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Students
Tuition Fee
GBP 9,915
Per year
Start Date
Medium of studying
On campus
Duration
24 months
Program Facts
Program Details
Degree
Masters
Major
Cultural Studies | Literature | Philosophy
Area of study
Humanities
Education type
On campus
Timing
Part time
Course Language
English
Tuition Fee
Average International Tuition Fee
GBP 9,915
Intakes
Program start dateApplication deadline
2024-10-01-
About Program

Program Overview


The Birkbeck Critical Theory MA is a one-year full-time or two-year part-time program that explores various waves of critical theory in relation to culture. It examines the intersections of politics and aesthetics, analyzing how critical theory addresses social injustices. The program encourages constructive dialogue and debate to answer complex questions about cultural issues. Graduates find career paths in various sectors, including journalism, arts and filmmaking, and teaching.

Program Outline


Degree Overview:

  • The Critical Theory MA is a one-year full-time or two-year part-time program offered on campus at Birkbeck, University of London.
  • The program explores various waves of critical theory in relation to culture, focusing on both historical and contemporary thinkers.
  • It examines the intersections of politics and aesthetics, analyzing how critical theory addresses social injustices.
  • The program encourages constructive dialogue and debate to answer complex questions about cultural issues like science, technology, materialism, ecological crises, migrancy, globality, sexuality, and gender.
  • It explores diverse forms of cultural expression, including literature, print culture, painting, film, photography, music, and digital formats.
  • The program aims to equip graduates with the ability to conduct independent research and contribute to the field of critical theory.

Outline:

  • Structure: The MA consists of 3 compulsory modules (60 credits), 2 option modules (60 credits), and a 15,000-word dissertation (60 credits).
  • Compulsory modules:
  • MA Dissertation Skills
  • Origins and Futures in Critical Theory
  • Theorising the Contemporary, Contemporary Theorising
  • Indicative option modules (subject to change):
  • Being Human: Posthumanism and the 21st Century
  • Contemporary US Fiction
  • Freud in the world: psychoanalysis, literary writing and the legacies of history
  • Modes of American Writing
  • The Post-War: 1945 to the present
  • Course schedule:
  • Full-time: 2 evenings per week, October to July
  • Part-time: 1 evening per week, October to July
  • Individual modules: Each module has a specific focus and learning objectives.

Assessment:

  • Assessment methods include essays and a dissertation.
  • The program assesses students' ability to critically analyze cultural texts, engage in complex theoretical arguments, and conduct independent research.

Teaching:

  • Teaching methods include a combination of lectures and seminars.
  • Lectures provide overviews of key topics, while seminars encourage active participation and in-depth discussion.
  • The program features leading practitioners in the field of critical theory.

Careers:

  • Graduates find career paths in various sectors, including:
  • Journalism
  • Arts and filmmaking
  • Arts administration and research
  • Digital technology
  • Human rights work and advocacy
  • Law and business
  • Publishing
  • Teaching
  • Museum and cultural heritage work
  • The program fosters critical thinking, research, and communication skills that are valuable in various professions.

Other:

  • The program provides opportunities to engage with leading researchers in the field.
  • The text mentions that the program has a "Lifelong Learning Guarantee," which offers tuition fee discounts to previous Birkbeck graduates.

Part-time home students: £5,400 per year Full-time home students: £10,800 per year Part-time international students: £9,915 per year Full-time international students: £19,830 per year

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Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements:


For Home and EU Students:

  • A second-class honors degree (2:2 or above) from a UK university, or an equivalent international qualification.
  • Prior degree does not need to be in arts or humanities.
  • Applications are reviewed on individual merits, with professional qualifications and relevant work experience considered positively.
  • Mature learners are welcome.

For International Students:

  • The equivalent of an IELTS Academic Test score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.
  • If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes are available.
  • Visa requirements vary depending on the course duration:
  • Courses of more than six months require a Student visa.
  • Courses under six months require a Standard Visitor visa.
  • International students needing a Student visa should apply for full-time courses.

Language Proficiency Requirements:

  • For non-native English speakers or those without prior English study, the required score is an IELTS Academic Test of 6.5, with no sub-test below 6.0.
  • Alternatives like pre-sessional English courses and foundation programs exist for those not meeting the minimum IELTS requirement.
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