Children's Literature

Entry requirements

You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least second class standard in a related field.

You might also be considered for some programmes if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.

Additional Entry Requirement for the Creative Writing Pathway

To apply to study on the Creative Writing Pathway you should follow the usual application process, submitting a substantial piece or pieces of original creative writing, up to a maximum of 3,000 words, with your application. This work does not have to be in the form of writing for children/young adults. It will be considered by the Module Leader of the Workshop in Creative and Life Writing.

Your submission should include one item from the following list: 1 short story; 7-10 poems; 1 or 2 extracts from a novel; 1 or 2 extracts from non-fiction writing, for example, memoir.

Months of entry

September

Course content

The MA Children’s Literature programme is an exciting and innovative programme that offers you the chance to study children’s literature through diverse theoretical approaches, creative writing, or children’s book illustration.

Taught by Goldsmiths Department of Educational Studies, with some learning taking place in the Department of English and Creative Writing, the MA Children’s Literature programme has three pathways.

You'll join a vibrant and supportive academic community, where you can collaborate with fellow students and engage in lively discussions about the literature that shapes young minds. You'll be invited to join the Children’s and Young Adult Literature Research Forum (CYALRF) and contribute to Spinning Gold, the online publication led by MA Children’s Literature students.

The three specialist pathways are:

MA Children’s Literature: Theoretical Approaches to Children’s and YA (Young Adult) Literature

• Delve into the captivating world of children’s and YA literature, gaining a critical understanding of how these texts shape our perceptions of society and their power to challenge dominant ideologies.
• Be empowered to tackle the complex and pressing issues of representation and diversity in children's and YA literature, whether you come from an academic, publishing, education, or children's media background, and whether you are an established professional or just starting out. If you are passionate about children's and young adult literature, this is the perfect course for you to hone your skills.
• Learn from a highly qualified teaching team with extensive experience in children's and YA literature, including scholars, published authors, and industry professionals such as Professor Michael Rosen, Professor Vicky Macleroy, Dr Emily Corbett, and Dr Laura Teague.

MA Children’s Literature: Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults

• Explore the world of children’s and YA literature and find innovative and exciting ways to develop your creative writing for diverse readers, while reflecting critically on the process and contexts in which you write.
• Have the opportunity to hone your skills as a children’s and YA writer with leading figures in the field of creative writing such as Professor Michael Rosen, Ardashir Vakil, Sita Brahmachari, Linda Buckley-Archer and Jenny Downham.
• Engage with cutting-edge contemporary children’s and YA writing from diverse writers and specialise in writing for children and YA.

MA Children’s Literature: Children’s Book Illustration

In this pathway, you'll immerse yourself in exploring professional and practical approaches to children’s book illustration. This pathway is jointly delivered by the Department of Educational Studies and the Department of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies. Please visit the dedicated pathway page to find out more about our Children's Book Illustration pathway.

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Professor Vicky Macleroy or Emily Corbett.

Information for international students

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 7.0 with a 7.0 in writing and no element lower than 6.5 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study.

Fees and funding

Find out more about postgraduate fees and explore funding opportunities. If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an application deadline.

Funding may be available from schools’ Continuing Professional Development (CPD) budgets.