Course summary

This MPhil provides students with the critical and theoretical tools to enable them to undertake an in-depth study of specific aspects of European literatures and cultures and/or Latin American and Francophone contexts. The core course introduces students to a broad range of critical theory concepts and methods of textual analysis (and, if relevant, palaeography). The course allows for in-depth study of specific cultures and contexts and includes writing a thesis based on original research. This MPhil by Thesis is for students who already have a substantial level of familiarity with the study of literary texts or other material in the relevant culture, who already know the area they wish to research for their thesis, and who wish to focus their studies in that area for the entire year. To be eligible for consideration, a student will need an appropriate level of linguistic and/or cultural expertise, a clear idea of the field in which the thesis will be written, and a documented record of undertaking long independent research and writing projects. The full-time course runs from October to June, with a submission date of early June. It is also possible to take a part-time route, in which the expected timeframe is 21 months, with a thesis submission date of early June in the second academic year of the degree.