English Literature MA

Course overview

Discover the incredible diversity of English literature throughout history and around the globe with this broad and varied Masters degree.

You’ll draw upon our School’s extensive research strengths across all literary periods (including Medieval, Renaissance, Romantic, Victorian, Modern and Contemporary), diverse cultures (including Postcolonial and American), and interdisciplinary humanities (such as Digital, Environmental, and Medical).

With access to a rich range of modules, you’ll be able to specialise in your particular field and explore the connections between diverse research areas taught by experts in the field, including Shakespeare's plays, Black British writing, the Victorian media revolution, the Brontës, psychoanalysis andpostcolonialism, among many others.

This degree’s flexibility and wealth of module options connects you to internationally-renowned academics with expertise in across and beyond the discipline of literary studies, allowing you to gain a nuanced and diverse perspective on your subject. The range of optional modules will allow you to tailor the degree to your own particular interests, while still encouraging you to explore literatures that you may not have known before coming to Leeds.

You’ll have the freedom to pursue your personal interests through an independent Research Project on a topic of your choice. Throughout your studies, you’ll be encouraged to consider overarching issues relating to the study of English literature in all its forms.

The programme provides in-depth engagement with topical issues relevant to the study of English literatures, and will develop your skills in analytical and critical thinking, spoken and written communication, and qualitative and quantitative research methods, gaining experience in project work and time management.

Specialist resources

The University Library is one of the UK's major academic research libraries. It has extensive holdings to support your studies, including English Literature Collections that have been designated of national and international importance.

Our Cultural Collections also offer a huge range of rare books, manuscripts and art, covering topics as varied as poetry, feminism, vernacular culture, and the history of science. This includes the archives of twentieth and twenty-first century poets including Tony Harrison, Geoffrey Hill, Helen Mort and Simon Armitage. The library also holds early editions and original manuscripts by the Brontë family, plus materials linked to Bram Stoker, Arthur Conan Doyle and Hester Pulter.

The School of English is based in a characterful set of Victorian terraced buildings on the edge of campus, close to the Parkinson Building. Students are encouraged to use its study spaces and meeting rooms for informal meetings, events, and personal study. In addition, the Workshop Theatre across the road is also part of the School, and regularly hosts poetry readings, drama performances and workshops, and academic conferences.

Take a 360 tour around our libraries:

Brotherton Library
Laidlaw Library
Edward Boyle Library

Course details and modules

In semester 1, you will study a core module, Yorkshire Literary Landscapes, which offers an exciting overview of the literature written in our historic county, from the first poem in English (‘Cædmon’s Hymn’, 7th century) to the work of 21st -century writers living and working in Leeds, from the witty fiction of Laurence Sterne to the novels of the Brontë sisters. The module is specially designed to give you a solid base of theoretical knowledge required for postgraduate level literary and textual analysis, alongside experience in and high- level research methods, giving you new insights and inspiration for topics of study, and preparing you for the rest of the programme.

All modules in the programme engage with the wide range of School’s areas of expertise in the School of English, meaning that you will benefit from research-led teaching. Your choice of three optional modules will allow you to tailor your studies to suit your interests and career ambitions. As you progress through your studies, you’ll apply what you’ve learned in an independent Research Project on a topic of your choice.

If you choose to study part-time, you’ll study over a longer period and take fewer modules in each year.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read English Literature MA Full Time in the course catalogue

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read English Literature MA Part Time in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

Year 1 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

Learning and teaching

Our MA modules are taught primarily via two-hour seminars each week, although other modes of teaching such as lectures, workshops, and tutorials are also used. Seminars give you the opportunity to discuss the themes and issues arising from your reading with your peers and your module tutors. On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus. You may also be taught by experienced industry professionals.

The teaching sessions provide effective support for independent study which forms a vital part of the degree, allowing you to build your skills and explore your own ideas. You’ll also benefit from supervisions throughout semester 2 with your Research Project supervisor. You will also attend, and have the opportunity to participate in, the annual MA student conference, at which MA students present their ongoing research to students and staff within the School, as part of the research project module.

As an MA student you will be joining the wider postgraduate community within the School of English, which includes our Master’s by Research students and doctoral researchers. You will be able to attend reading groups and research seminars run by university staff, and take the opportunity establish your own learning communities with other students in the School, and across the university, who share your interests. There will also be the opportunity to attend poetry readings, hosted by Poetry@Leeds, and performances by Playhouse Lab – our resident theatre group.

You will have access to the MA Student Research Fund to support your preparations for the research project, such as attending conferences, visiting archives, or licenses for specialist software.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Our MA modules are assessed via a range of a methods. This includes written essays (2000-4000 words) exploring topics or texts in detail, portfolios of shorter work, spoken and digital presentations, and research reports. Some modules have multiple assessment points, others have an end of semester submission, as appropriate to their learning objectives. The Research Project module is assessed by a 12,000-word dissertation or equivalent project to be completed by the end of the programme. We support you in your learning by setting you formative activities, such as asking you to submit draft essays to gain verbal feedback on your work, or to give presentations on your reading in seminars. You are able to speak with your module tutors throughout the programme about your plans and preparation, and will receive feedback on completed work to help you develop for the next stage of the programme.

Applying

Entry requirements

You’ll need a bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) or equivalent qualification, preferably in an English related degree specialising in one of the following subjects:

English literatures, English language, World literatures, History, Creative writing, Journalism, Publishing, Modern languages or a related Humanities and Arts subject.

We will also consider applicants with relevant experience, an interest in literary studies, or coming from an area of expertise to which English literature is complementary.

We welcome applicants from a diverse range of subject disciplines so please do not hesitate to apply if your subject is not listed.

All applicants will be required to respond to the questions in the supporting statement section of the online application form to explain why you wish to study this particular course and your career plans. Relevant professional experience may also be considered. We may request additional documentation to inform our decision.

Humanities and Arts subjects

• English Literature
• English Language
• World literatures
• History
• Creative writing
• Journalism
• Publishing
• Modern languages
• Linguistics
• History
• Comparative Literature
• Philosophy
• Cultural Studies
• Media and Communication Studies
• Performance and Theatre Studies
• Creative Arts

International

Our admissions team are experienced in considering a wide range of international qualifications. If you wish to discuss whether your qualifications will meet the necessary entry criteria, contact the School’s admissions team.

You can also check the accepted qualifications for your country or region.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in all components. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Arts and Humanities (6 weeks) and Language for Social Science and Arts: Arts and Humanities (10 weeks).

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional and our 10 week online pre-sessional. 

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

Please see our How to Apply page for information about application deadlines

The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page will take you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you intend to apply for funding, we advise you to submit an application for your chosen course as early as possible and at least one month before any scholarship deadline.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Documents and information you'll need

• A copy of your degree certificate and transcripts, or a partial transcript if you’re still studying (please submit an official English translation where the original is not in English)
• Your approved English Language test* (if applicable)
• A personal statement in response to the questions asked in the supporting statement section of the application form
• A full up-to-date CV
• Any previous UK CAS, visa and BRP documents if you’re an international applicant who has previously studied in the UK on a Tier 4/ Student Visa.

* Applicants who have not yet completed an approved English language test may apply for a Masters course prior to taking a test.

Personal Statement Requirements

Please summarise your reasons for applying to this particular programme of study. Your response can include details of your previous study/work experience relevant to the programme and career ambitions. Your response can provide us with important information on your suitability for the course, so please complete carefully.

Please explain why you have chosen to apply for this Masters course at the University of Leeds by answering the following questions in separate numbered paragraphs:

• What areas of this course particularly interest you and why? Have you studied these before? Please explain your reasons for applying to this particular Masters course
• Why do you want to study this course at Leeds? Please comment on aspects such as available resources at the University and in the city, research specialisms within the school or academics you would like to work with.
• What potential themes have you considered for dissertation research?
• How will studying for this course help you to achieve your longer term goals?
• Why do you see this course as a particularly valuable subject to study?
• What skills and experience do you have that have prepared you for this course? You may like to give details of any final year work/projects you have previously undertaken, relevant work experience etc.

Relevant work experience might include: NGOs, advertising, marketing, architecture, crafts, design (product, graphic, fashion), film, TV, radio, photography, IT - software, computer services, publishing, museums, galleries, libraries, music, performing and visual arts, teaching and education.

Next Steps

Where further information to support the assessment of your application is needed, we may ask for a recent sample of written work.

We do not generally request references, unless further information is required to support the assessment of your application.

Support for part-time and mature learners

The Lifelong Learning Centre provides support for mature and part-time learners across the University, including advice on how to apply to university and support throughout your studies.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2026

This course is taught by

School of English

Contact us

Postgraduate Administrator

Email: pgtenglish@leeds.ac.uk

Fees

UK: £12,500 (Total)

International: £27,500 (Total)

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Part-time fees
Fees for part-time courses are normally calculated based on the number of credits you study in a year compared to the equivalent full-time course. For example, if you study half the course credits in a year, you will pay half the full-time course fees for that year.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

The School of English also offers a range of scholarships for taught postgraduate study. Find out more on our Scholarships page.

Career opportunities

This degree will allow you to develop subject knowledge in a challenging and dynamic subject while building skills that are highly prized by employers.

You’ll be a confident researcher who works well independently, but you’ll also be an excellent communicator and comfortable in a team. You’ll have good analytical and critical skills, as well as having the ability to use different approaches to think about a situation from several different viewpoints.

All of these qualities are attractive to employers across sectors, and you’ll be well equipped to pursue a career in a wide range of fields depending on your interests. Graduates from our English programmes go on to develop careers in a large range of areas including publishing, broadcasting, teaching, advertising, journalism, and the law. Many of our graduates also choose to progress to PhD-level study.

Careers support

Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more about Careers support.

Whether you're looking to pursue further study, change career, or stand out in the competitive graduate job market, you'll receive expert support in applying the skills you've developed in your chosen career.