University of Hull

What you'll study

This MA develops advanced understanding of literary texts, contexts and critical approaches. You will take core modules that sharpen research skills and critical theory awareness, and choose from specialist option modules that reflect staff expertise and current research interests.

• Core research and methods — training in archival work, bibliographic skills, research design, and advanced critical theory to prepare you for the dissertation or further research.
• Period and genre studies — seminars covering key periods and genres such as medieval and early modern literature, eighteenth- and nineteenth-century studies, modernism and twentieth-century literature, and contemporary fiction and poetry.
• Theory and criticism — engagement with modern critical approaches including feminist, postcolonial, ecocritical, queer, and digital humanities perspectives.
• Optional specialised modules — modules might include topics such as Victorian literature and culture, Shakespeare and early drama, modern and contemporary poetry, life writing and autobiography, adaptation and film, and literature and the environment.
• Dissertation — a substantial supervised research project (typically 15,000–20,000 words) allowing you to pursue an original topic, develop argumentation and present sustained scholarly work.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a good undergraduate degree in English Literature or a related humanities subject. Typical applicants will have demonstrated ability in literary analysis and independent study; professional or academic experience in a relevant area may be considered where applicants do not hold a conventional qualifying degree.

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate English language competence through a recognised qualification. All applicants must submit a CV and a personal statement explaining their reasons for study and proposed areas of interest; some applicants may also be asked to submit a writing sample or attend an interview.

Career prospects

Graduates of the MA in English Literature pursue a wide range of careers. Many go on to doctoral research or academic roles, while others move into professional destinations such as publishing, journalism, copy-editing, content and communications, marketing, arts and cultural organisations, museums and archives, and heritage management. The programme’s focus on research methods, critical thinking and written communication also equips students for roles in policy, the civil service, and the creative economy. Those intending to teach in schools often combine this qualification with a postgraduate teaching qualification (PGCE) or equivalent.

Why study at University of Hull

The University of Hull offers a supportive research environment with small-group seminars and one-to-one supervision. You will have access to the university’s Brynmor Jones Library and special collections, as well as local archives and cultural resources that support primary research. Hull’s interdisciplinary links across humanities and cultural institutions enable engagement with contemporary debates in literature, heritage and public culture. The department places emphasis on employability, providing opportunities for placements, public-facing projects and skills development that prepare graduates for diverse career paths or further academic study.