Course summary

Why choose this course In a world of information overload and 'alternative facts', the ability to read between the lines is more valuable than ever. Studying English literature equips you with the skills to do this. Our flexible course will further your ability to analyse words and literary forms, deepening your knowledge of important literary periods, movements, authors and texts. The optionality woven into the programme means you can really tailor your studies to focus on the topics and texts that most interest you. You'll benefit from the expertise of our academics who are leaders in their fields. They’ll inspire you to extend your understanding of literary history, genre and theory, introducing you to a variety of up-to-date approaches to literary studies. You’ll also get a chance to work with our Poet and Distinguished Writer in Residence – again, all leading exponents of their chosen literary genres. What you will study You’ll be joining a course with a strong emphasis on contemporary, 21st-century literary forms and themes, and on literature and cultural production with an innovative, sometimes avant-garde dimension. The material you read (and possibly write) can therefore range from gaming narratives, screenplays, travel writing and experimental poetry to science fiction, children’s literature, neohistorical fiction and queer ecology. At the same time, there is ample scope to study other periods and more traditional, canonical texts; for example, from the medieval era or from the Victorian period. The programme also builds in plenty of flexibility (e.g. via its Open Writing modules, the dissertation and several other modules), giving you scope to home in on the topics and texts that most interest you. This means you can use the MA to lay down a good foundation for PhD study, or just to explore a particular enthusiasm or fascination in depth.