English Literature

Overview

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.

F/T Programme

Year one:

Critical Theory and Research Methods

Debates in Modern English Literary Studies

Themes in Irish Writing In English



Optional:

Creative Writing Project

Penned in the Margins: Writing, Identity, Alterity

Special Author / Topic in English

Writing and Creativity

Dissertation



P/T Programme

Year one:

Critical Theory and Research Methods

Themes in Irish Writing In English



Year two:

Debates in Modern English Literary Studies



Optional:

Penned in the Margins: Writing, Identity, Alterity

Special Author / Topic in English

Writing and Creativity



Year three

Optional

Creative Writing Project

Dissertation

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.



• For English language requirements go to: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/global/apply/english-language-requirements

• For Your country go to: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/global/apply/country



Exemptions and transferability

Studies pursued and examinations passed in respect of other qualifications awarded by the University or by another university or other educational institution, or evidence from the accreditation of prior experiential learning, may be accepted as exempting candidates from part of the programme provided that they register as students of the University for modules amounting to at least the final third of the credit value of the award at the highest level. No exemption is permitted from the dissertation.

Your Application

You can apply directly to Ulster at any time of year. We advise that you submit your application no later than two weeks prior to your course start date. This is to ensure there is sufficient time for your application to be reviewed and, should you be made an offer, time for you to complete all the necessary pre-enrolment tasks.



Some programmes will have specific deadlines as additional selection (e.g. interview, portfolio submission etc) is required, so please check the course page to ensure you have sufficient time to complete your application.

Full time: One calendar year.

Part time: Two and a half calendar years (five semesters).

Start Date: September 2026.

Careers and Opportunities

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