Program Overview

MA English Literature

Overview

The MA in English Literature aims to deepen your passion for literature while developing the rigorous specialist skills essential to postgraduate-level research. You will receive the help and support of the distinguished Department of English as we aim to provide a stimulating and challenging intellectual experience in a friendly environment.

The programme offers four pathways, which build on the core research strengths of the department:

• Shakespeare and Early Modern Literature
• Romantic and Victorian Literature
• 20th Century and Contemporary Literature
• Literature and the Environment.

If you wish to focus on a particular period you may follow a single pathway. Alternatively, if you want to broaden your engagement with English literature, you may decide to choose no single pathway, and combine optional units to suit your interests.

All students are taught the specialist skills required for postgraduate-level research and the practical skills that academic life demands. Everyone on the programme is invited to enter fully into the wider academic community of the department and the University.

Key Information

Programme Duration

• One year full-time
• Two years part-time

Start Date

• September 2025

Application Deadline

• Overseas applicants: 25 July 2025
• Home applicants: 8 August 2025

Delivery Method

• On-Campus

Location

• Clifton

Awards Available

• MA

Programme Structure

You will study units that follow the pathway or route through the programme that matches your interests. After successfully completing the taught portion of the programme, you must complete a dissertation of up to 12,000 words.

Entry Requirements

You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent with 60% or above in any dissertation/research component. In cases where an undergraduate transcript does not contain a research element such as a dissertation, we may ask applicants to provide an example of their academic writing that demonstrates capacity for independent research.

For applicants who are currently completing a degree, we understand that their final grade may be higher than the interim grades or module/unit grades they achieve during their studies.

We will consider applicants whose interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements. We may make these applicants an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so the applicant would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of their degree. Specific module requirements may still apply.

We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement. If you have at least one of the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing details of your relevant qualifications:

• Evidence of significant, relevant work experience:
  • Acceptable sectors:
    • Creative Industries
    • Journalism
    • Teaching
    • Curating
    • Museums
    • Publishing
    • Editing
• A relevant postgraduate qualification.

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level A.

Fees and Funding

Home Students

• Full-time: £12,800 per year
• Part-time (two years): £6,400 per year

Overseas Students

• Full-time: £29,300 per year

Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.

Career Prospects

Students who complete the MA in English Literature have been successful in obtaining employment in media, journalism, publishing, theatre, arts administration and teaching, as well as in industry, commerce, law, computing and social work. Many MA English Literature graduates continue their studies by moving on to MPhil/PhD programmes.