English - Literary Studies

To provide students with the opportunity to develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of English Literary Studies, enabling students to pursue specialised fields of study or to choose a flexible arrangement of topics which bypass traditional period or national boundaries.

Core Modules

Literary Research Methods (20 credits)

Dissertation English Literary Studies (60 credits)



Optional Modules

Special Topic Irish Writing (20 credits)

Shakespearean Childhoods (20 credits)

Dickens in Context (20 credits)

Incorrigibly Plural (20 credits)

Fictions of Female Community, 1660-2007 (20 credits)

Popular Fiction at the Fin de Siècle (20 credits)

African Fiction: Race, Rites and Religion (20 credits)

A Space for Radical Openness? Writing the Margins in Twentieth-Century British and Irish Literature (20 credits)

Magic and Science in Medieval Writings (20 credits)

Irish Women's Writing (20 credits)

Shakespeare and Asia (20 credits)

Love Poetry (20 credits)

Discourses of Crime and Deviance (20 credits)

Migrating Identities (20 credits)

Romantic-era Magazine and Print Culture (20 credits)

Shakespeare and Early Modern Literature (20 credits)

Contemporary Northern Irish Literature (20 credits)

Entrance requirements

Graduate

Normally a strong 2.2 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in English, World/Comparative Literature, or joint or combined Honours with one of these subjects as a major subject.



All applicants are required to submit a piece of written work which may be assessed to determine if an offer of admission can be made. The submission should be 2500-3000 words in length. The piece of written work should demonstrate literary analysis, taking a specific literary text or a number of texts as its core focus (an undergraduate essay would be appropriate). A personal statement expressing interest in the subject is not sufficient.



International Students

Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region at https://www.qub.ac.uk/Study/international-students/your-country/



English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 7.0, with not less than 6.0 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).



International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.



For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.



If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 14th August 2026 for courses which commence in late September. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal prior to the deadline stated on course finder. Notifications to this effect will appear on the application portal against the programme application page.

Practical exercises

Essays

Seminar presentations

1 year (Full Time), 3 years (Part Time)

Entry Year: Academic Year 2026/27

Career Prospects



Graduates from these programmes have a good employment record. Professions including publishing, journalism, public relations, teaching, IT, library science, corporate advertising, the Civil Service, business, industry and the media all recruit from our range of graduates. Some students choose to continue their studies to PhD level on a chosen, specialised topic in one of the pathways in English Literary Studies.