Program Overview
Home Study Postgraduate Taught home Courses English English Literary Studies MA Please note: This page is for 2027 entry. MA English Literary Studies UCAS code 1234 Duration 1 year full time 2 years part time Entry year 2026 Campus Streatham Campus Typical offer View full entry requirements 2:2 Honours degree Contextual offers Why study MA English Literary Studies at Exeter? Develop a deep understanding of literature and media within their historical and cultural contexts, while developing advanced communication, research, and analytical skills Tailor your degree to suit your interests with a wide range of optional modules Ideal for students seeking to enhance their studies before launching a career in fields such as research, publishing, communications, or the arts, while engaging with the department’s internationally renowned Research Centres, Research Groups and conferences Benefit from excellent campus facilities, including Special Collections featuring the papers of celebrated authors like Agatha Christie, Daphne Du Maurier, William Golding and Ted Hughes; the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum’s unique film and popular culture archives; and the cutting-edge Digital Humanities Lab Study in Exeter, a UNESCO City of Literature, and gain access to a rich array of local resources such as the Devon and Exeter Institution and the Cathedral Archive, supporting your exploration of literary and cultural works Fast Track (current Exeter students) Open Days Get a prospectus Contact Programme Director: Dr Rob Turner Web: Enquire online Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72 Discover MA English Literary Studies at the University of Exeter. Our English research environment is 100% world leading Based on 4* research environment submitted to REF 2021 Top 50 in the world for English Language and Literature QS World University Subject Rankings 2026 A thriving and supportive writing community - our team of prize-winning and best-selling authors will help you develop your creative writing skills Unique on-site resources: Exeter’s Special Collections archive and The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum Entry requirements We will consider applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree or above in their first degree in a related subject, such as English Literature, American Studies, Creative Writing, Film Studies, Television and Media, Drama, History, Classics and Ancient History, Cultural Studies and Postcolonial Literatures. While we normally only consider applicants who meet these criteria, if you are coming from a different academic background which is equivalent to degree level, or have relevant work experience, we would welcome your application.
Key Program Features
Why study MA English Literary Studies at Exeter?
- Develop a deep understanding of literature and media within their historical and cultural contexts, while developing advanced communication, research, and analytical skills
- Tailor your degree to suit your interests with a wide range of optional modules
- Ideal for students seeking to enhance their studies before launching a career in fields such as research, publishing, communications, or the arts, while engaging with the department’s internationally renowned Research Centres, Research Groups and conferences
- Benefit from excellent campus facilities, including Special Collections featuring the papers of celebrated authors like Agatha Christie, Daphne Du Maurier, William Golding and Ted Hughes; the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum’s unique film and popular culture archives; and the cutting-edge Digital Humanities Lab
- Study in Exeter, a UNESCO City of Literature, and gain access to a rich array of local resources such as the Devon and Exeter Institution and the Cathedral Archive, supporting your exploration of literary and cultural works
Career Opportunities
Careers
Graduates of this MA will be well-prepared for careers in writing, publishing, journalism, film and TV, advertising and marketing, non-profit organisations, social enterprises, and education. The course also serves as an excellent foundation for pursuing doctoral research in literature. Those who complete the MA and identify a compelling research topic (often based on their third term dissertation) are encouraged to apply to the Exeter PhD.
An English degree is a uniquely versatile qualification valued by employers for the combination of communication and analytical skills as well as combining an understanding of literature and media in a historical and cultural context. For some of our students the MA is a step on the path to doctoral study, for others it opens a range of career paths in areas such as teaching, publishing, media, journalism, advertising and communications.
In recent years the positions some of our graduates have gone on to include:
Copywriter Marketing Assistant Assistant Editor Publishing Assistant Editorial Assistant Freelance Journalist Writer Careers and employment support While studying at Exeter you can also access a range of activities, advice and practical help to give you the best chance of following your chosen career path. For more information visit our Careers pages .
Program Curriculum
Course content
The programme is divided into units of study called modules which are assigned 'credits'. The credit rating of a module is proportional to the total workload, with 1 credit being nominally equivalent to 10 hours of work.
Our flexible programme enables you to choose from a varied range of modules. The compulsory dissertation is 60 credits, allowing you to tailor your degree to your own interests by selecting the remaining 120 credits from our expansive list of options.
The programme is specifically designed for those seeking high level training prior to embarking on doctoral research, recent graduates wishing to extend and enhance their studies by a year before taking up a career, individuals already in employment who are interested in career development, and those who simply wish to broaden their intellectual horizons.
Please note that this course requires you to read and analyse complex English literary texts, but we do not teach English language skills on these modules. You will need a near-native level of English to participate fully in classes and complete assessments successfully.
The modules below provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
Modules Please note that the module information displayed here is from a previous year and is subject to change. 60 credit compulsory dissertation module and 120 credits of optional modules (you may take up 30 credits from the MA Creative Writing) Compulsory modules All students must take EASM023 Dissertation Code Module Credits EASM023 Dissertation 60 Optional modules All students must choose 120 credits of option modules (30 credits can come from the Creative Writing options). Code Module Credits MA English Literary Studies - option modules 2025-6 EASM109 Bodies Politic: Cultural and Sexual Politics in England, 1603-1679 30 EASM174 Writing Women in the English Middle Ages 30 EASM184 World Literature and Postcolonial Studies 30 EASM192 Global Voices: Shakespeare and the Early Modern World 30 EASM197 Global Romanticisms 30 EASM024 Disunited States: Contemporary American Literature, 1970s-Present 30 EASM206 Global Victorians: Making the Modern World, 1837-1914 30 EASM151 Modernism and Material Culture 30 EASM152 Criticism and Theory: Critical and Literary Theory in a Global Context 30 EASM167 World Cinema / World Literature 30 EASM171 Expanding Queerness: Critical Debates in Theory, Literature, Film and Television 30 HASM031 Global Classrooms: Health Humanities and Geographies 30 MA English Literary Studies - Creative Writing options 2025-6 EASM213 Writing Scripts: Stage and Screen(s) 30 EASM209 Writing Poetry 30 EASM208 Writing Nature 30 EASM211 Writing Prose I 30 EASM212 Writing Prose II 30 EASM200 Writing Interactively 30 EASM198 Text and Image: Creative Writing 30
Admission Requirements
Entry requirements
We will consider applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree or above in their first degree in a related subject, such as English Literature, American Studies, Creative Writing, Film Studies, Television and Media, Drama, History, Classics and Ancient History, Cultural Studies and Postcolonial Literatures. While we normally only consider applicants who meet these criteria, if you are coming from a different academic background which is equivalent to degree level, or have relevant work experience, we would welcome your application.
Applicants coming from a non-related background will be asked to provide a sample of written work (2,000 words) to enable their suitability for the programme to be assessed. This is not mandatory for your initial application, but you are welcome to include a writing sample if you wish. Please also include in your personal statement why you want to study the MA and why you believe you’re a good fit for the course. Please also see our guidance on essential documentation required for an initial decision on taught programme applications . Entry requirements for international students Please visit our entry requirements section for equivalencies from your country and further information on English language requirements .
Please also see our guidance on essential documentation required for an initial decision on taught programme applications . Entry requirements for international students English language requirements International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required IELTS test scores for this course fall under Profile E . Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
GBP 16,500/year (international)
Fees
2026/27 entry
UK fees per year:
£ 12,650 full-time; £ 6,325 part-time
International fees per year:
£ 25,550 full-time; £ 12,775 part-time
Scholarships
The University of Exeter offers a wide range of scholarships to support your education, with £7 million available for international students applying to study with us in the 2026/27 academic year , including our prestigious Exeter Excellence Scholarships * . We also provide awards for sport, music and other achievements, as well as regional and partner scholarships with organisations such as Chevening, The Beacon Trust and the British Council. For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page .
University of Exeter Alumni Scholarship
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Scholarships
The University of Exeter offers a wide range of scholarships to support your education, with £7 million available for international students applying to study with us in the 2026/27 academic year , including our prestigious Exeter Excellence Scholarships * . We also provide awards for sport, music and other achievements, as well as regional and partner scholarships with organisations such as Chevening, The Beacon Trust and the British Council. For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page .
University of Exeter Alumni Scholarship
We are pleased to offer University of Exeter alumni beginning a standalone postgraduate programme in 2026/27 with us a scholarship towards the cost of your tuition fees. Full details can be found here.
*Terms and conditions, including deadlines, apply. See our website for details. .
Find out more about tuition fees and funding »
About The University of Exeter
The University of Exeter
Botswana, Botswana
Visit the university profile page to learn more about this institution.
University Profile- Application Deadline 2018-07-21
- Start Date 2018-09-24
- Language English
- Duration 12 months
- Credits 60 ECTS / 180 credits (1-year programme)