MA English - Literary Studies at Queen's University Belfast

The MA in English Literary Studies develops in-depth knowledge of English literary studies, allowing students to pursue specialised fields or choose a flexible arrangement of topics that bypass traditional period and national boundaries. Some modules engage with contemporary art and culture through field work and use the archives in Armagh, Belfast and Trinity College Dublin, and students may take some modules from other programmes including the Masters in Liberal Arts.

Department: School of Arts, English and Languages  |  Duration: 1 year full-time; 3 years part-time  |  Intake: Academic year 2027/28 (late-September start); places to be confirmed  |  Study mode: full-time / part-time  |  Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

What you will study

Core modules are Literary Research Methods (20 credits) and a 60-credit Dissertation. Optional 20-credit modules include Special Topic Irish Writing, Shakespearean Childhoods, Dickens in Context, Irish Women's Writing, Shakespeare and Asia, Love Poetry, Magic and Science in Medieval Writings and Contemporary Northern Irish Literature.

Career pathways

Graduates have gone on to doctoral study; the programme includes research-methods training, discussion groups, workshops and the School's annual postgraduate conference ('Common Ground').

Official programme page