School of Society and Culture

MA English Literature

Explore the ever-evolving world of literature and culture through an exciting array of thematic modules, spanning a broad range of periods from the early modern to the present. You benefit from staff expertise in the field, and their connections with wider research communities. Gain a deep understanding of literary studies and acquire advanced research skills applicable throughout your studies and beyond.

This course is also available to study full-time.

Careers with this subject
Focused on research, and with links to local cultural institutions, the MA English Literature programme builds on existing skills and nurtures new ones. It provides the perfect platform for your future career, leading to PhD research, teaching, writing-based professions and work in cultural industries. 
Key features
  • Develop your research interests in literature and culture across the modern period.
  • Benefit from a rich cultural environment with The Arts Institute events and local arts organisations, such as the Theatre Royal Plymouth.
  • Small class sizes provide invaluable face-to-face contact with your tutors.
  • The University library offers a vast range of electronic and print materials, and a rare books collection.
  • An exciting suite of modules rotates yearly, offering a fresh choice each year.
  • Choose from modules closely integrated with staff research interests, while being able to pursue your own ideas.
  •  Build your experience: get involved in curating exhibitions and organising conferences.
  • Engage with unique local resources such as the nationally designated 18th-century Cottonian Collection.
  •  Tailor your time at university to meet your needs by fitting your study around work and personal commitments. Our part-time route allows you to study over two years, giving you the flexibility to study at a pace which suits you.
Course details

  • Year 1

  • On the part-time route, you can complete the programme over two years. After completing our compulsory research methods module in the first term, you’ll usually study one module per term for two years (although other arrangements are possible). 

    Core modules

    • Research Methods and Debates in Literary and Cultural Studies (MAEL700)

      This module will provide research skills including library and IT skills, the use of databases, archival research and the structuring, managing, and presentation of a project. It will explore current areas of debate within literary studies in English, including the nature of cross-disciplinary research, and may include breakaway session's specific to the exit awards.

    Optional modules

    • Remembering Things Past: Literature and Memory, 1780 to Present (MAEL711)

      This module examines the interrelationships between literary culture and memory from 1780 to the present. Students will engage with a diverse array of texts including fiction, poetry, film, and theory in order to examine issues such as the role of literature in constructing national memory, the historical tensions between the written word and orality, and contested sites of memory in postcolonial contexts. In doing so, the module investigates current debates in the broader interdisciplinary field of Memory Studies.

    • Independent Research/Professional Experience Project (MAEL712)

      This module enables students to conceive, plan and carry out an independent research project, with guidance from a supervisor on a topic not currently covered by the Programme's other modules. Students may engage with a topic, period or genre relevant to the study of English Literature or use their research to construct a project in the context of a professional work experience.

    • Ocean Modernity: Literatures of the sea, 1850- the present (MAEL707)

      This module explores literary and cultural representations of the ocean from 1850 to the present. By engaging with a diverse array of literary and cultural texts, including fiction, poetry, non-fiction, theory and visual art, it will examine diverse and shifting cultural imaginaries of the sea. In so doing, it will also investigate wider relations between humanity and the non-human world in modernity.

    • Filth and the Victorians (MAHI726)

      In this module students study the Victorian era from the perspective of environment, public hygiene, cultural values of cleanliness and fear of physical, moral and other forms of contamination. Drawing on urban histories, histories of medicine and science, the module also uses a range of literary and artistic sources.

  • Final year

  • In your second year, you’ll take two elective modules from the options available. You will also take the dissertation module in a subject of your choice over the spring and summer, finishing the MA in two years, or defer the dissertation to the following year and complete in three years.
    The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.

    Core modules

    • MA English Literature Dissertation (MAEL701)

      The dissertation module provides the opportunity for students to undertake a supervised, self-directed, research project (15-20,000 words in length), on any topic of their choice, independent of the modules they have studied. It will make use of the IT, library, and other research and scholarly skills learnt the core Research Methods module and developed through subsequent modules.

    Optional modules

    • Remembering Things Past: Literature and Memory, 1780 to Present (MAEL711)

      This module examines the interrelationships between literary culture and memory from 1780 to the present. Students will engage with a diverse array of texts including fiction, poetry, film, and theory in order to examine issues such as the role of literature in constructing national memory, the historical tensions between the written word and orality, and contested sites of memory in postcolonial contexts. In doing so, the module investigates current debates in the broader interdisciplinary field of Memory Studies.

    • Independent Research/Professional Experience Project (MAEL712)

      This module enables students to conceive, plan and carry out an independent research project, with guidance from a supervisor on a topic not currently covered by the Programme's other modules. Students may engage with a topic, period or genre relevant to the study of English Literature or use their research to construct a project in the context of a professional work experience.

    • Ocean Modernity: Literatures of the sea, 1850- the present (MAEL707)

      This module explores literary and cultural representations of the ocean from 1850 to the present. By engaging with a diverse array of literary and cultural texts, including fiction, poetry, non-fiction, theory and visual art, it will examine diverse and shifting cultural imaginaries of the sea. In so doing, it will also investigate wider relations between humanity and the non-human world in modernity.

    • The Utopian Novel and Modernity (MAEL706)

      This module will explore the intersection of utopian thinking, theory and the novel over a period spanning the late nineteenth century to the present. It will explore how this intersection relates to relevant political and cultural issues and contexts such as globalism, politics, gender and the environment. The module will engage with prominent theorists of utopia such as Ernst Bloch and Fredric Jameson. It will also focus on the work of a range of authors, such as William Morris, Ursula Le Guin, Doris Lessing and Kim Stanley Robinson.

    • Filth and the Victorians (MAHI726)

      In this module students study the Victorian era from the perspective of environment, public hygiene, cultural values of cleanliness and fear of physical, moral and other forms of contamination. Drawing on urban histories, histories of medicine and science, the module also uses a range of literary and artistic sources.

Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:

MA English Literature programme specification 6047

The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.
Entry requirements
To apply for this programme you should normally possess one of the following:
  • a first or upper second (2:1) degree with honours (in a humanities subject or related field) or professional qualification, recognised as being equivalent to degree standard
  • an ordinary degree, foundation degree, higher national diploma, or university diploma, accompanied by substantial experience in an appropriate field.
Applicants with overseas qualifications can check their comparability with the UK equivalent through Ecctis, which provides an advisory service.
The minimum IELTS score for acceptable English proficiency for entry is normally 7.
We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.
For academic queries please contact the course leader, Dr Mandy Bloomfield.
Fees, costs and funding
Student 2022-2023 2023-2024
Home N/A N/A
International N/A N/A
Part time (Home) £450 £510
Full time fees shown are per annum. Part time fees shown are per 10 credits. Please note that fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them shown in the prospectus are correct at the time of going to print. Fees shown on the web are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances. More information about fees and funding.

Tuition fee discount for University of Plymouth graduates

If you studied your undergraduate degree at Plymouth, you may be eligible for a fee discount if you complete your postgraduate studies here as well.
  • 20% discount on tuition fees for home students
  • £2,000 discount on tuition fees for international students

The MA is comprised of 180 credits.

Find out more about your eligibility for a postgraduate loan

You may now be eligible for a government loan of over £11,000 to help towards the cost of your masters degree.
How to apply
When to apply
Most of our taught programmes begin in September. Applications can usually be made throughout the year, and are considered until programmes are full.
Before you apply
Familiarise yourself with the information required to complete your application form. You will usually be required to supply:
  • evidence of qualifications (degree certificates or transcripts), with translations if not in English, to show that you meet, or expect to meet the entry requirements
  • evidence of English language proficiency, if English is not your first language
  • a personal statement of approximately 250-400 words about the reasons for your interest in the course and outlining the nature of previous and current related experience. You can write this into the online application form, or include it as a separate document
  • your curriculum vitae or résumé, including details of relevant professional/voluntary experience, professional registration/s and visa status for overseas workers
  • proof of sponsorship, if applicable.
If you require further information take a look at our application guidance.
Disability services
If you have a disability and would like further information about the support provided by University of Plymouth, please visit our Disability Services.
International students
Support is also available to overseas students applying to the University from our International Office. Take a look at our how to apply information or email admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.
Submitting an application
Once you are happy that you have all of the information required you can apply using our online postgraduate application form (the blue 'Apply now' icon on this page).
What happens after I apply?
You will normally receive a decision on your application within four weeksof us receiving your application. You may be asked to provide additional information; two academic/professional references, confirming your suitability for the course; or to take part in an interview (which in the case of overseas students may be by telephone or video conference) and you will be sent a decision by letter or email.
We aim to make the application procedure as simple and efficient as possible. Our Admissions and Course Enquiries team is on hand to offer help and can put you in touch with the appropriate faculty if you wish to discuss any programme in detail. 
If you would like any further information please contact the Admissions and Course Enquiries team:
Telephone: +44 (0)1752 585858
Email: admissions@plymouth.ac.uk 
Admissions policy
More information and advice for applicants can be referenced in our admissions policy which can be found on the student regulations, policies and procedures page. Prospective students are advised to read the policy before making an application to the University.

"We can no longer assume that the oceans are timeless and eternal. Human activities have changed the sea and we need to find new ways of imagining, conceptualising and interacting with them."

Dr Mandy Bloomfield, Associate Professor in Modern and Contemporary Literature, describes how her research explores environmental questions through literary study.

Insight: Ocean Modernity Module

In recent years, oceans have become increasingly central to our contemporary sense of environmental crisis.
In this module, we will encounter a diverse array of literary engagements with the ocean and explore how these ocean imaginaries reveal shifting and intertwined cultural, global and ecological relations.
<p>whale text</p><p>English Literature</p>

Insight: Remembering Things Past: Literature and Memory, 1780 to the Present Module

From the toppling of the Edward Colston statue in 2020 to ongoing contestations over national histories and monuments, the question of how we—be it as an individual, society, or nation—remember remains pertinent. This course module taught by Dr Arun Sood explores this question through an examination of the interrelationships between literary culture and memory.
Students engage with a diverse array of texts including fiction, film, and memory theory in order to examine issues such as the role of literature in constructing national memory, the historical tensions between the written word and orality, and contested sites of memory in postcolonial contexts. 
<p>The protector: police in riot gear and James Larkin Statue. O'Connel Street, Dublin, Ireland. Credit:&nbsp;xbusto, courtesy of Getty Images<br></p>
<p>Arun Sood - B&amp;W<br></p>

Meet the Academic: Dr Arun Sood 

My research spans a diverse range of Global Anglophone literatures but is consistently underpinned by examining colonial legacies in relation to memory, diaspora, nationalism, and identity. These interests are explored through both critical works and creative practice, ranging from academic monographs to fiction as well as multiform collaborations with musicians and visual artists.  
I am co-editor of an Edinburgh University Press special volume on Race and Racism in Scotland, and an interdisciplinary project titled Searching Erskine, exploring the intersections between place, ecology, and memory, which has featured on BBC Radio 3, BBC 6 Music and in The Guardian. My critically-acclaimed novel New Skin For The Olde Ceremony was published in 2022.

Student testimonial

“I cannot recommend the MA English Literature at Plymouth highly enough. The course offers a dynamic, engaging, and supportive learning environment that will appeal to both students progressing directly from a BA course, or those who may be returning to further study. The range of modules offered at Plymouth allowed me to expand my knowledge across a range of periods and genres while the research methods and dissertation modules enabled me to pursue my own specialist interests. There is truly something here for everyone.

The staff are enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and supportive, always taking the time to offer prompt feedback, advice, and guidance, tailored to helping students fulfil their maximum potential. With a dedicated and proactive staff, as well an engaging creative environment, this is not just a course, but also a community. Through additional research seminars and active partners, such as The Arts Institute, the course provides a fantastic springboard for those considering careers across a range of creative industries and institutions as well as preparing them for PhD study."

Stephen Allard, MA English Literature

Learn about the opportunities and experiences that could benefit you

Plastic Scoop: A Synthetic Ocean

Plastic Scoop brings together lecturer in English Post-1950 Dr Mandy Bloomfield, and photographer Andy Hughes, to create an innovative creative project which will share new perspectives and approaches about plastic pollution, climate change, the Anthropocene and sustainability. Using game footage from Grand Theft Auto V, alongside archival footage and new research material, it connects futurology and global environmental issues, watery worlds, ecology and the everyday way we think of ourselves and the ocean.

“Gaming and virtual reality has often been accused of being a form of escapism. It takes us away from the material world and in some ways distracts us from many of the problems we face in reality."
Dr Mandy Bloomfield

Let our graduates inspire you

<p> Sneha Subramanian <br></p>
Shaping the future through the discovery of voices – Sneha's story
Leanne Tough - MA English and Culture graduate
Embarking on a new PhD adventure – Leanne's story

People