English Literature and Creative Writing Masters - MA/PgD/PgC

Program Overview

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Our modules are delivered over one year full-time or two years part-time. This content is indicative and subject to alteration.

The creative writing modules are taught by published authors who have hands-on experience of writing for publication. All modules will require you to write and bring work to regular workshop sessions. As well developing your own work, you will develop your skills as a critic, editor and researcher. With this joint degree you have the flexibility and freedom to select modules that best fit your research and creative interests.

You have the opportunity to choose any three of the optional modules listed below.

"Juvenile Trash": Rethinking Genre Fiction (Optional module)

Genre fiction is often seen as frivolous and less important than ‘serious’ literary fiction. In this module we ‘rethink’ genre fiction, digging deeper to evaluate the aesthetics, politics and undeniable value of genre fiction. In our seminars, we explore a range of genres, including fantasy, science fiction, speculative fiction, crime fiction, historical fiction, romance, and children's literature.

We examine the way in which various texts – Shirley Jackson’s 'The Haunting of Hill House', Octavia Butler’s 'Kindred', Walter Mosely’s 'Devil in a Blue Dress', or Sarah Waters’s 'Fingersmith', for instance – show that genre fiction can both entertain and challenge. Seminars will provide you with opportunities to critically examine texts as well as to develop your own writing skills through genre-specific writing exercises and workshops.

Space, Environment and Modernity (Optional module)

In this module you will examine how literature both reflects and shapes the way we see the environment—not just the green landscape but the grey cityscape. You will do this by considering literature’s responsibility for the production of concepts of the countryside and the city, from the early nineteenth-century Romantic poets, through to contemporary novelists. This examination will entail a consideration of the interrelation of aesthetic, cultural, and social practices in representations of the environment, and an analysis of intellectual, cultural, historical, and sociological pressures that shape literary responses to the environment. Seminars will provide you with opportunities to critically examine texts as well as to develop your own writing skills through writing exercises and workshops.

Contesting Identities: Gender and Sexuality in Literature (Optional module)

In this module we examine the shifting paradigms of gender and sexual identities from the late 19th century to the present day, with reference to social, cultural and political changes, via a range of texts. Through a selection of fascinating authors – for instance, Nella Larsen, Virginia Woolf, Carson McCullers, Toni Morrison, Jeanette Winterson, and Alison Bechdel - you will develop a sophisticated understanding of debates, theories and ideas relevant to the topics of gender and sexual identities.

Creative Writing Workshop 1: Craft and Construction (Optional module)

This module aims to provide you with a detailed understanding of the approaches and techniques associated with well-established shorter forms of writing such as the short story, the poem and the dramatic scene. You will have the opportunity to critically engage and experiment with diverse forms as well as develop your creative practice through weekly workshops focussing on new writing and feedback. This module will also help you in adopt an entrepreneurial approach to creative writing in relation to craft, literary criticism and market conditions. Through this module, you will develop a well-rounded understanding of the writing profession, informed by guest speakers and industry experts.

Creative Writing Workshop 2: Developing poetics, growing the text (Optional module)

This module aims to provide you with a detailed grasp of the approaches and techniques associated with longer, sustained forms of writing such as the short story sequence/collection, the poetry sequence/pamphlet, the short (screen)/play and digital fiction sequence. Seminars will provide you with opportunities to analyse and critically examine texts, concepts and each other's work as well as develop your own writing skills through task driven workshops, exercises and assessment.

This module will support you to develop a systematic understanding of the longer writing forms; demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of techniques and methodologies in creative writing practice; address your own writing abilities and (self) reflect on your writing and that of others; critically evaluate research and advanced scholarship; demonstrate self-direction and autonomy in planning and implementing your own creative outputs; and exercise initiative and personal responsibility.

Literary and Critical Arts Research Methods (Core module)

This module seeks to develop active and innovative researchers who are sensitive to the ethical and cultural choices they make as contemporary writers and critics. Throughout this module, you will be asked to consider what it means to learn and the approaches which are necessary to undertake robust and unbiased research. You will be introduced to a variety of research methods which will help to develop your practical research skills as well as your literary and critical practices.

Dissertation (Core module)

The

Dissertation

module provides you with the opportunity to undertake a sustained, rigorous and independent investigation of a specialised topic in their chosen discipline area within either English Literature or creative writing

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Program Outline

This MA English Literature and Creative Writing degree is taught by leading researchers and active writers who regularly publish books, articles, essays, poetry, short stories, nonfiction, novels, hybrid work and more.

Most modules are taught through group workshops, seminars and online delivery.  Some modules will also include individual tutorials and the dissertation module is delivered entirely through one-to-one tutorials with your supervisor.

In workshops and seminars full use is made of University technology and course materials will be delivered and stored through our Virtual Learning Environment.  It will be possible for you to access the Virtual Learning Environment remotely and you will be encouraged to do so.

All modules are 30 credits apart from the dissertation which is worth 60 credits.

In a 30-credit module you will receive 33 hours of timetabled teaching and you will be expected to conduct 267 hours of independent study.  The 60-credit dissertation is mainly conducted with independent study.  You will receive 6 hours of tutorial supervision (this includes supervisors looking over your work) and you will be expected to conduct 594 hours of independent study.

Each student is appointed a personal tutor who will be available for academic advice, pastoral support and personal development planning.  Tutors also have weekly office hours.

A critical but supportive environment is achieved through a combination of workshops, research seminars and e-learning. You will be introduced to the practicalities of preparing and submitting your work for possible publication.