Engage with political, social and aesthetic issues through Victorian literature.
Year of entry: 2027 (September)
Specialise in literature of the Victorian period and explore the range of socio-political, cultural and philosophical issues that helped shape it. Encounter writing in a variety of styles and genres. You'll become familiar with a variety of theoretical, historical and critical approaches to this rich period of literature.
Explore the topics that matter the most to you. Develop an understanding of how English literature engages with a range of political, social and aesthetic issues. You can also collaborate with other departments, such as History or History of Art.
Gain a foundation of transferable skills to prepare you for a research degree and a range of careers in arts and festival management, teaching, publishing and journalism. We also have a dedicated Careers and Employability Coordinator.
Develop your passion for film and literature beyond your course. Our Writers at York series brings contemporary writers to the Department for readings and workshops, and a wide range of student societies cater to literary interests. PrintSoc, the University’s Print and Press Society, hosts talks and workshops in collaboration with Thin Ice Press, the Department’s very own print studio.
The lectures are informative and the seminars are always exciting. The students in the Department, including myself, often participate in discussions very actively, enhancing the overall academic experience.
Nana, postgraduate English student. Watch Nana's vlog.
You'll have the opportunity to study the cultural meaning and associations of the variety of styles and genres in which Victorian literature was produced. You'll develop an understanding of the engagement of Victorian literature with a range of political, social and aesthetic issues in the period, and different critical perspectives on Victorian literature. Your option modules allow for more specialised study of particular issues relevant to the study of nineteenth-century literature and its historical, social and political contexts.
The core module surveys the major literary and cultural developments in the period and the central preoccupations of Victorian writing, as formulated by contemporaries and by recent critics and theorists. It introduces you to key thematic areas and problems in the interpretation of nineteenth-century literature across a broad range of genres. On the Postgraduate Life in Practice module, you'll learn valuable skills in research, writing, reflection, presentation, publishing and career development.
You will also study three option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Your dissertation offers you the chance to examine a topic in depth and to develop your research skills. In the summer semester and over the vacation, you'll work on a 12,000-14,000-word dissertation with regular supervision from a member of staff. You'll then submit your dissertation in September.
Previous topics have included:
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £12,420 | £27,840 |
| Part-time (2 years) | £6,210 | £13,920 |
Fees are for year one. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation.
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
You'll need copies of the texts set for each module. Where possible, we will provide digital access. We'll let you know which texts and editions you'll need to buy (whether new or second-hand) before the start of each semester.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2027/28 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
Further information about funding for English.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
You'll normally attend two 2-hour seminars each week during the Autumn and Spring Terms. If you are a part-time student you'll attend one 2-hour seminar a week during the Autumn and Spring Terms of Year 1 and Year 2.
Seminar groups consist of fewer than 16 students in most modules, though some core modules may involve a larger number of students. You'll complete essential reading for each seminar, and we encourage you to read more widely around the topic.
You'll attend a series of training lectures and workshops, designed to address presenting your work, writing at MA level, transferable skills, and career development.
Over the course of the year, you'll have the opportunity to attend research seminars and conferences hosted by the Department. You can also attend events organised through the Humanities Research Centre, a stimulating community unique to York.
You can make use of our dedicated study spaces, including the F.R. Leavis Room and the Writing lab, to work, collaborate and socialise in.
York's library contains a rich variety of resources available to you. This includes, but is not limited to:
The city of York also boasts rich, scholarly resources in a student-friendly and contemporary environment. You can immerse yourself in a range of public libraries and archives around the city and region.
You will be based in the Department of English and Related Literature on Campus West. Most of your contact hours will be in locations nearby on Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
You'll submit an essay for each module of approximately 3,500-4,000 words. The Postgraduate Life in Practice module will be assessed on the completion of a series of tasks connected to your core work for the MA. Your final assessment is a dissertation of 12,000-14,000 words.
Everything I’ve experienced so far has been wonderful and made me really glad I chose to come here. The Humanities Research Centre is a fantastic concept, but what’s really made my time at York so different is just how friendly and inclusive the Department is, from academics letting me pester them with my ideas to the wide range of research seminars and guest lectures.
Our postgraduates go into academia and teaching, arts administration, journalism, broadcasting, public relations, social work, politics, the civil service, and management consultancy. Many alumni have also gone on to become successful novelists, poets and playwrights.
You'll develop a range of transferable skills including:
Accelerate your professional network. We'll connect you with the guidance, industry links and experiences to help you stand out and find your career advantage.
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent. We will consider applications from students with lower qualifications, particularly if you have high marks in relevant modules or appropriate professional experience. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
You will need to submit examples of written work with your application. Please see our guidance on submitting written work.
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Qualification | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, minimum 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478-509, with 444-477 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 60 with 52 in Listening, 53 in Reading, 65 in Speaking, and 59 in Writing |
| TOEFL | 4.5, with 5 in Listening and 4.5 in each other component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Get in touch if you have any questions
Find out more about all of our English MA courses.
