
Academic Unit
Program Identifier
VGDPHD-L1
Program Enquiries
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