MA in Literary Studies

Course information

1 year full-time or 2 years part-time

Course overview

This exciting, intellectually rigorous programme gives you the opportunity to develop the study of literature from a variety of perspectives through a number of flexible pathways.

The pathways you can take are:

Pathway in American Literature & Culture
Pathway in Comparative Literature & Criticism
Pathway in Literature of the Caribbean & its Diasporas
Pathway in Critical Theory
Pathway in Modern Literature
Pathway in Romantic & Victorian Literature & Culture
Pathway in Shakespeare: Early & Modern

These enable you to combine theoretical angles with the close reading of a wide range of texts, from different media (literary, filmic, visual), periods, and cultural, geographic and linguistic backgrounds – though all texts will be studied in English, in English translation, or with English subtitles.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Maria Macdonald

What you'll study

Overview

Each of the seven pathways centres around a core module which will ground you in the specific features of the period/region/theoretical discipline covered.

Pathway	Core Module
Pathway in Comparative Literature & Criticism	Studies in Comparative Literature & Criticism
Pathway in Modern Literary Theory	Theories of Literature & Culture
Pathway in Modern Literature	Modern Literary Movements
Pathway in Literature of the Caribbean & its Diasporas	Literature of the Caribbean & it Diasporas
Pathway in American Literature & Culture	American Literature & Culture: Critical & Theoretical Concepts
Pathway in Romantic and Victorian Literature & Culture	Nineteenth-Century Literature: Romanticisms
Pathway in Shakespeare: Early & Modern	Shakespeare and the Early Modern

A Study Support Workshop will run a number of sessions throughout the year, including sessions on, for example, resources, essay-writing at Master's level, planning and developing dissertation projects.

You will also be able to take part in GLITS, the department's weekly research seminar; in LINKS, the London Intercollegiate Network for Comparative Studies; and in the many activities organised by the Graduate School and other Goldsmiths departments.

Option modules

Around the core module you choose three option modules from the wide range of options taught in the Department to reflect your own particular interests. You may also take the core module of another pathway as one of your options.

In addition, you also undertake a dissertation.

For core and option module details, see the pathway pages.

Assessment

Extended course essays; dissertation of 15,000 words.

Download the programme specification for the 2018-19 intake. If you would like an earlier version of the programme specification, please contact the Quality Office.

Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

Entry requirements

You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class standard in a relevant/related subject.

You might also be considered for some programmes if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but 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 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.

Fees, funding & scholarships

Find out more about tuition fees.

Find out more about funding opportunities for home/EU applicants, or funding for international applicants. If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an application deadline.

The Department of English and Comparative Literature sometimes offers fees waivers for this programme.

How to apply

Apply now

You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system.

Before submitting your application you’ll need to have:

Details of your education history, including the dates of all exams/assessments
The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively an electronic copy of your academic reference
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

If available, an electronic copy of your educational transcript (this is particularly important if you have studied outside of the UK, but isn’t mandatory)
An essay (written in English), as an example of your academic writing

When applying, please indicate your preferred pathway.

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.

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.

Late applications will only be considered if there are spaces available.

If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an earlier application deadline.

Selection process

Please submit an essay (written in English) together with your application, as an example of your academic writing.

Find out more about applying.

Careers

Skills

You'll develop transferable skills, including:

enhanced communication and discussion skills in written and oral contexts
the ability to analyse and evaluate different textual materials
the ability to organise information; the ability to assimilate and evaluate competing arguments

Careers

Graduates of this programme have gone on to pursue careers in:

publishing
journalism
public relations
teaching
advertising
the civil service
business
industry
the media

Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths.

What our students say

Mark Grist

Poet, rapper and Youtube sensation.

Mark Grist is a poet and rapper based in Peterborough. He studied American and English literature at UEA before becoming an English teacher and later completed an MA at Goldsmiths. He began using rap techniques to teach his students about poetic devices and other elements of the English language, and formed Dead Poets, a double act with fellow Peterborough MC Mixy in 2008, touring the UK.

Grist's rap battle with one of his students, MC Blizzard, had three million internet views. His poem ‘Girls Who Read’ was produced by the Roundhouse and published on their Youtube channel.

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