5Nov
PostgraduateCourse summary
Expand your understanding of children’s and young adult literature by specialising as a researcher, creative writer, or children’s book illustrator with the MA Children’s Literature programme. Why study MA Children's Literature at Goldsmiths
- Develop a well-rounded understanding of children’s and young adult (YA) literature, focusing on its creative, cultural, and commercial impact in the UK and globally.
- Learn from leading figures in children’s and young adult literature, including former Children’s Laureate, Professor Michael Rosen.
- Engage with industry professionals, educators, and literacy advocates who regularly join us as guest speakers.
- Benefit from the opportunity to apply for one of our internships to support the development of your career. In 2024-2025, placement opportunities have been offered with BookTrust, the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, and Usborne Books, a leading independent children’s publisher.
- Celebrate the importance of culturally relevant books for showing underrepresented readers that they have a place in the world. Our core module – Inclusion and Diversity – examines how texts for young people can challenge and disrupt existing power systems.
- Specialise as a researcher, creative writer, or children’s book illustrator and build a portfolio of work to support you in life beyond the MA Children’s Literature.
- Contribute to Spinning Gold, the online publication led by MA Children’s Literature students, and take part in the Children’s and Young Adult Literature Research Forum, where you’ll connect with fellow researchers and practitioners in the field.
Modules
The optional elements of this programme mean you can choose between pursuing a pathway focusing on the study of literature for children in community contexts (Theory and Criticism pathway) or mainly focus on developing your writing for children (Creative Writing pathway). Theory and Criticism pathway You'll complete the following compulsory modules: Inclusion and Diversity Research with Texts The Publishing Industry Final Project Final Project You will complete a Final Project. This is a critical enquiry related to theory and criticism in the study of children’s literature or a portfolio that will enable you to engage with critical and practical debates relating to creative writing and work creatively and imaginatively within the constraints of the designated project. Optional module: You'll also choose one optional module. The recommended option for this pathway is: Children's Literature in Action Creative Writing pathway For this pathway you'll take the following compulsory modules: Inclusion and Diversity Workshop in Creative and Life Writing The Publishing Industry Creative and Life Writing Portfolio Optional modules You'll also choose one module from the following list: Writing for Children and Young Adults Children's Literature in Action Picture Book Writing Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.
Assessment method
Taught sessions and lectures provide overviews of coursework themes, which you are encouraged to complement with intensive reading for presentation and discussion with peers at seminars. Coursework essays build on lectures and seminars, so you are encouraged to attend all taught sessions to build knowledge and their own understanding of their chosen discipline. In depth feedback is provided for written assignments and essays via written feedback forms and formative feedback with module tutors/leads is provided to ensure that your work is on the right track. Feedback comes in many forms and not only as a result of written comments on a marked essay.
Entry requirements
You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least second class standard in a related field. You might also be considered if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level. We accept a wide range of international qualifications. If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme. Additional Entry Requirement for the Creative Writing Pathway To apply to study on the Creative Writing Pathway you should follow the usual application process, submitting a substantial piece or pieces of original creative writing, up to a maximum of 3,000 words, with your application. This work does not have to be in the form of writing for children/young adults. It will be considered by the Module Leader of the Workshop in Creative and Life Writing. Your submission should include one item from the following list: 1 short story 7-10 poems 1 or 2 extracts from a novel 1 or 2 extracts from non-fiction writing, for example, memoir.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
For details of fees and funding please visit https://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/fees-funding/ or the programme page on our website.
Provider information
Goldsmiths, University of London
New Cross
Lewisham
SE14 6NW