Gender and Sexuality Studies
Entry requirements
MA: a second-class honours degree (2:2 or above) in a humanities subject.
MSc: a second-class honours degree (2:2 or above) in a social sciences subject.
PG Cert/PG Dip: a second-class honours degree (2:2 or above) in either a humanities or social sciences subject.
Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.
Months of entry
January, October
Course content
- The MA allows you to explore aspects of gender and sexuality in literature, history, media and film, visual art, philosophy and cultural theory.
- The MSc allows you to explore the diverse and changing nature of personal relationships, economics and the workforce, and development and legal studies.
You will examine current debates which incorporate the cutting-edge research of world-leading academics at Birkbeck, who are passionate and engaged in the real world, working towards social justice with activists, policy-makers, academics, and charities and NGOs. You will also find yourself in seminars with a diverse range of people, from many different backgrounds and careers, generating a lively, engaged and enthusiastic learning environment.
The gender and sexuality studies course considers competing ideas and theories about gender and sexuality and investigates the ways in which these intersect with concepts of race, ethnicity, age and class. You will develop your ability to critically discuss these theories and, depending on whether you have opted for the MA or MSc, you will consider how either arts and humanities or the social sciences can help us understand gender and sexuality.
You can also take this course as a Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate. For the Diploma and Certificate you study fewer modules and do not complete a dissertation.
This course is part of our new Birkbeck Flexible Master’s UK, which gives you the choice of how you want to study - on campus, online or via flexible learning, which combines both.
- Birkbeck is a leading centre of research in the interdisciplinary field of gender and sexuality studies.
- This course is linked to Birkbeck Gender and Sexuality (BiGS). BiGS hosts experts in the field, organises a diverse range of events throughout the year, including dedicated postgraduate workshops and seminars, and sponsors a lively student postgraduate forum, which runs reading groups, workshops and symposia, as well as the BiGS students' blog.
- All Master’s students are eligible to apply for our prestigious Eric Hobsbawm Scholarships, subject to availability. One of the most influential historians of the twentieth century, Eric Hobsbawm taught at Birkbeck for over five decades and embodied what is central to our teaching and research: a continued commitment to critical enquiry and public engagement.
- If you are taking this course part time, you may be eligible for a Bonnart Trust Master’s Studentship which will cover the cost of your tuition fees.
Our gender and sexuality studies course prepares you for any role which benefits from skills in research, communication and engagement. You will gain a valuable set of transferable attributes including:
- high-level oral and written communication skills in English
- research skills
- skills in evaluating and assessing types of information
- the ability to present an argument to a range of audiences.
Graduates can follow career paths in sectors directly connected to gender and sexuality issues such as in:
- social work
- non-governmental and charitable organisations
- journalism
- government and policy research.
Our graduates have also successfully found work across a wider range of other professions and disciplines, from education to business to the arts. Those interested in further study have gone on to complete research degree (MPhil/PhD) programmes.
We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.
Information for international students
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, the requirement for this course is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.
If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.
Qualification, course duration and attendance options
- MA
- full time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- part time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- MA
- part time24 months
- Online learningis available for this qualification
- full time12 months
- Online learningis available for this qualification
- MA
- part time24 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- Online learningis available for this qualification
- full time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- Online learningis available for this qualification
- MSc
- part time24 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- full time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- MSc
- part time24 months
- Online learningis available for this qualification
- full time12 months
- Online learningis available for this qualification
- MSc
- part time24 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- Online learningis available for this qualification
- full time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- Online learningis available for this qualification
- PGCert
- part time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- PGDip
- part time24 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- full time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
Course contact details
- Name
- Student Advice Service
- studentadvice@bbk.ac.uk
- Phone
- +44 (0)20 3907 0700