Course summary

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. 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 literatures 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. 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. 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. This Masters course will prepare you for a variety of professions that depend on advanced critical, literary and analytical skills, and also depend on the sophisticated communication and research abilities you will gain. This may include careers such as teaching, publishing, librarianship, journalism, professional writing or within academia (through obtaining a PhD). However, a Masters in English need not result in a career specifically tied to the subject. Our graduates will also be in a strong position to move into occupations relating to marketing, management or public relations. Find out more: https://www.bishopg.ac.uk/courses/maenglit