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University of Southampton: English Literary Studies
| Institution | University of Southampton View institution profile |
|---|---|
| Department | English |
| Web | www.southampton.ac.uk/postgraduate |
| AdmissionsPGT.AH@soton.ac.uk | |
| Telephone | 023 8059 4732 |
| Study type | Taught |
MA
Summary
About this course The MA in English Literary Studies at University of Southampton (ranked 6th for research quality in the UK, Complete University Guide 2026), offers the opportunity to pursue advanced-level study of literary topics and genres from a wide selection of authors and historical periods, including Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Holocaust literature, Victorian print culture, and literature and law. The course uses a flexible module structure to provide an advanced understanding of cultural analysis, textual interpretation, and theoretical method. A core focus is to examine how literature shapes public understanding of diverse fields such as climate change, economics, medicine, and religion. You can choose to specialise by following one of four subject-specific pathways, or you can take a more general approach: • Eighteenth Century • Nineteenth Century • Twentieth Century and Contemporary • Postcolonial and World Literature
Your future career This master's degree equips you with valuable transferrable skills such as research, critical thinking, communication, and creativity, which are key for further academic study (PhD) and a variety of careers. Graduates are prepared for roles in sectors including: • Creative Industries (e.g., writer, digital copywriter, content creator) • Publishing (e.g., editor, copy editor, proofreader) • Education (e.g., university lecturer, secondary school teacher) • Arts Administration and Cultural Organisations • Media and Communications (e.g., public relations officer, social media manager)
Key features of this course • Flexibility and Specialisation: The program offers a choice of four distinct pathways or a general route, allowing you to tailor your studies to your specific interests and goals. • Advanced Research: You'll gain practice in advanced-level research and independent critical thinking, including making effective use of archives, manuscripts, and research libraries. • Final Project: The program culminates in a 15,000-word dissertation, an in-depth scholarly study of a literary aspect or body of literature of your choice.
Further Information • Course Duration: The course is offered as a full-time (one-year) master's degree or as a part-time option over two or more years. • Location: The course is based at the Avenue Campus.
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | You’ll need a 2:2 degree in English literature or a related subject (translation, business english, english education). You will also need to provide a sample of written work for assessment. The sample should be approximately 2,500 words in length. |
| Location | Avenue Campus University of Southampton Avenue Campus Highfield Road Southampton SO17 1BF |
Summary
"Explore English literature in-depth with a master’s degree at the University of Southampton.
Our course gives you the opportunity to pursue literary topics and genres from a wide selection of authors and periods, including: Shakespeare; Jane Austen; Holocaust literature; Victorian print culture; literature and law
You’ll get the chance to carry out advanced-level research and independent critical thinking, and to make effective use of archives, manuscripts, and research libraries. We'll help you examine how literature shapes the public understanding of diverse fields such as: climate change; economics; medicine; religion
We offer a flexible module structure which is designed to give you an advanced understanding of cultural analysis, textual interpretation and theoretical method. You can specialise with one of 4 subject-specific pathways, or take a more general approach by choosing modules from each pathway."
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | "You’ll need a 2:1 degree in English literature or a related subject. You will also need to provide a sample of written work for assessment. The sample should be approximately 2,500 words in length." |
| Location | Avenue Campus University of Southampton Avenue Campus Highfield Road Southampton SO17 1BF |
Summary
Be empowered to conduct advanced level research and and make effective use of manuscripts, archives and research libraries to examine how literature shapes public understanding. You will explore how text, theory and culture interrelate with the opportunity to pursue topics and genres from Shakespeare, Jane Austen and Eighteenth-Century fiction to Victorian print culture, Literature and Law, and postcolonial world literatures.
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | Upper 2nd Class Honours degree or equivalent. |
| Location | Avenue Campus University of Southampton Avenue Campus Highfield Road Southampton SO17 1BF |
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