Reparatory Justice MSc/MA
In partnership with
Live Online Event About This Degree
Watch a recording of our online panel discussion and Q&A with students and staff from 22nd May.
This double degree Masters programme offers a unique opportunity to work with leading scholars in Reparatory Justice at The University of the West Indies (UWI) and the University of Glasgow (UofG). Directed by the Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for Development Research (GCCDR), the programme is a collaboration between the Beniba Centre for Slavery Studies in Glasgow and the Centre for Reparations Research at The UWI. You can choose to study at one of three campuses: Cave Hill Campus in Barbados, Gilmorehill Campus in Glasgow, UK, or Mona Campus in Jamaica.
- Academic contact: Dr Messias Basques: messias.basques@glasgow.ac.uk
- Teaching start: September
- Glasgow: Gilmorehill campus and University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Barbados and University of the West Indies, Mona Jamaica
- MSc/MA: 12 months full-time; 24 months part‑time
Why this programme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLoUWNOg0Zs
- With a specific focus on the Caribbean and the slavery reparations movement, the programme will also draw on case studies of campaigns for reparative justice in other global contexts.
- You will learn how to conduct practical and theoretical research using archival, interviews and legal research while also gaining experience in organisations doing reparative work to produce a final research project on reparative justice.
- The University of the West Indies is a world-leader in the formulation, activism and academic research underpinning claims for reparations for slavery. Students will be able to access archives and library collections in Barbados and Jamaica for research.
- The University of Glasgow offers access to primary source materials and material culture holdings and draws on a range of expertise across the study of slavery, genocide and human rights violations.
- This double degree leverages the close relationship and official partnership between The University of the West Indies and The University of Glasgow, and enabling students to graduate with a degree from both institutions.
- Read in the Guardian: World’s first reparatory justice master’s launches in Glasgow and West Indies.
- Read our news story: First students graduate from pioneering Reparatory Justice Masters Programme
- Listen to our podcast: Stories from Glasgow – Tracing Glasgow's Imperial Past with Dr Rosie Spooner.
Aims of the Programme
Hear about the aims of the programme from its original convener, Dr Christine Whyte.
Reparatory Justice Presentation
Q&A from 30 May 2024
Find out what it's like to study this degree from current students and staff. Join us on the day and ask your own questions or catch up with a recording after the event.
Programme structure
You will take:
- four core courses (two offered by The UWI, two by UofG)
- two optional courses
You will also produce a dissertation.
Core courses
Semester one
Semester two
Optional courses
You will choose two optional courses from an available range of topics. The optional courses are updated each year, but may include:
- Resistance to Slavery from 1700 to 1900
- Raw Material: Literature, Empires, Commodities (PGT)
- Postcolonialism: Writing and Theory (PGT)
- A 'New Form of Slavery'?: Indentured Labour in Post-Slavery Caribbean Societies, c. 1836-1917
Summer: April to September
Teaching and assessment
Teaching is mainly seminar and discussion-based in small classes. As students will be based in both the Caribbean and the UK, seminars will be delivered in a ‘hybrid’ format, meaning some students will be in the classroom at the University of the West Indies, with University of Glasgow students joining via online video link and vice versa.
Technical skills are taught in the core courses, while conceptual foundations are explored in weekly seminars. Independent and self-reflective critical work is fostered through written assignments and seminar presentations, culminating in the dissertation.
Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours
to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw
or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract.
Career prospects
The research skills and methods you’ll gain on this programme give you the transferable skills for positions in NGOs, the public and private sectors, including heritage policy and projects, activism, media and teaching.
The programme is also an excellent foundation for PhD study in a similar field.
Fees & funding
Tuition fees for 2026-27
MSc/MA
Full-time:
- UK/Caribbean students: £11,367
- EU/International students: £26,460
Part-time:
- UK/Caribbean: £1,263 per 20 credits
Fee status
Deposits
International and EU applicants are required to pay a deposit of £2,000 when an offer is made.
Deposits: terms & conditions
The following guidelines will apply in determining whether a deposit will be refunded. Where the deposit is refunded, a 25% administration fee will be deducted unless otherwise stated.
a: Deposits WILL be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:
- Where the University is unable to offer you a place on the programme as specified on the offer. A full refund will be issued in this case.
- Death of a close family member (parent/guardian, grandparent, sibling, spouse, child/dependent). Official evidence (signed and stamped) must be provided.
- SERIOUS ill health of the applicant or a close family member (parent/guardian, grandparent, sibling, spouse, child/dependent). Official evidence (signed and stamped) must be provided.
- Applicant does not meet conditions of offer. This may be academic or language test requirements. Satisfactory evidence must be uploaded to the student’s applicant self-service to prove that they have not met the conditions of their offer (note that applicants who do not meet the language condition of their offer must show reasonable attempt to meet this, i.e. they must provide at least two language tests which were taken after the date the deposit was paid).
- Visa / ATAS refusal: we will only consider a refund if the visa / ATAS refusal was based on matters outside of the applicant’s control.
- If a refund request is received within 14 days of the deposit being received a full refund will be issued under the Consumer Protection Regulations.
b: Deposits WILL NOT be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:
- An applicant decides not to attend the University for any reason not outlined above.
- Personal financial constraints / unsuccessful scholarship application.
- Applicant has decided to defer – in this situation the University will retain the deposit and hold it against the applicant’s account to secure their place for the following year of entry. You may defer twice. After the second deferral standard conditions will apply.
- There is still time to meet the English language test requirement before the final upload date. Please see section a) 4.
- Visa / ATAS was applied for too late. Please see section a) 5.
- Any documents used for admission are proven to be fraudulent. We work in partnership with Qualification Check to check academic qualifications. English language qualifications are verified with the provider.
- The refund request is received more than 30 days after the official course start date as outlined in your offer email.
Timeframe for requesting a refund
Refund requests must be received no later than 30 days after the official course start date as outlined in your offer email. As per section b)7 above the request will be denied.
Receiving a refund
- To comply with Money Laundering Regulations, the University will pay all refunds to the original payer using the source payment details. This is known as a “return to source” payment.
- All appropriate documentation and evidence relating to the original payment must be provided, when requested.
- All payments and refunds are in GBP currency - the University is not responsible for any exchange rate fluctuations or beneficiary bank charges associated with the refund.
- Where University approved payment methods have not been used, this may cause significant delays or prevent payment altogether.
- We will aim to issue the deposit refund within 8 weeks of receipt of information per point 2 above. At peak times this may be longer.
How to request a deposit refund
Please go to our enquiry form and select 'Fees and Deposit' as the enquiry reason and then 'Can I have a deposit refund?'.
Please upload all supporting documentation to your applicant self-service portal before submitting the above request.
Additional fees
- Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
- Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
- Registration/exam only fee: £170
Funding opportunities
MSc/MA Reparatory Justice Scholarships
The University of Glasgow is pleased to be offering scholarships for the MSc/MA Reparatory Justice programme delivered in partnership with the University of the West Indies. The scholarships are a 50% fee waiver (capped at £11,070) and are available to home, EU and international students. Applications are particularly welcomed from applicants from the Caribbean and African diasporas.
University of Glasgow African Excellence Award
The University of Glasgow African Excellence Award aims to support high achieving students from across Africa in their journey to become Future World Changers. We are looking for students who wish to undertake Masters level study, to further develop their knowledge and skills, in order to positively contribute to their community in the future.
The University is offering up to 16 scholarships for International students from Africa, starting a one year postgraduate taught Masters programme, in any discipline for academic session 2026/27. The scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver.
University of Glasgow Caribbean Excellence Award
The University of Glasgow Caribbean Excellence Award aims to support high achieving students from across the Caribbean in their journey to become Future World Changers. We are looking for students who wish to undertake Masters level study, to further develop their knowledge and skills, in order to positively contribute to their community in the future.
The University is offering up to 4 scholarships for International students from the Caribbean, starting a one year postgraduate taught Masters programme, in any discipline for academic session 2026/27. The scholarship is a full tuition fee waiver.
Postgraduate Access Scholarship
The University of Glasgow is pleased to be offering Postgraduate Access Scholarships to support Home students who could face financial difficulties in taking up their place to study at the University. Applications are particularly welcomed from applicants who met any of our widening participation criteria, or equivalent, at undergraduate level. The value of each scholarship is £4,000 and they are for students undertaking a one or two year Taught Masters programme. For two year Taught Masters programmes, the scholarship is available in year one only.
University of Glasgow is committed to support as many self-funded students as possible which is why UofG discounts and scholarships cannot be combined with one another or any external sponsorship discounts (with the exception of Alumni Discount). This scholarship can not be awarded in conjunction with the Glasgow (UK) Excellence Award. In the case that you are awarded both, our team will get in touch with you to clarify which scholarship you would like to accept.
Global Leadership Scholarship
The University of Glasgow has several Global Leadership Scholarships available to International fee students starting a postgraduate taught Masters programme in any discipline for Academic Session 2026/2027. The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fees discount.
The scholarships above are relevant to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database
Entry requirements
2.1 Hons (or non-UK equivalent) in any subject.
A 2.2 Honours degree will be considered where supported by relevant experience. Substantial, directly relevant experience may be considered in place of formal qualifications.
English language requirements
For applicants from non-English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)
- 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
- IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Common equivalent English language qualifications accepted for entry to this programme:
TOEFL (ibt, mybest or athome)
- 90 overall with no subtest less than Reading 20; Listening 19; Speaking 19; Writing 21
- Only tests taken before January 2026 can be accepted for entry
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test, this includes TOEFL mybest.
Pearsons PTE Academic
- 65 overall with no subtest less than Reading 60; Listening 60; Speaking 65; Writing 60
- Online PTE not accepted for entry
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)
- 176 overall with no subtest less than 169
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Oxford English Test
- 7 overall with no subtest less than 6
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
LanguageCert Academic/ Academic Online
- 70 overall with no subtest less than 65
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Password Skills Plus
- 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Trinity College Integrated Skills in English II
- Two subtests at 96 or higher, and two subtests at 80 or higher
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Kaplan Test of English
- Any two subtests at 480 or higher, and any two subtests at 450 or higher
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses
Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.
Alternatives to English Language qualification
- Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have studied for a minimum of their final year at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.
- Undergraduate 2+2 and 3+1 degrees from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have completed their final year of study in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.
Pre-sessional courses
The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study. Our courses give you:
- direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS);
- essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University;
- flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.
More information on our Pre-sessional courses.
We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:
- Heriot Watt
- Kingston Upon Thames
- Middlesex University
- Manchester University
- Reading University
- Edinburgh University
- ST Andrews University
- UCL
- Durham
For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our enquiry form
International students
We are proud of our diverse University community that includes students and staff from more than 140 different countries.
How to apply
To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.
Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.
Documents
As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:
- A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
- A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
- Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
- Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
- Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
- A copy of the photo page of your passport
We may also request additional documents such as a personal statement, portfolio, references or a sample of academic writing to support your application.
You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.
You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.
For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, see how to apply for a postgraduate taught degree
Guidance notes for using the online application
These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form.
If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, see Application System Help.
- Name and Date of birth: must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
- Contact Details: Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
- Choice of course: Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
- Proposed date of entry: Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
- Education and Qualifications: Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
- English Language Proficiency: Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
- Employment and Experience: Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.
Application deadlines
September 2026
- All applicants: 21 August 2026
More information about this programme
About the feature image: The Emancipation ‘Bussa’ Statue, Bridgetown, Barbados.
This monument was erected by the government and people of Barbados in 1985 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery and the emancipation of Barbadians from the institution of slavery. Sculptor – Karl Broodhagen
Postgraduate events
