MA Modern and Contemporary Literature

Course description

Our MA Modern and Contemporary Literature master's course offers an opportunity to become part of an exciting, intellectual group of researchers working in 20th and 21st century literature, culture and theory.

You'll undertake an intensive and challenging investigation of the literatures in this period, as well as units that introduce you to leading research in the broad field of modern and contemporary writing.

Units provide opportunities to study modernism and its margins, postcolonial writing, radical subcultures, American culture, contemporary fiction and much more.

We focus theoretically on the relationships between texts and the various contexts in which they're produced and in which they circulate.

Via detailed engagements with the minutiae of aesthetic form, we consider the connections between aesthetic and political practice, with particular focus on representations and constructions of sexuality, class, gender and race.

Teaching and learning

You will learn through a variety of teaching methods, depending on the units you take, including lectures, seminars and independent study.

You will also attend seminars on topics such as how to study at MA level, how to research and write a master's thesis, and career options.

Coursework and assessment

You will be assessed through a variety of methods depending on the units you take, including written assignments.

Career opportunities

On completion of this course, many of our postgraduates continue their research to develop careers in academia.

However, career paths overall are extremely varied and skills are transferable.

The high standard of arts research training, both formal and practical, opens doors to many kinds of public and private sector graduate careers requiring research skills and the formulation of projects and policy documents.