English

The MA in English is designed for individuals who wish to deepen their knowledge of literature and bring their research and writing skills to an advanced level: for example, recent graduates who wish to extend their study of literature beyond their undergraduate studies, or those returning to learning based on a long-standing interest in literature and creativity. If you are interested in better understanding the ways that literary texts work, or reflecting on the relationship of literature to history and society, or exploring the diversity of creative forms that use the

Year 1 (90 Credits)

Required EN529: Dissertation

Required N6116: Writing and Research

Optional EN601: Writing Workshop: Poetry

Optional FR6101: Language, Gender and Power

Optional EN527: Literature Of North America

Optional FM6101: Ireland on Screen

Optional N672: Environmental Literature: Nature and Narration

Optional EN6125: WB Yeats and the Cultural Revolution

Optional EN6143: Media for Social Change

Optional FM6119: Film, Politics, and Colonialism

Optional EN547: Literature And Colonialism

Optional N6141: SERVICE LEARNING: LITERARY STUDIES IN THE COMMUNITY

Optional EN671: Literature for Children and Young Adults in the 21st Century

Optional EN573: Travel Literature

Minimum Entry Requirements



A Level 8 degree in an Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences discipline with a minimum result of H2.2 overall and a H2.1 in English, or an equivalent international qualification (e.g., BA with minimum GPA of 3.0 for North American applicants).



Candidates who do not meet the minimum entry criteria are encouraged to contact the programme director to discuss eligibility under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process. Such candidates may be interviewed to ascertain their suitability for the programme. Further information is available on the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning website here.

1 year, full-time;

2 years, part-time

Next Intake September 2026

Some graduates of the MA in English have gone on to further research at PhD level. The advanced research, critical thinking and communication skills fostered by the programme are highly relevant to employment in a wide range of fields, including: teaching, arts administration, public service, creative writing, corporate communications, public relations, marketing, publishing, broadcasting and journalism.