MA English Literature and Culture at Birkbeck, University of London

This MA English Literature and Culture gives you the chance to study the literature, culture and theory of modernity from the nineteenth century to the present day, so that you are exposed to a rich background of cultural study on this period. You will encounter a compelling assortment of texts, objects and images, and engage with a wide range of contexts, themes and ideas on a degree course taught by world-leading academic researchers.

Faculty: School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication  |  Duration: One year full-time, on campus; One year full-time, online; One year full-time, flexible learning; Two years part-time, on campus; Two years part-time, online; Two years part-time, flexible learning  |  Study mode: full-time, part-time, online option  |  Intake: October 2027  |  Location: London, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

This course introduces you to some of the most significant debates, ideas and events that have shaped the concept of modernity from 1800 to the present. It addresses a range of themes including: the impact of the industrial revolution, debates about the changing role of women, the rise and fall of colonialism across a long arc of history, concepts of the Anthropocene, trauma theory, postmodernism and posthumanism. Compulsory modules include Becoming Modern: Literature and Culture 1800 to the Present, MA Dissertation Skills.

Career pathways

Recent graduates from this subject area have found employment in the following roles: Policy adviser at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Classics editor at Penguin Books, Curator at the Guildhall Art Gallery, Curator at the Science Museum, Public events and exhibitions co-ordinator at the Warburg Institute, Film programmer for the Barbican arts complex, Company manager at the Jupiter Theatre in Florida, Curator of contemporary literary archives at the British Library.

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