English Literature MA

This course will give you an in depth understanding not just of individual literary texts, but of how they relate to each other, to their wider literary and global context, and to our changing perceptions of literary value. The focus of the modules capitalises on the particular areas of expertise of our dynamic and supportive academic team, but they have also been developed in consultation with industry experts, to ensure your learning is relevant to many different potential career paths. 

Rather than focusing on a particular form or period of writing, it allows you to explore texts across time, place and genre, and ask questions about literature as a broader concept. This means that when it comes to your final dissertation, you have free rein to focus on whatever genre, form, literary period or theme interests you most. For this extended project. You will be assigned a supervisor from our team, whose research expertise span a wide range of specialisms.

 The English Literature department at York St John University has an established record of high levels of student satisfaction, and a reputation for being student-focused. As a student on this course you will be part of a vibrant postgraduate community, and an exciting research culture, with several active and welcoming research groups.

Our location in York means we can access local archives and repositories containing rare primary sources from the eighteenth century and earlier, such as York Minster Library and Archive and the Bar Convent Archive. We play a big part in York Literature Festival, which attracts an impressive range of authors and literary figures to the city. You can also get involved in events such as York International Shakespeare Festival, the Festival of Ideas, and the York Georgian Festival. 

Follow us on Instagram at @wordsmatter_YSJ, or on X at @YSJLit.

Take a look at our blog: Words Matter

How you will study

You can study this postgraduate course full time or part time. This allows you to fit your studies around other commitments.

If you choose to study full time, the course will take 1 year to complete. You will:

• Study 2 compulsory modules in semester 1
• Study 2 compulsory modules in semester 2
• Focus on researching and writing your dissertation in semester 3

If you choose to study part time, the course will take 2 years to complete. The modules will be split across both years.

You can find out which modules are available in each term in the Course Specifications.

Modules

Teaching and learning

 Each module will be taught by various members of the academic team, giving you access to a broad range of expertise. On each module you will study clusters of texts, foregrounding the course's central questions about the different types of connections between various literary texts, the relationship between texts and criticism ,and the production of perceptions relating to literary value. 

In Semesters 1 and 2, classes take place once a week for each module, in weekly 2 hour small group seminars. You can study part time (30 credits each semester) or full time (60 credits each semester). In Semester 3, you will shift your focus to the dissertation.

Formative support and feedback will be provided throughout the course, which will produce a dialogue between you and your tutors, in order to help shape the development of your ideas.

Our teaching draws on both our research and professional experience. This means your learning is informed by the most current thinking in the subject area. You can find out more about our research and backgrounds by visiting our staff pages.

Assessment

You will encounter a range of assessments, including:

• Essay
• Abstract
• Annotated bibliography
• Presentation
• Critical reflection
• Curation
• Round table discussion

These have been designed in consultation with external advisers with a wide range of industry perspectives.

Assessments are designed to help you develop your skills as a writer, researcher and literary critic, and also to help you prepare for future employment. You will be able to discuss your ideas and receive formative feedback throughout the course.

The Dissertation is the culmination of your postgraduate experience. You will work independently on developing your ideas and approaches, but also receive the support of your supervisor, submitting your final 12,000 word piece after the end of the third semester. This process helps you develop into an independent researcher and prepares you for further study and the world of work.

Qualifications

If we have further questions about your application, you may be invited to a short interview.

International students

If you are an international student you will need to show that your qualifications match our entry requirements.

Information about international qualifications and entry requirements can be found on our International pages.

If English is not your first language you will need to show that you have English Language competence at IELTS level 6.0 (with no skill below 5.5) or equivalent.

We are happy to arrange interviews via Skype for overseas students.

International entry requirements

Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL)

If you do not have traditional qualifications, you might be able to provide evidence of professional experience in the subject as an alternative way to meet the entry requirements. This is called Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). Appropriate references and records of employment would need to be presented to support your case for admission.

Terms and conditions

Our terms and conditions, policies and procedures contain important information about studying at York St John University. You can read them on our Admissions page.

UK 2025 - 2026 entry

• £8,600 for full time study
• £4,300 per year for part time study

These costs apply to all UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students.

Postgraduate loans are available to help you pay for your master’s course. Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.

Funding opportunities

International 2025 - 2026 entry

• £11,800 for 1 year of full time study

These costs apply to all students living outside the UK.

Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a student visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages.

Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.

International Fees and Funding

Tuition fees

Alumni Scholarships

If you are alumni of York St John University we have scholarships available to help you continue your studies.

Scholarships for alumni

Additional costs and financial support

Course-related costs

While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include purchasing personal equipment and stationery, books and optional field trips.

Accommodation and living costs

View our accommodation pages for detailed information on accommodation and living costs.

Where could English Literature take you?

This postgraduate degree could lead you to a career directly related to English Literature, or it could take you in a completely different direction, using the many transferrable skills you will develop.

This will give you an advantage for a career in many employment areas, including:

• Journalism
• Marketing and communications
• Publishing
• Teaching
• Libraries and archives
• Arts and heritage

Alumni stories

Visit our YSJ Snapshots blog to see what our past students from across the University have done with their York St John degrees.

Stand out from the crowd with postgraduate study

Far fewer people have postgraduate degrees than undergraduate qualifications. This gives you something extra to set yourself apart in a competitive graduate job market. Those with a postgraduate qualification will earn an average of £5,000 a year more than those with only an undergraduate degree (Department For Education Graduate Labour Market Report 2023).

Our careers service, LaunchPad, provides career support tailored to your ambitions. Through this service you can access:

• Employer events
• LinkedIn, CV and cover letter sessions
• Workshops on application writing and interview skills
• Work experience and volunteering opportunities
• Personalised career advice

This support does not end when you graduate. You can access our expert career advice for the rest of your life. We will help you gain the experience and confidence you need to succeed.