International Contemporary Literatures & Media

The MA in International Contemporary Literatures and Media is attractive to students from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds who have already studied some elements of literature and media and who are keen to further their knowledge in these areas, taking a comparative international approach. This course welcomes applicants with a background in literary and media studies from any linguistic background, who wish to broaden their knowledge, taking this MA which is taught through English. It is suited to recent graduates and to candidates who have acquired professional experience and now wish to advance their studies or develop the foundations for further academic research.



What will I study?



The full-time programme comprises four core modules during the academic year and a choice from a range of options over two 12-week semesters, from which students must choose two. Part-time students will take half of these modules each year.



The course may be taken as a full-time degree taken over a twelve-month period (September to August) OR as a Part-Time Degree taken over a twenty-four month period. The year is divided into two teaching semesters (September to December and January to April). The summer period (year 2 in the Part-Time programme) will be used to complete an 18,000 minor dissertation.

Year 1 (90 Credits)

Optional FM521: Critical Theory I - 10 Credits - Semester 2

Optional FR6101: Language, Gender and Power - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional PI6110: Ethics and Artificial Intelligence - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional IT6102: Language for Environmental Futures - 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional FM6123: American Cinema: History, Aesthetics, Ideology - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional LLC6100: Graduate Research Skills in Languages and Cultures - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional SH6103: Translation Theory and Practice - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional DJ6127: Global Media and Society - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Required MIC504: The Art of Reading - 10 Credits - Semester 1

RequiredMIC6101: Worlds of Fantasy: Literature, Film, Computer Games - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Required MIC502: Dissertation - 30 Credits - Semester 1

Optional FM6100: Film exhibition, administration and education - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Optional FM6119: Film, Politics, and Colonialism - 10 Credits - Semester 2

Optional DJ6122: Researching the Media - 5 Credits - Semester 2

Optional EN6101: Books Journalism - 10 Credits - Semester 2

Optional PI6113: Philosophy of Nature and Technology - 10 Credits - Semester 2

Optional EN6143: Media for Social Change - 10 Credits - Semester 2

Required MIC6100: Resisting through Culture: Conflicts in Europe and Beyond - 10 Credits - Semester 2

Required MIC501: Contemporary Literary Genres - 10 Credits - Semester 2

Candidates must hold at least a Second Class Honours Level 8 primary degree in a related subject area.



Related subject areas are literature studies (within any language), cultural studies, film studies, comparative literature. Exceptions can be made if students don’t have a primary degree in those areas but have successfully taken modules in these areas as part of a different degree, or have professional experience adjacent to these areas (for example in publishing, teaching, or translation).

1 year, full-time

2 years, part-time

Next start date September 2026

The MA in International Contemporary Literatures and Media provides a strong foundation for a variety of career paths. For those interested in further academic study, it serves as an excellent gateway our own PhD in International Cultural Studies.



Graduates also thrive beyond academia. Our alumni are currently making their mark in publishing, teaching, and research, as well as in roles with multinational companies, international offices at universities, cultural organisations, NGOs, and media industries - all positions that benefit from the programme’s emphasis on intercultural awareness, critical thinking, and adaptability. The skills you gain are equally relevant to careers in communications, cultural consultancy, arts administration, and global project management, reflecting the truly versatile and international perspective this MA offers.