English Literature

Our course allows you to focus either on literature or creative writing practice. Whether you are a recent graduate, a budding creative writer, a teacher keen to upskill, or returning to education for your own personal development, the variety and breadth of this programme will appeal to you. We welcome students with degrees in cognate subjects other than English.



Pioneering research shapes our teaching. You will benefit from the extensive knowledge and expertise of our academic team. Exploration of critical theory and current literary debates will introduce you to how issues such as gender, ecology and psychoanalysis inform the way we read literary texts. A focus on Irish writing in English gives the course a distinctive regional identity, and the creative writing pathway offers you the opportunity to develop individual writing projects under the guidance of published writers. Throughout the course you will be able to hone your research and critical abilities, as well as polish key transferable practical skills.



The MA in English Literature is the perfect route towards further study and research at PhD level, as well as providing a bridge to new and enhanced career opportunities. Graduates have been successful in securing a variety of positions within teaching, publishing, freelance journalism and creative writing, librarianship, the media, public relations and advertising.



Full Time: Two modules per semester. Each taught module involves one three-hour lecture/seminar meeting per week for twelve consecutive weeks. Taught modules are scheduled for evenings 5.15-8.00pm. Independent study modules involve an equivalent number of study hours, with contact hours arranged with supervisory staff.



Part Time: One module per semester. Each taught module involves one three-hour lecture/seminar meeting per week for twelve consecutive weeks. Taught modules are scheduled for evenings 5.15-8.00pm. Independent study modules involve an equivalent number of study hours, with contact hours arranged with supervisory staff.



Work placement / study abroad

Not currently available.

Year1

Semester 1

ENG809 Critical Theory and Research MethodsC

ENG810 Debates in Modern English Literary StudiesC



Semester 2

ENG812 Themes in Irish Writing In English C

ENG701 Penned in the Margins: Writing, Identity, Alterity C



Semester 3

ENG700 Creative Writing Project O

ENG814 DissertationO

Applicants must normally have gained an upper second class honours degree or better in English Literature or a related discipline, but applicants with a lower second class degree may also be considered. The degree held must be from a university of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, from the Council for National Academic Awards, the National Council for Educational Awards, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, or from an institution of another country which has been recognised as being of an equivalent standard.



Applicants may alternatively hold an equivalent standard (normally 50%) in a Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma or an approved alternative qualification. They must provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent).



In exceptional circumstances, where an individual has substantial and significant experiential learning, a portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate qualities (including subject-specific outcomes, as determined by the Course Committee) may be considered as an alternative entrance route. Evidence used to demonstrate graduate qualities may not be used for exemption against modules within the programme.



English Language Requirements

English language requirements for international applicants

The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.



Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.

Full time: One calendar year September 2025 - September 2026

Part time: Two and a half calendar years (five semesters) e.g. September 2025 - January 2027

Start dates:

September 2025

January 2026

Career options

Students graduating with the MA in English Literature are well-prepared to undertake a variety of occupations, both those related directly to the nature of literary study as an academic discipline and to the subject-specific skills acquired in the course of the programme, and those of a more generally defined postgraduate-level variety.



Some typical careers followed by graduates from the course include:

- Doctoral research (For information on postgraduate research opportunities see: www.ulster.ac.uk/doctoralcollege)

- PGCE leading to primary and secondary/grammar school teaching

- career advancement and knowledge development for serving teachers of English.