English (by research)

Entry requirements

MA programmes

Applicants for MA programmes in English and Related Literature will normally be expected to have obtained upper second-class honours, or equivalent, in an appropriate subject.

MPhil/PhD

For doctoral research, we would generally expect you to have completed an MA in a relevant subject.

Months of entry

January, April, October

Course content

If you choose to study this course you will receive training in research methods and skills appropriate to the stage they have reached and the nature of their work. This includes:

• guidance on planning and writing your thesis
• using bibliographic and archival resources (both electronic and printed)
• handling research data
• making conference presentations
• preparting and submitting material for publication
• applying for jobs

Introductory classes in computing and word processing, various modern languages, palaeography, bibliography, and classical and medieval Latin are also available.

The MA by Research is available on a full-time or part-time basis. The aim of the course is to provide training in research methods and an opportunity for supervised study leading to the presentation of a dissertation which offers a sustained argument in relation to any period of English literature. Students will write a supervised dissertation of between 25,000 and an absolute maximum of 30,000 words. This word limit includes quotations and footnotes, but excludes the bibliography and plate/figure captions.

The PhD in English is also available on a full-time or part-time basis. The diversity of our staff’s research interests means that we are well-positioned to supervise research in any field of literature from the Middle Ages to the present day, including literature in languages other than English and literary works in translation. We also have distinctive expertise in practice-led teaching and research, including archival and historical work, and printing.

Also available as a distance learning course.

Fees and funding