MA Literature and Culture at University of Salford

Are you interested in how writers use words to tell compelling stories about culture, and how culture shapes our stories? If so, our MA Literature and Culture course is for you. Apply today.

Faculty: English, Drama and Creative Writing  |  Duration: One year; Two years; Overview; How you'll learn; Future careers; Modules; Entry requirements; Fees and funding; How to apply; to this course; Ask a question; Overview; If you live for literature and culture and want to deepen your understanding of the complex and often disturbing forces that shape our world, then our MA will be ideal for you. Study on our MA will lead you to new levels of emotional and intellectual engagement and will lay the foundations for you to produce exciting written work that deserves to be published and read; you will be inspired to think in new, innovative, and challenging ways.; Our teaching team engages with the real-world issues that shape and govern our world in the 2020s – the debates and conflicts about crime, regional and world voices, and the environment – and they ground their knowledge and learning in rigorous readings of literary and cultural texts. Join us on this MA to develop your own ideas, readings and ways of seeing the world from leading academics and writers.; Designed to explore a wide range of literary and cultural texts, this programme will equip you with the critical and research skills you’ll need to develop innovative approaches to your writing. Studying a literature and culture master’s degree at Salford allows you to experience all the creativity the north-west has to offer – whether that’s visiting unique local archives, getting involved with cultural organisations, or immersing yourself in the world of libraries.; As part of this course, you’ll share and present ideas with your peers, and become part of a lively learning environment. As your course progresses, you’ll also be able to showcase everything you’ve learnt as part of an in-depth research led final project that allows you to follow your own interests.; Read about how; Katie Barnes developed her ideas on the course into a funded PhD place; .; Pathway to Postgrad; Meet us on campus at our; Open Day; , or; chat to our tutors online; to get a closer look at what studying here could mean for you.; It’s all part of; Pathway to Postgrad; – a series of events designed to give you clear guidance, real support, and opportunities to find out more as you take your next step into postgraduate study.; You can follow our #EnglishatSalford; Instagram; and; Facebook; accounts, which are led by our English teaching staff; here, you can find out how we tell our story through English Literature, English Language, Creative Writing, and Drama.; You will:; Deepen your understanding of how writers, theorists, and film-makers tell stories about the world we live in today; Learn from published professionals and world-leading academic researchers in a vibrant, creative and interdisciplinary environment; Have access to local archives, libraries and museums including unique access to International Anthony Burgess Foundation; Develop a portfolio of work that can be used to evidence your skills for employment or further study; Peel Park campus; On this Film and Stage Design degree you’ll graduate with friends that share your interests; This is an image of our library computer suites; Clifford Whitworth Library exterior, University of Salford; Winners at the Create Student Awards 2022; This is for you if...; 1.; You have a keen interest in literature and cultural texts, including journalism, film and non-fiction; 2.; You want to learn new skills including archival research, podcasting, and events organisation; 3.; You want to develop the knowledge and understanding needed for a research degree or for the work of work; Be a part of a creative, supportive community; All our English courses are delivered by the; Salford School of Arts, Media, and Creative Technology; . We are a creative community with a focus on creating a collaborative environment where you can thrive and gain the skills needed to pursue your dreams.; Our Engagement Team coordinates school-wide events such as the; Create Student Awards; , academic conferences, networking and volunteering opportunities, welcoming and wellbeing fairs and exhibitions like our annual Degree Show.; For non-course matters, you will have access to our university-wide support service; askUS; , who will support and guide you to be successful in all aspects of your life.; Throughout your time at Salford, you’ll be mentored and supported by experts. And once you graduate, it won’t end there. You’ll join a thriving alumni network across Greater Manchester and beyond, meaning you’ll be supported professionally and personally whenever you need it.; Teacher Profile; 'Caroline Magennis is a writer and academic, originally from Belfast, who is currently Reader in Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Literature. Her academic research has been featured on Radio 3, The Independent, The Irish Times and Prospect Magazine.; A specialist in contemporary fiction and popular culture, her book; Northern Irish Writing After the Troubles; was published by Bloomsbury in 2021 and described as 'genuinely innovative' and 'refreshingly provocative'. She also has recent chapters in academic books published by Routledge, Palgrave, Oxford and Cambridge.; She is Chair of the British Association for Irish Studies and has worked on several large scale public engagement projects, including digital conferences and events to mark the twentieth anniversaries of the Manchester Bomb and the Good Friday Agreement.; On the MA in Literature and Culture, she runs the two core modules Theory, Text, Writing and Professional Practice. She is always keen to hear from students who want to work on projects on contemporary literature, class, the body, gender and popular culture.'; Learn more; or; Explore the English faculty; .; Northern School of Writing; A collaborative school of novelists, poets, screenwriters, dramatists, journalists, podcasters, video-game and film-makers,; The Northern School of Writing at Salford; is a community of staff and students who read, write, research and innovate in a tradition that is rebellious, risk-taking and brave.; Our teaching, mentoring and nurturing of writers extends beyond the degree courses at the University, to our literary community in the north of Britain and the 24 publishers of the Northern Fiction Alliance.; Find out more about The Northern School of Writing at Salford; How you'll learn; What will I be doing?; Teaching; Based at our Peel Park campus, you’ll; be surrounded by a wealth of inspiring; students studying across a range of disciplines.; Teaching for most modules on the MA Literature and Culture course takes place in weekly seminars, and personal supervision is provided throughout the course. You’ll choose a member of academic staff to support you with your final research project.; As part of a number of modules, you’ll be invited to go off campus to visit archives, libraries and local organisations, where you’ll be able to learn more about this type of work.; Assessment; This course will be assessed through ongoing research-led written assignments, along with the in-depth final project to be completed at the end of the programme.; The programme’s interlinking of literature, theory, and culture highlights how all three strands feed into and enrich one another and offers students a wide range of ideas which they can explore in their assignments.; Andrew Marsden; After the MA I continued studying at Salford, completing a PhD in 2014 as well as gaining publications, teaching experience and a research fellowship along the way.; Dr Joe Darlington; Programme Leader BA (Hons) Digital Animation with Illustration, Futureworks Media School; Future careers; Employment; While many graduates of this course choose to pursue further research-based study, this isn’t the only option. The diverse range of transferable skills you’ll develop throughout this course lend themselves to a whole host of professional roles in related areas such as the arts, libraries, education, publishing and media.; If the idea of further research does interest you, our master’s in literature programmes are the perfect way to develop the skills you’ll need. We have over 15 research-active academic staff working within our English faculty, with many early career researchers engaged in a variety of research projects. If you think this might be the best option for you, there will be plenty of people on hand to discuss your ideas with.; Further study; Graduates showing strong academic and research skills can pursue a further academic research path through our doctoral; (PhD) programmes; on a full-time or part-time basis subject to a satisfactory proposal.; Career Links; Our English subject directorate has links with the BBC at MediaCity. We also have links with local publishers and cultural organisations, including:; International Anthony Burgess Foundation; The Portico; Working Class Movement Museum; The Central Library, Arts Council; Modules; Our research-led MA Literature and Culture course is designed to help you develop your skills in critical analysis, alongside your ability to think in an interdisciplinary way about cultural and literary theory. With the option to study full-time or part-time across one year or two, you’ll have the opportunity to align your programme with the areas of literature and culture that interest you most.; We offer a wide variety of modules covering political and social issues, true crime, and literature from across the globe.; You will study two core taught modules designed to equip you with the fundamental skills you need to read and apply theory to your work. You will also study four 15 credit modules. As part of completing your course assignments, you’ll be encouraged to use archival and library resources available to you.; The final year of our master’s in literature programmes end with a dissertation or archive-based project that will give you the chance to explore a topic of your choosing in depth, and to showcase the skills you’ve acquired throughout your course.; The course timetable is designed to allow students with other commitments to structure their week around teaching sessions. During the 2024/25 academic year full-time students were on campus 3-5pm Tuesday and Thursday and part-time students were on campus 3-5pm on either Tuesday or Thursday. While we cannot guarantee this exact schedule for future years, this provides an example of how we aim to deliver the course each year.; Interested in finding out more? You’ll find a full breakdown of the MA Literature and Culture programme below. The structure outlined is for full time study.; Trimester one; Regional and World Literatures; This module looks at questions of nation, place, class and identity in texts composed in English and its closely related varieties (such as Scots, African American, and other national and regional dialects), and will explore debates relating to cosmopolitanism, globalisation, and postcolonialism. Students taking this module may opt to work on an archive-based project for their assessment by drawing on University’s Walter Greenwood archive.; Story Across Media; This interdisciplinary module will explore the ways in which narrative works beyond print on the page as it is utilised across a range of screen, visual and audio media, including film, TV, graphic novels, and digital storytelling. It will feature analysis of structural models for narrative, narrative structures, and conflict as they apply to different genres and technological forms. The module will be delivered by a range of professional writers and creatives from across the fields of creative media and literature, who in turn will bring their expertise to guide you in how to develop an original idea to a professional standard suited to its audience, platform and the market; or to help you develop your thinking about storytelling in media-savvy (for example, via video essay or podcasts).; You will learn how to construct robustly structured and compelling narratives in your chosen genre or output, as well as develop the skills needed to reflect critically on your own practice and that of professionals in the relevant field. Students interested in deepening their understanding of narrative and narratology can apply knowledge gained to analysing texts and/or cultural products, or to expanding their capacity to play with time and narrative in literary, digital or screen forms.; Writing, Theory, Culture; How does writing engage with the world? This module examines how contemporary writers and theorists address pressing social, political and cultural questions through their practice. Students will explore how writing responds to issues of identity, class, environment, gender and power, considering both the ethical dimensions of literary production and the relationship between form and content.; The module draws on a range of theoretical frameworks and creative practices to examine how writers across genres navigate questions of representation, responsibility and intervention, developing as ethical, engaged practitioners and critics capable of producing their own critical or creative responses to these concerns.; Trimester two; Bestsellers and Prize Winners; This module introduces you to the contemporary publishing industry and opens up careers in agenting, publishing, marketing and reviewing. We will explore bestsellers and publishing phenomena alongside literary prize-winners and social media marketing campaigns. You will develop a portfolio of work and gain understanding of the publishing process from writing and 'selling' a manuscript through to marketing and reviewing.; The module brings together the perspectives of readers, critics and writers, encouraging you to engage with publishing from multiple angles. Whether approaching the industry as potential authors, reviewers, agents or publishers, students will develop practical skills and critical understanding of how literary culture operates in the contemporary marketplace.; Crime Writing; This module will explore the conceptual, theoretical, and contextual frameworks of crime writing, considering issues such as ethics, sensationalism, genre, context and form. You will engage with a variety of modes, such as journalism, fiction and podcasts, and consider how form impacts content. You will develop advanced critical skills of conceptual and textual understanding; gain skills in writing in different registers, for different forms; and learn how to pitch a journalistic article.; Professional Practice; This module offers you the opportunity to explore, extend and develop their creative and research interests in collaboration with a local arts organisation.; This module will be delivered by a mix of lectures, workshops, and site visits. The workshops will be led by experts and visits will be made to a range of arts organisations, local archives, libraries and museums, including: The Arts Council, UoS archive collection; The International Antony Burgess Foundation, Portico Library, Central Library and Working Class Movement Library.; Trimester three; Final Project; This final module provides students with the opportunity to develop their specific research interests, including archive-inspired interests, in consultation with supervisor and professional archivists, and to produce an independently researched 12,000-14,000 word project.; We take a flexible approach to our course delivery that promotes diversity and inclusivity and provides a blended learning experience, which will vary to meet specific programme requirements. This learning time includes formal lectures and interactive activities such as seminars, tutorials, practical sessions, laboratory and studio learning. Smaller classes may be used to support collaborative activities such as project and group work and presentations. A range of different assessments and feedback is offered to meet the needs of both our diverse student body and specific subject needs.; Our postgraduate taught courses are normally made up of 30 credit modules which are equal to 300 hours of learning time, or 15 credit modules which are equal to 150 hours of learning time. A Master’s degree typically comprises 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, and a PGCert 60 credits.; Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of modules every year. Exact modules may vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all modules listed will be available. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available modules on or before the start of the programme.; Entry requirements; Applicant profile; To gain a place on this MA Literature and Culture course, you’ll have to submit a personal statement and meet our entry requirements when you apply.; Within your personal statement (up to 500 words), we’ll want to understand:; What motivates you and what current experiences do you have in literature and culture?; How have you been involved and what did you do?; Do you have any knowledge of the literature or cultural sector; are there any projects that inspire you?; What are your future goals?; Why is the University of Salford and this course the right choice for your future goals?; Once you’ve made your application to study with us, we’ll contact you and let you know the next steps.; Standard entry requirements; Standard entry requirements; Undergraduate degree 2:2 or above.; International students; If you are an international student and not from a majority English speaking country, you will need IELTS 6.0 with no element below 5.5. We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find; your country; to see a full list of entry requirements.; We also accept a range of other; English language qualifications; . If you do not have the English language requirements, you could take our; Pre-Sessional English course; .; Alternative entry requirements; Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL); We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.; The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.; Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).; Fees and funding; See below for fees information.; Home students; International students; 2027/28; Type of study; Fees; Full-time; £9,540; per year; Part-time; Part time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis; 2027/28; Type of study; Fees; Full-time; £18,000; per year; Additional costs; You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Scholarships for international students If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships. Explore our international scholarships.; How to apply; Enrolment dates; September 2027; Student information; Terms and conditions; How to apply; Related courses; Looking for more?; MA; Creative Writing: Innovation and Experiment; Challenge yourself to find a new and distinctive voice with an MA in Creative Writing that...; BA (Hons); English Literature; From the renaissance to the contemporary, sharpen your analytical skills as a reader and...; BA (Hons); English Multidiscipline; Tailor your degree with modules in English Literature, English Language, Drama, Film...; Popular links; Find a course; Open Days; Virtual tour; Accommodation; Student support teams; Get in touch; Contact us; Course enquiries; Travel to the university; Quick links; Campus accessibility; Data protection and privacy; Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; Legal and regulatory information; Modern slavery statement; Student complaints; Term dates; Web Accessibility statement; Questions; How do I apply for an undergraduate course?; How do I apply for a postgraduate course?; How much does a course cost?; How do I change my course?; Facebook; Instagram; LinkedIn; TikTok; X; Youtube; Copyright ©; 2026; University of Salford; Manage privacy settings  |  Study mode: full-time, part-time  |  Intake: September 2027  |  Location: Salford, England, United Kingdom

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