Course information
UK fee £10,950
International fee £19,700
Taught by English
Programme Director
Dr Ben Parsons
bp62@le.ac.uk
Course enquiries
+44 (0)116 252 2620
ArtsPGT@le.ac.uk
- Course description
- Entry requirements
- Fees and funding
- Careers and employability
- Related courses
Course description
Course description
The MA in English Literature offers you the opportunity to focus on the areas of English literary studies that fascinate you, with modules covering literature from the medieval period to the present day. You can choose to study literature before 1800, as well as selecting from specialist modules in Creative Writing, Victorian Literature, and Modern and Contemporary Literature.
This course will allow you to deepen your existing knowledge, discover new fields, and acquire the skills to enable independent research at an advanced level.
You will explore how texts are created and are shaped for different readerships, developing your understanding of textual editing, book history, and material culture.
You’ll also select from option modules, which allow for specialist study of an author, theme or genre. Here the topics can range from twenty-first century fiction, to Victorian novels, to Renaissance drama.
On this MA, your dissertation can be in any period of English literature from the late medieval period onwards. If you have a strong record in carrying out research projects, you could choose to do an extended dissertation – this is often a route for students who want to continue to doctoral study or pursue a career with a particular emphasis on research skills.
Whichever areas of English you choose to focus on during your time here, you will benefit from our excellent teaching, our fantastic library facilities, and high-quality academic support.
Entry requirements
Fees and funding
Careers and employability
Related courses
Course structure
- Core modules
- Option modules
Core modules
Core modules
You will also choose:
- either your Dissertation and Authorship and Authority
- or the Extended Dissertation
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Option modules
Why Leicester?
You’ll be taught by tutors who are internationally recognised experts in their fields, in a supportive environment that fosters your abilities and research interests.
Alongside a wealth of electronic resources, our University Library has collections ranging from medieval manuscripts to the papers of contemporary playwrights. The MA draws on the expertise of our academic librarians and archivists in introducing you to new ways of researching.
You can become part of a lively university community, attending a variety of extra-curricula events. These include talks and groups run by the Victorian Studies Centre, the Medieval Research Centre, the Centre for New Writing, and the annual Literary Leicester Festival.
Teaching and learning
During the course you will be taught through a range of methods, including:
- seminars
- workshops
- individual supervisions
- presentations
- directed and self-directed study, writing and research time
In a seminar, a small group of students is led in a discussion of texts and issues by a tutor. For each seminar you will read the set texts and prepare other work, which may include a presentation. For workshops on the ‘Research Methods’ core module you will be taught together with students from other MAs in English, working together on problem-solving, research, and presentation skills.
For your dissertation, you will have one-on-one supervision from a member of staff with an interest in your chosen topic. The diverse research interests of staff means that we can offer an impressive breadth of expertise for dissertation supervision.
Assessment on a module usually consists of one or two pieces of written work. Common types include essays in response to a choice of set questions, editorial exercises, critical reviews of recent work in a field, and, on certain option modules, creative writing. Some modules also feature an assessed oral presentation.
Key dates
September 2025 start
- Application deadline: 8 September 2025 (Please note if you require a visa to study you will be required to submit your course application by 25 July 2025)
- Deposit payment deadline: 8 August 2025
- CAS request deadline: 5 September 2025
- 70% tuition payment deadline: 5 September 2025
Apply now
| Course | Qualification | Duration | Start Dates | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course English Literature | Qualification MA | Duration 1 year full-time | Start Dates September each year | Availability Apply Now |
As well as encouraging me to embrace my ideas and have confidence in my writing, the course has improved and strengthened my academic voice. The tutors in the English department are passionate about the subjects that they teach, which always makes our seminars engaging, entertaining and enjoyable.