Overview

Discover the incredible diversity of English literature throughout history and around the globe with this broad and varied Masters degree.

You’ll draw upon our School’s extensive research strengths across literary periods (including Renaissance, Romantic, Victorian, and modern), diverse cultures (including postcolonial and American), and interdisciplinary humanities (such as digital, environmental, and medical).

With access to a rich range of modules, you’ll be able to specialise in your particular field and make unexpected connections between disparate areas, such as Arthurian legend or the Victorian media revolution, Black British writing or the Brontës, psychoanalysis or postcolonialism.

This degree’s flexibility and wealth of module options connects you to internationally-renowned academics with expertise in many areas and specialisms, allowing you to gain a multifaceted perspective on your subject.

You’ll also have the freedom to pursue your personal interests through an independent research project on a topic of your choice. Throughout your studies, you’ll be encouraged to consider overarching issues relating to the study of English literature in all its forms.

Learning and teaching

You’ll generally have two-hour weekly seminars in each module where you discuss the themes and issues arising from your reading, and you’ll be able to enhance your learning by attending the wide range of research seminars and talks by visiting speakers that we arrange throughout the year. You’ll also benefit from supervisions throughout semester 2 with your dissertation supervisor.

However, independent study is a vital part of the degree as it allows you to build your skills and explore your own ideas.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Most of our MA modules are assessed with a single essay of around 4,000 words, which you’ll submit at the end of the semester. You’ll usually also be required to submit unassessed essays to gain feedback on your work and give presentations on your reading in seminars. The research project/dissertation is 12,000-15,000 words in length.

Career opportunities

This degree will allow you to develop subject knowledge in a challenging and dynamic subject while building skills that are highly prized by employers.

You’ll be a confident researcher who works well independently, but you’ll also be an excellent communicator and comfortable in a team. You’ll have good analytical and critical skills, as well as having the ability to use different approaches to think about a situation from several different viewpoints.

All of these qualities are attractive to employers across sectors, and you’ll be well equipped to pursue a career in a wide range of fields depending on your interests. These could include teaching, journalism, publishing, advertising, broadcasting and law. Many of our graduates also progress to PhD-level study and you’ll be in a good position to develop a career in academia.