MA Critical and Creative Studies in Literature
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Why study MA Critical and Creative Studies in Literature at Goldsmiths
Aimed at students who want to think rigorously and write imaginatively, this groundbreaking and intellectually rigorous Masters programme invites you to explore literature in depth, developing your critical and creative practice and engaging with literature’s past, present, and future in a global cultural context.
- Arrive with a passion for reading, analysing, and questioning literature and/or theory across periods and cultures. Graduate with advanced critical, creative and theoretical skills that open pathways into publishing, media, education, arts and cultural industries, or doctoral research.
- In this MA, you’ll read boldly across periods, forms, and traditions, tracing literary movements from the nineteenth century to the present while exploring how texts travel across national, regional, and transnational contexts.
- The programme develops a powerful understanding of how literature responds to historical crises and contemporary global challenges, and how it helps us imagine new cultural futures.
- As an MA student at Goldsmiths, you’ll be part of a vibrant intellectual community that challenges conventions, rewards experimentation, and places you at the forefront of contemporary debates in literary studies.
- Teaching is driven by cutting-edge research, and you will be taught by scholars whose work is internationally recognised for its originality and critical edge.
- Based in London — one of the world’s most diverse and creatively charged cities — you will be immersed in a cultural environment that reflects the programme’s spirit: outward-looking, experimental, and globally connected.
- With unparalleled access to museums, theatres, galleries, cinemas, libraries, and archives, as well as a dynamic creative economy, Goldsmiths is an ideal place to transform your passion for literature into advanced critical and creative practice.
Contact
If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Jessica Gossling .
Length
1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
Entry requirements
You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of upper second class or high second class standard in a relevant/related subject. You might also be considered if you have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.
Fees
Home - full-time: £10800
Home - part-time: £5400
International - full-time: £21000
School
Subject
Overview
In this flexible MA, you will:
- Select from and develop expertise in a range of literary areas, such as Modern and Contemporary American Literature and Culture; Critical Theory; Modern and Contemporary Literature; and Romantic, Victorian, and Decadent Literature and Culture.
- Deepen your specialism in your second term through focused specialist topics such as US science fiction, literature and philosophy, modern and contemporary women’s writing, decadent literature, Jane Austen, and Indigenous literatures (subject to availability).
- Develop your own writing style in one of our specialist workshops in Creative and Life Writing. Designed for creative and critical writers, you will hone your craft in a chosen genre while demonstrating your understanding of the literary movements and themes you have studied.
- Place literature in lively conversation with film, photography, painting and other media, encouraging you to think across boundaries and forms.
- Under expert supervision, produce substantial independent research or an original creative work with critical commentary.
Watch videos about your course
What you'll study
You will take the following compulsory modules:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Expanding Literary Studies | 60 credits |
| Specialist Studies in Literature | 30 credits |
| Specialist Workshop in an Aspect of Creative and Life Writing | 30 credits |
| Final Creative Critical Project | 60 credits |
Term One: Expanding Literary Studies
In this module, you can select from and develop expertise in a range of core literary areas of study: Modern and Contemporary American Literature and Culture; Critical Theory; Modern and Contemporary Literature; Romantic, Victorian, and Decadent Literature and Culture.
You will select two of these areas of study and follow the module’s relevant seminar streams in those areas.
Term Two: Specialist Studies in Literature
In this module, you will further specialise by choosing from the following areas of study that include: US science fiction, literature and philosophy, modern and contemporary women’s writing, decadent literature, Jane Austen, and Indigenous literatures (subject to availability).
Term Two: Specialist Workshop in an Aspect of Creative and Life Writing
In this module, you will explore writing in a chosen genre — whether you are new to creative practice or looking to extend it — using the workshop to deepen your understanding of the literary themes and movements you have studied.
Term Three: Final Critical or Creative Project
In your final term, you will design and produce a closely supervised independent project on a topic of your choosing (subject to academic approval). You may pursue a traditional dissertation or develop a creative-critical project that brings original creative work into dialogue with rigorous critical reflection.
Assessments
You will be assessed in a range ways throughout your course. These will be both Formative (for feedback and development), and Summative (required to pass and progress to the next level). Summative assessments are compulsory.
Feedback is a crucial part of your learning and development in this programme. You will receive feedback both on your Formative (work in progress) tasks/assessments, and your Summative (graded) assessments. You'll be expected to engage with this feedback to improve your future work.
Support
A Research Skills Workshop runs throughout the year, offering practical sessions on areas such as library-based research, digital tools for project management, Master's-level academic writing, professional reading practices, and planning and developing dissertation projects.
Culture
You will also be able to take participate in the School of Music, English and Theatre’s vibrant research culture and engage with the rich programme of events hosted by Goldsmiths’ Research Centres, including the Goldsmiths Writers' Centre; the Centre for Comparative Literature; the Decadence Research Centre; and the Centre for Philosophy and Critical Thought.
You will also have the opportunity to join our dedicated postgraduate research seminar, run by the student research community, where you can share your work in progress, exchange ideas, and present your research in a supportive and intellectually lively environment.
Entry requirements
You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of upper second class or high second class standard in a relevant/related subject. You might also be considered if you have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.
International qualifications
We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.
If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 7.0 with a 7.0 in writing and no element lower than 6.5 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study.
Careers
Where this degree can take you
Graduates of this programme are well equipped to pursue and enhance careers in publishing, journalism, public relations, teaching, advertising, the civil service, business, industry, the media, and the creative industries. The MA will also serve as a platform for doctoral research and is therefore a gateway degree to academia.
The MA will enable you to develop transferable skills, including: enhanced communication and discussion skills in written and oral contexts; the ability to analyse and evaluate a wide variety of spoken and written texts from informal as well as institutional settings; an understanding of the concept of communicative competence; the ability to organise information, and to assimilate and evaluate competing arguments.
Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths.
How to apply
Apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system
Before submitting your application you’ll need to have:
- Details of your academic qualifications
- The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively a copy of your academic reference
- Copies of your educational transcripts or certificates
- A personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online. Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement
You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.
When to apply
We accept applications from October for students wanting to start the following September. There is no fixed deadline for submitting your online application.
We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you haven't finished your current programme of study. It's very common to be offered a place that is conditional on you achieving a particular qualification.
If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an application deadline.
Selection process
As part of the selection process, you may be invited to an online or in-person interview. Occasionally, we'll make candidates an offer of a place on the basis of their application and qualifications alone.
Find out more about applying.
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees
These are the PG fees for students starting their programme in the 2026/2027 academic year.
- Home - full-time: £10800
- Home - part-time: £5400
- International - full-time: £21000
If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office, who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.
It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time under a student visa. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.
If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment.
Funding opportunities
Use the Goldsmiths scholarships finder below to find out what funding you may be eligible for.
Paying your fees
Find out about paying your tuition fees.
If you are a UK student you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan.
Meanwhile our Careers Service can also offer advice on finding work during your studies.
Additional costs
In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.
There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.
