University of York

What you'll study

This MA combines taught modules with an extended research dissertation. You will study major Victorian authors and genres alongside thematic and contextual modules that situate literature within nineteenth‑century print culture, visual culture, science, empire, and social history. Typical taught topics include:

• Close reading and critical approaches to canonical authors (for example Dickens, the Brontës, George Eliot, Tennyson, and poets and short‑story writers of the period)
• Periodical and print culture: the role of magazines, serial publication, and the marketplace in shaping literary form and readership
• Victorian popular and visual cultures: illustration, the illustrated press, theatre, and material culture
• Science, medicine and literature: interactions between Victorian scientific thought and literary production
• Empire, race and gender: postcolonial and feminist readings of nineteenth‑century writing
• The Gothic, sensation fiction and the novel of social investigation
• Research training in literary methods and archival practice, preparing you for independent research

The programme structure normally comprises a set number of taught modules at postgraduate level and a major dissertation (research project) of substantial length, supervised by a member of the Department of English & Related Literature. Assessment is typically by a mixture of essays, presentations, and the dissertation.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a good honours degree (usually an upper‑second class or equivalent) in English literature or a closely related humanities discipline. Candidates with a lower classification but relevant professional experience or strong academic references may be considered on their merits. Postgraduate applicants whose first language is not English will be required to meet the University’s English language requirements; evidence of an accepted qualification is required before entry.

Applicants should submit a personal statement outlining their interest in Victorian studies, a writing sample or undergraduate dissertation where available, and academic references. Prospective research students are encouraged to contact potential supervisors within the department to discuss research interests before applying.

Career prospects

Graduates from this MA move into a broad range of careers that use advanced research, writing and analytical skills. Common destinations include:

• Doctoral research and academic careers in literature and cultural history
• Publishing, editing and literary journalism
• Museum, archive and heritage work, including cataloguing and curatorial roles
• Arts management, cultural policy and public engagement roles
• Libraries, information management and records work
• Teaching (with appropriate PGCE or further qualifications), and roles in digital humanities or research support

The programme’s emphasis on archival awareness, periodical studies and interdisciplinary methods is particularly useful for students aiming to work with historical collections, develop exhibition projects, or pursue research‑led roles in the cultural sector.

Why study at University of York

The University of York’s Department of English & Related Literature has a strong tradition of nineteenth‑century scholarship and offers specialist supervision in Victorian studies. Students benefit from a research‑active environment with regular seminar series, reading groups and visiting speakers that foster close engagement with current scholarship.

York’s libraries and research collections, together with the Borthwick Institute for Archives and other local collections, provide rich primary resources for nineteenth‑century research. The department’s interdisciplinary links—across history, politics, theatre and the visual arts—allow students to pursue connections between literature and wider cultural fields. Small seminar groups and dedicated supervision ensure personalised feedback and support for dissertation work, whether for professional development or preparation for doctoral study.