Victorian Studies

Our MA Victorian Studies is a fascinating course offering you the chance to take a genuinely interdisciplinary approach to studying the history, literature and culture of nineteenth-century Britain.

Why choose this course?

• You will have the opportunity to encounter a compelling assortment of texts, objects and images and engage with a wide range of contexts, themes and ideas on a degree course that does justice to the energy and variety of the Victorian period.
• You will be taught by world-leading academic researchers who invite you to explore a dynamic period in history, which continues to shape the modern world.
• The course is ideal if you have always been intrigued by the Victorian period and want to broaden and deepen your knowledge of its literature, history and culture. You may be a teacher in this subject at GCSE or A-level wanting to develop your understanding of important historical contexts and critical approaches to a range of nineteenth-century texts. Or perhaps you are looking to work in museums, galleries or archives and you want to explore the visual and material culture of the nineteenth century and take part in our heritage internship programme.

What you will learn

Our two core modules will introduce you to some of the most significant debates, ideas and events of the long nineteenth century, and offer you the chance to develop new critical approaches to Victorian studies. You will then be able to pursue your interests choosing from a range of option modules in the field of Victorian studies and beyond. Students in their final year of study can apply for our internship module and spend a term in the Salvation Army Heritage Centre, gaining first-hand experience of working in the cultural sector and using the institution's fascinating archives to develop a unique research project. Read about one intern’s experience.

How you will learn

This MA Victorian Studies is available to study full- or part-time with classes in the evening so you can pursue other commitments. You will learn in lectures and seminars where we explore topics that include the British Empire and its legacies, the debates over the ‘Woman Question’, the impact of industrialisation, and the literature and visual culture of decadence.

You will be taught in small groups which maximise your engagement and participation and will have the opportunity to take part in workshops at Senate House Library where you will be able to explore and handle a range of nineteenth-century printed material. Some option modules also include visits to museums and galleries. You will be supported by one-to-one supervision on your culminating dissertation, in which you will research and write on a topic of your choice.