University of Warwick

What you'll study

The MA combines taught modules with a substantial independent dissertation, allowing you to pursue both breadth and a focused research topic. Core study emphasises close reading, research methods and contemporary critical theory, while optional modules cover periods and themes such as Shakespeare and early modern drama, Romantic and Victorian literature, modernism and twentieth-century fiction, contemporary and postcolonial writing, gender and sexuality, adaptation and media, and the intersections of literature with philosophy, history and cultural studies.

Teaching is delivered through seminars and small-group tutorials that prioritise discussion and research-led learning. Assessment typically includes essays and seminar presentations, and the degree culminates in an extended research dissertation supervised by a member of academic staff. There are opportunities to take interdisciplinary modules or electives from related departments and to participate in research seminars, reading groups and the department's public lecture programme.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a good undergraduate degree in English or a closely related subject. Strong candidates with degrees in other humanities or social sciences may be considered if they can demonstrate substantive literary study and research potential. The department also considers applicants who have relevant professional experience or postgraduate-level work.

International applicants must demonstrate competence in English through an approved qualification. Your application should include a personal statement outlining your academic interests and proposed direction for postgraduate study, transcripts, and references. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to interview or to submit a writing sample to support their application.

Career prospects

Graduates of the MA English Literature proceed to a wide range of careers. Many use the degree as preparation for doctoral research and academic teaching. Others move into publishing, editorial work, journalism, arts administration, heritage and museums, public relations, policy and the civil service, or creative industries such as script and content development. The programme fosters skills valued by employers—critical thinking, advanced research, complex argumentation, and clear written and verbal communication—making graduates attractive to employers in both the public and private sectors.

Why study at University of Warwick

Warwick’s Department of English is known for its strong research culture and a broad staff expertise that spans historical periods and theoretical approaches, providing rich supervision for your dissertation and access to specialised seminar series. The department encourages interdisciplinary collaboration with neighbouring disciplines and offers a lively postgraduate community, including workshops, conferences and reading groups.

Students benefit from the University of Warwick Library’s extensive collections and electronic resources, and from career support services that help translate postgraduate study into professional pathways. The department’s connections with regional and national cultural organisations, combined with the university’s central support for postgraduate development, make Warwick a stimulating place to pursue advanced literary study.