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University of Surrey: English Literature
| Institution | University of Surrey View institution profile |
|---|---|
| Department | FABSS - Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences |
| Web | www.surrey.ac.uk |
| admissions@surrey.ac.uk | |
| Telephone | +44(0)1483 682222 |
| Study type | Taught |
MA
Summary
Why choose this course - Our flexible English literature masters 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-in-Residence and Writer-in-Residence – again, all leading exponents of their chosen literary genres.
What you will study You’ll be joining a course that provides exciting opportunities to study a wide range of literary forms and theories at an advanced level. Offering the flexibility to engage with a combination of the traditional and the avant-garde, you can tailor your degree to your own areas of interest.
Options can range from gaming narratives, screenplays, experimental poetry, and queer ecology to modules focusing on more canonical authors and topics, from the medieval period to contemporary literature. You can choose a general route through the programme or develop a more individualised study pathway that foregrounds your particular interests (for example, in Medieval writing, or in Nineteenth-Century or Modern/Contemporary literature and culture). Many of our modules offer a choice of critical or creative assessment options; we also offer Open Writing modules and a final dissertation that give you the scope to home in on the authors, topics and texts that most excite 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.
Our MA is taught by academics who are at the cutting edge of their respective fields and who will motivate and support you to produce your best efforts. The English team are all writers and critics who publish world-leading books and articles and are committed to public engagement, contributing to national media via TV, radio, press and podcasts. Many work closely with national and international organisations, including museums and galleries and scholarly associations.
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | A minimum of a 2:2 UK honours degree in English literature, history or philosophy. Alternative degree subjects can be considered by the faculty on a case-by-case basis. A sample of written work and/or interview may be requested. We may be able to take relevant work experience into consideration if you don't meet these requirements. If you have at least one year of relevant experience in a full-time graduate-level role (or a minimum of two years’ experience in a relevant graduate-level part-time role) please provide full details of your role and responsibilities in your personal statement and CV when you submit your application. English language requirements |
| Location | Stag Hill Stag Hill Guildford GU2 7XH |
Summary
Why choose this course - Our flexible English literature masters 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-in-Residence and Writer-in-Residence – again, all leading exponents of their chosen literary genres.
What you will study You’ll be joining a course that provides exciting opportunities to study a wide range of literary forms and theories at an advanced level. Offering the flexibility to engage with a combination of the traditional and the avant-garde, you can tailor your degree to your own areas of interest.
Options can range from gaming narratives, screenplays, experimental poetry, and queer ecology to modules focusing on more canonical authors and topics, from the medieval period to contemporary literature. You can choose a general route through the programme or develop a more individualised study pathway that foregrounds your particular interests (for example, in Medieval writing, or in Nineteenth-Century or Modern/Contemporary literature and culture). Many of our modules offer a choice of critical or creative assessment options; we also offer Open Writing modules and a final dissertation that give you the scope to home in on the authors, topics and texts that most excite 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.
Our MA is taught by academics who are at the cutting edge of their respective fields and who will motivate and support you to produce your best efforts. The English team are all writers and critics who publish world-leading books and articles and are committed to public engagement, contributing to national media via TV, radio, press and podcasts. Many work closely with national and international organisations, including museums and galleries and scholarly associations.
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | A minimum of a 2:2 UK honours degree in English literature, history or philosophy. Alternative degree subjects can be considered by the faculty on a case-by-case basis. A sample of written work and/or interview may be requested. We may be able to take relevant work experience into consideration if you don't meet these requirements. If you have at least one year of relevant experience in a full-time graduate-level role (or a minimum of two years’ experience in a relevant graduate-level part-time role) please provide full details of your role and responsibilities in your personal statement and CV when you submit your application. English language requirements |
| Location | Stag Hill Stag Hill Guildford GU2 7XH |
Summary
Why choose this course 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-in-Residence and 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.
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | A minimum of a 2:2 UK honours degree in English literature, history or philosophy. Alternative degree subjects can be considered by the faculty on a case-by-case basis. A sample of written work and/or interview may be requested. We may be able to take relevant work experience into consideration if you don't meet these requirements. If you have at least one year of relevant experience in a full-time graduate-level role (or a minimum of two years’ experience in a relevant graduate-level part-time role) please provide full details of your role and responsibilities in your personal statement and CV when you submit your application. English language requirements |
| Location | Stag Hill Stag Hill Guildford GU2 7XH |
Summary
Why choose this course 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-in-Residence and 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.
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | A minimum of a 2:2 UK honours degree in English literature, history or philosophy. Alternative degree subjects can be considered by the faculty on a case-by-case basis. A sample of written work and/or interview may be requested. We may be able to take relevant work experience into consideration if you don't meet these requirements. If you have at least one year of relevant experience in a full-time graduate-level role (or a minimum of two years’ experience in a relevant graduate-level part-time role) please provide full details of your role and responsibilities in your personal statement and CV when you submit your application. English language requirements |
| Location | Stag Hill Stag Hill Guildford GU2 7XH |
Welcome to the University of Surrey, a global community with over 153,000 alumni in 185 countries across the globe.
We’re based in the popular town of Guildford, recently voted the safest student town in England (CUG 2025), just 35 minutes from central London by train. Our beautiful, green campus is home to outstanding learning facilities in every faculty, plus a comprehensive range of student services, a wide choice of accommodation and dedicated support for international students, to help you make the most of university life.
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