MA English Literary Studies at Durham University

Durham’s MA in English Literary Studies offers advanced study of exciting current issues in literary studies today—drawing on a variety of critical theories and approaches and the full historical range of literatures in English. Durham’s MA in English Literary Studies offers you the opportunity to explore the most exciting issues in literary study today from a variety of theoretical perspectives and critical approaches and across the historical range of literatures in English, from the early medieval period to contemporary and world literature. In small seminars, we focus on what is distinctive about ‘the literary’ as a mode of creative expression, while drawing attention to the unique insights that literary thinking can provide to such pressing issues as ecologies and ecological crisis; race and empire; the operations of emotion and affect; neurodivergence and mental health; relations between new and old media/reading technologies; and sexuality and embodiment.

Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Humanities  |  Department: English Studies  |  Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time  |  Study mode: full-time (part-time option)  |  Intake: September 2027  |  Location: Durham, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

Commencing each year at the beginning of October, the programme spans twelve months (full-time study) or twenty-four months (part-time). Through flexible module choices and a supervised dissertation, you have the opportunity to explore your chosen areas of study, while being expertly supported in your development as an ethical researcher, an imaginative and agile thinker, and a clear and effective communicator. Compulsory modules include Integrated Dissertation.

Official programme page