Program Overview

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Global Literary Industries Management (MA)

About this course

Develop your critical skills on this Global Literary Industries Management MA at the University of Southampton. You’ll study Shakespeare, Austen and creative writing, and benefit from practical sessions and placement opportunities. Your learning will include exclusive access to curators, theatre directors, novelists and heritage venues. This master’s course will prepare you for a career in the literary or cultural industries.

This UK master’s course will provide you with the knowledge and practical skills for a career in literature and culture, in areas such as:

• journalism
• publishing
• archiving
• broadcasting
• arts writing
• heritage management

You’ll learn from academics with professional experience in these fields, and explore the latest literary and cultural developments. Areas you’ll explore include:

• new media
• online and interactive publishing
• gaming and narrative
• adaptations and translation
• literary tourism
• heritage management

We combine practical and critical approaches on this course, meaning you’ll have the skills to work in these industries as well as the knowledge to understand their cultural significance.

You’ll be able to fit the course to your interests or career plans through your choice of optional modules, which cover everything from script-writing to literature and law.

You’ll spend a significant part of the course working on a major independent research project, allowing you to create your own professional portfolio.

Course lead

Your course leader is Kevin Brazil, Associate Professor of English Literature. Kevin has published widely on contemporary literature, visual art, and queer writing.

Course location

This course is based at Highfield.

Awarding body

This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.

Download the Course Description Document

The Course Description Document details your course overview, your course structure and how your course is taught and assessed.

Entry requirements

You’ll need a 2:1 degree in an arts, business, humanities or social sciences subject.

Find the equivalent international qualifications for your country.

English language requirements

If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English. You'll need all of the following scores as a minimum:

• overall score: 6.5
• reading: 6.0
• writing: 6.0
• speaking: 6.0
• listening: 6.0

If you do not meet the English language requirements through a test or qualification, you may be able to meet them by completing one of our pre-sessional English programmes before your course starts.

Course structure

On the full-time course your studies will last a full 12 months.

For the first 8 months (semesters 1 and 2) you'll focus on the taught part of the course. Some of your modules will be compulsory, others we will ask you to choose from a list of options.

For the rest of the course, you’ll work independently on your final project. You’ll have one-to-one meetings with your supervisor during this time to discuss your progress.

Modules

The modules outlined provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our course to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

Year 1 modules

You must study the following modules in year 1:

• Approaches to Critical and Creative Concepts
• Communicating the Cultural Industries
• Final Project (Global Literary Industries Management)
• Literary Industries and New Media

You must also choose from the following modules in year 1:

• Approaches to Literary Genres
• Approaches to Shakespeare, Past and Present
• Approaches to the Long Nineteenth Century
• Approaches to the Long Twentieth Century (1914-Present)
• Digital Forms
• Global Cultural Heritage
• Literature, Culture and Social Change
• Narrative Non-Fiction: From Literary Journalism to Memoir
• Narrative, Place, Identity
• Nation, Culture, Power
• Popular Fiction and Digital Culture
• The Cultural Imagination of Management
• The Publishing World
• Themes in Modern British History
• Transnational Movement in the Age of Globalisation

Learning and assessment

Learning

The learning activities for this course include:

• lectures
• classes and tutorials
• coursework
• seminars
• workshops
• independent learning (studying on your own)

Assessment

We’ll assess you through:

• essays
• critical reviews
• library and data retrieval exercises
• annotated bibliographies
• oral presentations
• final project

You’ll work on your final project over the summer. This will be on a topic of your choice, to be agreed with your supervisor.

The project is a chance for you to develop your research skills and show your expertise in a particular area of global literary industries management.

You’ll have regular meetings with your supervisor throughout the process.

Careers and employability

Employability skills

This degree will allow you to develop and evidence subject-specific and targeted employability skills. This includes the required skill set for a range of future careers, further study, or starting your own business.

The skills you can expect to focus on and gain from this course include:

• Research
• Critical thinking
• Self-management
• Communication
• Creativity

The employability and enterprise skills you'll gain from this course are reflected in the Southampton skills model. When you join us you'll be able to use our skills model to track, plan, and benefit your career development and progress.

Career pathways

Graduates commonly work in a range of organisations or sectors including:

• Creative Industries
• Arts Organisations
• Publishers
• Self-employment
• schools
• colleges
• universities
• Television Stations
• Radio Stations
• Journalism
• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Social Media Platforms
• Advertising Agencies
• PR Companies

Careers directly related to this course:

• Writer
• Digital copywriter
• Magazine editor
• Lexicographer
• Journalist
• Copy editor
• Proofreader
• Web content manager
• Advertising copywriter
• Social media content creator

Wider career opportunities:

• Social media editor
• Human resources manager
• Arts administrator
• Marketing executive
• Public relations officer
• Communications officer
• Digital communications executive
• University lecturer
• Researcher
• Librarian

Fees, costs and funding

Tuition fees

Fees for a year's study:

• UK students pay £9,250.
• EU and international students pay £27,800.

Check fees for other versions of this course.

Deposit

If you're an international student on a full-time course, we'll ask you to pay £2,000 of your tuition fees in advance, as a deposit.

Your offer letter will tell you when this should be paid and provide full terms and conditions.

Find out about exemptions, refunds and how to pay your deposit on our tuition fees for overseas students page.

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fee covers the full cost of tuition and any exams. The fee you pay will remain the same each year from when you start studying this course. This includes if you suspend and return.

Find out how to pay your tuition fees.

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.

Explore:

• accommodation costs
• living costs
• budgeting advice
• fees, charges and expenses regulations

10% alumni discount

If you’re a graduate of the University of Southampton, you could be eligible for a 10% discount on your postgraduate tuition fees.

Postgraduate Master’s Loans (UK nationals only)

This can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate master's course. Find out if you're eligible.

Southampton Arts and Humanities Deans Global Talent Scholarship

40 scholarships of £10,000 each are available to international students studying for an undergraduate degree or a postgraduate master’s degree in Arts and Humanities.

Find out more about the Southampton Arts and Humanities Deans Global Talent Scholarship, including eligibility, deadlines and how to apply.

Other postgraduate funding options

A variety of additional funding options may be available to help you pay for your master’s study. Both from the University and other organisations.

Funding for EU and international students

Find out about funding you could get as an international student.

How to apply

1. Use the blue 'apply for this course' button on this page to take you to our postgraduate admissions system.
2. Create an account which gives you access to your own application portal.
3. Search for the course you want to apply for.
4. Complete the application form and upload any supporting documents.
5. Pay the £50 application assessment fee, (there are some exemptions, check terms and conditions).
6. Submit your application.

For further details of our admission process, read our step by step guide to postgraduate taught applications.

Application deadlines

UK students

The deadline to apply for this course is Tuesday 9 September 2025, midday UK time.

We advise applying early as applications may close before the expected deadline if places are filled.

International students

The deadline to apply for this course is Tuesday 26 August 2025, midday UK time.

We advise applying early as applications may close before the expected deadline if places are filled.

Application assessment fee

We’ll ask you to pay a £50 application assessment fee if you’re applying for a postgraduate taught course.

This is an extra one-off charge which is separate to your tuition fees and is payable per application. It covers the work and time it takes us to assess your application. You’ll be prompted to pay when you submit your application which won’t progress until you've paid.

If you're a current or former University of Southampton student, or if you’re applying for certain scholarships, you will not need to pay the fee. PGCE applications through GOV.UK and Master of Research (MRes) degree applications are also exempt. Find out if you’re exempt on our terms and conditions page.

Supporting information

When you apply you’ll need to submit a personal statement explaining why you want to take the course.

You’ll need to include information about:

• your knowledge of the subject area
• why you want to study a postgraduate qualification in this course
• how you intend to use your qualification

References are not required for this programme.

Please include the required paperwork showing your first degree and your IELTS English language test score (if you are a non-native English speaker) with your application. Without these, your application may be delayed.

What happens after you apply

You'll be able to track your application through our online Applicant Record System.

We receive a high volume of applications for this course. This means you may not receive a response to your application for up to 12 weeks.

If we offer you a place, you will need to accept the offer within 30 working days. If you do not meet this deadline, we will offer your place to another applicant.

Unfortunately, due to number of applications we receive, we may not be able to give you specific feedback on your application if you are unsuccessful.

Equality and diversity

We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.

Got a question?

Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: [insert email] Tel: +44(0) [insert phone number]

Related courses

Global Literary Industries Management (MA) is a course in the English subject area. Here are some other courses within this subject area:

• MA Creative Writing
• MA English Literary Studies
• MA English Literary Studies (Eighteenth Century)
• MA English Literary Studies (Nineteenth Century)
• MA English Literary Studies (Postcolonial and World Literatures)
• MA English Literary Studies (Twentieth Century and Contemporary)
• PGCE English
• PGCE English with SEND