Literature, Romanticism and the English Lake District

Program Overview

MA - Literature, Romanticism and the English Lake District

Course Overview

Our Master's in English Literature offers a unique opportunity to study a rich body of literary and non-literary texts within the geographical landscape which inspired them. This course is offered at the University of Cumbria's Ambleside campus, which is located in the very heart of the Lake District National Park - a UNESCO world heritage site.

For generations, the stunning landscape of the English Lake District has been a source of inspiration for poets and writers alike. We look forward to welcoming you onto our unique MA, to study a body of writing which explores our deep relationship with place and the natural environment, all within this awe-inspiring backdrop of this magnificent landscape.

Key Details

• Recruiting to: UK / RoI / Settled in UK, EU / EEA / International
• Course Location: Ambleside
• Institute: Institute of Education, Arts and Society
• Delivery Style: In-Person
• Course Duration: Full-time: 1 Year
• Course Start Point: September
• Award: MA

Minimum Entry Requirements

• A good first degree (2.1 or above) in English Literature or a related subject (e.g. Film Studies, Cultural Studies, Creative Writing); for overseas applicants, appropriate equivalence will apply.
• Applicants may be asked to attend an interview in person or online.

Tuition Fees

• £6,900 - UK (2025 - 2026)
• £14,900 - International (2025 - 2026)

Programme Leader

• Dr. Penny Bradshaw, PhD
• Associate Professor of English Literature; Programme Lead for MA Literature, Romanticism, and the English Lake District; Theme Lead for Cultural Landscapes within CNPPA.

Course Structure

What You Will Learn

The MA develops high-level analytical, interpretative, written and oral communication skills. Time-management, research skills, team-working, and independent working are also developed during the programme.

Students are encouraged to respond to assessment briefs and other tasks both critically and creatively. As well as engaging analytically with representations of place and landscape in the written word, you will develop an advanced understanding of the complex relationship between nature and culture. You will explore a range of ethical and environmental debates through the lens of literature, and will consider the key role played by the Arts in helping to shape responses to such debates.

Via work with partner organisations in the region (e.g. Wordsworth Grasmere, the National Trust and the Brantwood Trust), you will gain understanding of the 21st Century cultural heritage industry, and will explore the work and activities of this industry within a UNESCO world heritage site context.

Year One

• British Romanticism and the Lake District
• Literature and the Environment
• A Natural Education: Children's Literature and the Lake District
• Contemporary Cumbrian Writing
• Poetry and Place
• Literary Tourism and Cultural Heritage in the Lake District
• Dissertation

Teaching & Assessment

How You Will Learn

Modes of delivery within the programme depend ultimately on module content and academic aims, although most learning and teaching within the programme will be conducted through seminars. The latter encompasses informal tutor input, whole and small group discussion, interaction with peers, close textual study, and directed tasks.

Across your programme, you will experience other teaching modes, including: small group and individual tutorials, workshops, directed study tasks, student-led sessions, fieldtrips, specialist sessions (e.g. working with the archive at Wordsworth Grasmere; IT workshops), and distance-learning (e.g. online tutorials to support work on Dissertation).

The variety of learning and teaching methods used within the programme is designed to ensure inclusivity and to support a range of learner types, and at all times, we seek to cultivate a nurturing and supportive learning environment.

How You Will Be Assessed

The programme assessment strategy makes use of a range of assessment methods to enable you to demonstrate the extent to which you have achieved the learning outcomes of individual modules and the programme of study overall, and to encourage your development as an independent and autonomous scholar.

The critical essay remains a central mode of assessment in literature, but other assessment modes deployed throughout the programme include portfolio exercises (e.g. shorter close readings; annotated poems), the scripting and recording of a documentary-style programme, the production of a leaflet or webpage, and project work, as well as the dissertation.

A range of assessment modes are used because this enables us to test different aspects of your learning, but this also reflects our commitment to engaging with the needs of different learners. The assessment strategy encourages you to plan your time effectively, with some activities involving ongoing and incremental engagement, and others lending themselves more to shorter and more focused periods of work.

Additional Costs

There will be some additional costs. For example, all students will need to purchase stationery and may wish to purchase some textbooks. Extra costs may also be applicable to cover fieldtrips, membership fees, etc., although such features are usually options within the course.

Books are reviewed annually and are therefore subject to change, course welcome information will provide you with an indicative list for the year.

• Books and Journals: Most core textbooks are available via the University's library, however, students may wish to buy copies of any texts used to support your learning on your course. This could cost between £50 - £100 per year.
• Stationery: Students should budget for stationery and consumables for your personal use. This should include notebooks, pens, and pencils for taking notes in class and/or in the field. Students should also budget for the purchase of USB pen drives, as well as occasional printing and photocopying costs incurred in the preparation or submission of coursework. Whilst you will choose how much you need, expect to pay around £30 - £40 per year for these items.
• Clothing and Equipment: You should budget for stationery and consumables for your personal use. This should include notebooks, pens, and pencils for taking notes in class and/or in the field. You should also budget for the purchase of USB pen drives, as well as occasional printing and photocopying costs incurred in the preparation or submission of coursework. Whilst you will choose how much you need, expect to pay around £30 - £40 per year for these items.