Masters programmes
The Department offers two programmes at Masters level, which can be completed in one year (full-time) or two years (part-time):
- MA in English Studies, which offers a range of pathways and combinations of modules
- MRes in Renaissance and Early Modern Studies, which provides advanced research training for students who have already identified a dissertation topic in the period
You will find detailed descriptions of the two programmes below, followed by information about assessment, standard entry requirements, the application process, and the career destinations of our recent graduates.
The Department is also involved with a further Masters programme, MA in London Studies, run by the Department of Geography.
Applications for 2012-13 entry that are received before 29 March 2012 will be considered for one of a number of bursaries for study on MA/MRes programmes.
Programme Description
Our new MA in English Studies invites you to choose from a number of distinctive pathways through the programme. If you prefer a flexible route, you can take our English Literature pathway and choose modules from across the whole range of the curriculum, allowing you to consider the relationship between writings from a variety of historical periods, and to write a dissertation in an area of your choice. If you prefer to specialize, you can choose one of our three period pathways, allowing you to gain an in-depth understanding of the movements, debates, and practices that shaped a particular period of literary history, and to write a dissertation in a related area. Your chosen pathway will be named in the title of your degree. Applicants should be aware that English MA programmes are currently under review and that each MA pathway and its core module may be subject to change in the future.
- Pathway 1: English Literature
- Pathway 2: Renaissance and Early Modern Studies
- Pathway 3: Writing and Society 1700-1820
- Pathway 4: Writing in the Modern Age
Whichever route you choose you will be taught by subject specialists in one of the leading English departments in the country. You will be introduced to research methods and resources for the advanced study of literature and encouraged to engage in current theoretical and critical debate. Your dissertation provides an opportunity to develop a sustained, coherent and fully documented argument on a research topic formulated in consultation with a specially assigned supervisor. As well as gaining more advanced subject knowledge, you will develop new skills in argument, presentation, and independent research. The flexibility of the programme makes it appropriate for students who plan to go on to doctoral research, who want to develop professionally and enhance their careers, or who simply wish to pursue their existing literary interests at a more advanced level.
Assessment
Coursework (67 per cent) - each module is assessed via a 4,000 word essay
Dissertation (33 per cent) - a dissertation of 15,000 words
Entry requirements
Most applicants will have an undergraduate degree with a first or good upper second class honours (or the equivalent) in English or such related fields as History, Cultural Studies and Media Studies. Where a North American marking scheme is used, applicants should have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.5. Promising applicants who do not meet the formal academic criteria but who possess relevant credentials and who can demonstrate their ability to produce written work at Masters level will also be considered. Applicants may be invited to interview or asked to submit examples of written and/or creative work. We welcome applications from mature and non-traditional students.
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MRes in Renaissance and Early Modern Studies
Programme description
The MRes in Renaissance and Early Modern Studies provides rigorous research training for students who already have a clear topic they want to pursue at graduate study. Focusing on the technical and linguistic skills that underpin research projects, it aims to provide high-level specialist research training for Renaissance and Early Modern Studies, including direct experience of working with documents, images and artefacts, archival skills, Latin and other specialist training as appropriate.
Programme outline
You take a compulsory module in semester 1 and semester 2, Textual Scholarship, and a compulsory but non-assessed module in Latin in semester 1 and semester 2. You then also choose two optional modules from a list which may include:
- Urban Culture and the Book
- Public and Private Cultures in Renaissance England
- Reading Shakespeare Historically
- Understanding Religions Historically
- Renaissance Bodies
- Performing Early Modern Drama
- Writing a Biography
- Writing Lives from Letters: the Archive and Production of Historical Biography
Assessment
Coursework (67 per cent). Each optional module is assessed via a 4,000-word essay. Textual Scholarship (the core module) is assessed by five practical assignments and two 4,000-word essays.
Dissertation (33 per cent): A dissertation of 15,000 words.
Entry requirements
Most applicants will have an undergraduate degree with a first or good upper second class honours (or the equivalent) in English or such related fields as History, Cultural Studies and Media Studies. Where a North American marking scheme is used, applicants should have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.5. Promising applicants who do not meet the formal academic criteria but who possess relevant credentials and who can demonstrate their ability to produce written work at Masters level will also be considered. Applicants may be invited to interview or asked to submit examples of written and/or creative work. We welcome applications from mature and nontraditional students.
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Queen Mary has a very diverse body of students and we welcome applicants from a broad range of backgrounds.
Those applying for MA programmes should have, or expect to achieve, at least an upper-second class (2.1) honours degree within the broad field of the humanities. Prospective students may be called for interview, or may be asked to submit written work in support of their application.
To apply for a place you need to complete Queen Mary's online application process.
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Further Information
For further information, please contact the Department's Taught Postgraduate Programmes Administrator, Patricia Hamilton.