MA in English Literature

The MA in English Literature is designed around your development as a reader and researcher of literature; as a critical and reflective scholar; and as a communicator and presenter of knowledge. It combines current scholarly investigation with the promotion of transferrable academic and professional skills. It invites you to contribute to the discussions, debates, and projects that are transforming the discipline now with research-led modules informed by our staff’s current interests, publications, and collaborative projects. Based upon a modular structure and an accommodating timetable, this course is suitable for both part-time and full-time study.

Key facts

• Award: Masters
• Duration: 1 or 2 years
• Mode of study: Full/Part-time
• Start date: September
• Awarding institution: Bishop Grosseteste University
• Institution code: B38

About this course

Our MA in English Literature is ideal if you wish to broaden and extend your engagement with English Literature. You will explore a range of literary genres, approaches, and themes within a post-Enlightenment context, from 1780 to the present day through two team-taught modules uncover new and darker sides to literature, as well as innovative ways to interpret the past and the present through different perspectives, and four modules led by a tutor’s pursuits of selected authors, literary periods, genres and themes.

You will gain advanced knowledge of literature in English, powers of literary critical analysis, research, independent scholarship, and knowledge transfer through excellent communication skills. This course equips you with highly sought-after organisational, project-managing, delivery, liaison, problem-solving, and interaction skills. Flexible and vibrant, it gives you the opportunity to pursue your own interests in a variety of written and verbal assignments.

BGU English has an established research culture and you will be invited to join our staff at regular literary events, workshops, and presentations. You will be encouraged to participate in the research seminar series, conferences, and other public events. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF), 83% of the work submitted by English staff was judged to be of ‘international’ quality, including research that was deemed ‘world-leading’ in its originality, significance and rigour.

What will you study

Students on this course currently study some or all of the following modules

Course modules

• Theorising Literature: Critical Frameworks
• Literature in Time
• Framing Genre
• The Dark Side of Literature
• The Author in Focus
• Thematic Threads
• Dissertation

How you will be taught

Throughout this course, you will be offered individual, independent modules delivered through a flexible timetable (which can also accommodate a part-time study route). It provides diversity in both content and structure, with longer modules offering breadth and scope, complemented by specialist modules providing depth and focus. You will be able to tailor the assessment according to your own interests and produce your individual dissertation.

Assessment

Teaching will be based on independent research tasks feeding into regular small-group seminar sessions. Through a combination of expert commentary and critical discussion, students will acquire the skills and frameworks required for a range of oral, written and research-oriented assessments. These literary assessments will develop advanced communication and presentation skills for a multiplicity of professional future.

Support

Studying at BGU is a student-centred experience. Staff and students work together in a friendly and supportive atmosphere as part of an intimate campus community. You will know every member of staff personally and feel confident approaching them for help and advice, and staff members will recognise you, not just by sight, but as an individual with unique talents and interests.

We will be there to support you, personally and academically, from induction to graduation.