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English Literature and Culture

MA

Application options include:

Full-time Part-time
On campus Flexible learning Online

Course Overview

This MA English Literature and Culture gives you the chance to study the literature, culture and theory of modernity from the nineteenth century to the present day, so that you are exposed to a rich background of cultural study on this period. You will encounter a compelling assortment of texts, objects and images, and engage with a wide range of contexts, themes and ideas on a degree course taught by world-leading academic researchers.

Why choose this course?

  • You will be taught by active researchers in the literatures and cultures of the Romantic, Victorian, modern and contemporary periods who bring their different specialisms, ideas and insights to this course.
  • It is ideal if you want to pursue your passion in this subject area, advance your career in the cultural industries, or more generally improve your writing and research skills.
  • It offers you a flexible and diverse learning environment, with students from different backgrounds and stages of their careers, and the chance to study the course online, on campus or via a mixture of both.
  • It benefits from guest lectures from visiting writers and critics, and a close connection with Birkbeck's research centres and institutes that are particularly productive in this area.

What you will learn

This course introduces you to some of the most significant debates, ideas and events that have shaped the concept of modernity from 1800 to the present. It addresses a range of themes including: the impact of the industrial revolution, debates about the changing role of women, the rise and fall of colonialism across a long arc of history, concepts of the Anthropocene, trauma theory, postmodernism and posthumanism.

You will explore how we read, interpret and interrogate our concept of what it means to be ‘modern’ working with literature and many other cultural forms including painting, book illustration, film and other visual media, critical theory, philosophy and digital materials. You will take a research skills module designed to advance these skills to postgraduate level. You will also be able to shape your degree to your interests by choosing option modules on a stimulating range of themes that varies from year to year.

How you will learn

This MA English Literature and Culture offers you a supportive and flexible learning environment. You can choose to study this course full- or part-time, and on campus or online. It has an evening timetable with classes taking place in the evening. 

You will be taught via a combination of lectures and seminars. Lectures provide you with an overview and starting point for your deeper exploration of the subject. Seminars give you the chance to explore a specific aspect of the subject and discuss ideas with fellow students. You will also receive one-to-one supervision for your dissertation, which is supported by a dedicated dissertation skills course that runs in the summer term.

This course is part of our new Birkbeck Flexible Master’s UK, which gives you the choice of how you want to study - on campus, online or via flexible learning, which combines both.

Discover the career opportunities available by taking English Literature and Culture (MA).

Key information and modules

Find another course:

Highlights

  • Birkbeck was ranked 2nd in the UK for its English Language and Literature research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
  • We are at the heart of literary London, in Bloomsbury, WC1. We are also at the geographical centre of London’s research library complex, a short distance from the British Library, Senate House Library and the Institute of Historical Research. Senate House Library has an outstanding collection of literary periodicals of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, while the nearby University College London Library also has an important James Joyce archive. The Poetry Library at London’s South Bank Centre is rich in twentieth-century poetry. 
  • Birkbeck is active in the arena of literature and culture. We host the internationally acclaimed Centre for Nineteenth-Century Studies, which hosts 19: Interdisciplinary Studies in the Long Nineteenth Century, our free-to-read, open-access online journal. Birkbeck specialists in contemporary literature, poetry and creative writing also run the The Centre for New Writing, which regularly features visiting poets, writers and publishing professionals. Birkbeck cinema is home to the Birkbeck Institute for the Moving Image and there are opportunities to join a number of graduate seminars and reading groups including activities associated with the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities.
  • We offer a number of bursaries for postgraduate students.
Come and meet us Request a prospectus Contact us

Birkbeck makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.

Most of our courses are taught in the evenings, however some of our courses offer a daytime timetable. Where there is an option to attend daytime teaching sessions, this is stated in the Key Information section under Attendance.

  • Entry Requirements Entry Requirements

    Entry Requirements

    Our standard postgraduate entry requirement is a second-class honours degree (2:2 or above) from a UK university, or an equivalent international qualification. Your first degree does not have to be in English Literature.

    Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

    On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.

    Apply now to secure your place and allow enough time for the application and enrolment process. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.

    English language requirements

    If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.

    If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

    Visa and funding requirements

    If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

    The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

    • Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
    • Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

    International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol as a student on Birkbeck's part-time courses (with the exception of some modules).

    For full information, read our visa information for international students page.

    Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country.

    Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.

    Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)

    If you have studied at university, you may have accumulated credits through the modules you studied. It may be possible to transfer these credits from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.

  • Fees Fees

    Fees

    English Literature and Culture MA: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, flexible learning, starting in academic year 2025-26

    Academic year 2025–26, starting September 2025

    To be confirmed

    English Literature and Culture MA: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, online, starting in academic year 2025-26

    Academic year 2025–26, starting September 2025

    To be confirmed

    English Literature and Culture MA: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2025-26

    Academic year 2025–26, starting September 2025

    To be confirmed

    Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see the College Fees Policy.

    If you’ve studied at Birkbeck before and successfully completed an award with us, take advantage of our Lifelong Learning Guarantee to gain a discount on the tuition fee of this course.

    Discover the financial support available to you to help with your studies at Birkbeck.

    International scholarships

    We provide a range of scholarships for eligible international students, including our Global Future Scholarship. Discover if you are eligible for a scholarship.

  • Teaching and Assessment Teaching and Assessment

    Teaching

    At Birkbeck, most of our courses are taught in the evening and all of our teaching is designed to support students who are juggling evening study with work and other commitments. We actively encourage innovative and engaging ways of teaching, to ensure our students have the best learning experience.

    Teaching may include formal lectures, seminars, and practical classes and tutorials. Formal lectures are used in most degree programmes to give an overview of a particular field of study. They aim to provide the stimulus and the starting point for deeper exploration of the subject during your own personal reading. Seminars give you the chance to explore a specific aspect of your subject in depth and to discuss and exchange ideas with fellow students. They typically require preparatory study.

    In addition, you will have access to pastoral support via a named Personal Tutor.

    Methods of teaching on this course

    Seminars and lectures.

    Teaching hours

    Our evening hours are normally between 6pm and 9pm (6-7.30pm and 7.30-9pm). Some programmes also offer teaching during the day and this will be clearly signposted to you where it is available.

    On our taught courses, you will have scheduled teaching and study sessions each year. Scheduled teaching sessions may include lectures, seminars, workshops or laboratory work. Depending on the modules you take, you may also have additional scheduled academic activities, such as tutorials, dissertation supervision, practical classes, visits and field trips. On our taught courses, the actual amount of time you spend in the classroom and in contact with your lecturers will depend on your course, the option modules you select and when you undertake your final-year project (if applicable).

    Alongside your contact hours, you will also undertake assessment activities and independent learning outside of class. The amount of time you need to allocate to study both for taught sessions (this might include online sessions and/or in-person sessions) and personal study will depend on how much you are studying during the year and whether you are studying full time or part time.

    Birkbeck’s courses are made up of modules and allocated ‘credit’. One credit is equivalent to ten hours of learning time. Modules are usually in 15, 30 or 60 credit units. A 15-credit module will mean around 150 hours of learning, including taught sessions and independent study or group work. This is spread out over the whole period of that module and includes the time you spend on any assessments, including in examinations, preparing and writing assessments or engaged in practical work as well as any study support sessions to help you in your learning.

    On our distance-learning and blended-learning courses, discussion, collaboration and interaction with your lecturers and fellow students is encouraged and enabled through various learning technologies.

    Timetables

    Timetables are usually available from September onwards and you can access your personalised timetable via your My Birkbeck Profile online (if you have been invited to enrol).

    Indicative class size

    Class sizes vary, depending on your course, the module you are undertaking, and the method of teaching. For example, lectures are presented to larger groups, whereas seminars usually consist of small, interactive groups led by a tutor.

    Independent learning

    On our taught courses, much of your time outside of class will be spent on self-directed, independent learning, including preparing for classes and following up afterwards. This will usually include, but is not limited to, reading books and journal articles, undertaking research, working on coursework and assignments, and preparing for presentations and assessments.

    Independent learning is absolutely vital to your success as a student. Everyone is different, and the study time required varies topic by topic, but, as a guide, expect to schedule up to five hours of self-study for each hour of teaching.

    Study skills and additional support

    Birkbeck offers study and learning support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed. Our Learning Development Service can help you in the following areas:

    • academic skills (including planning your workload, research, writing, exam preparation and writing a dissertation)
    • written English (including structure, punctuation and grammar)
    • numerical skills (basic mathematics and statistics).

    Our Disability and Dyslexia Service can support you if you have additional learning needs resulting from a disability or from dyslexia.

    Our Counselling Service can support you if you are struggling with emotional or psychological difficulties during your studies.

    Our Mental Health Advisory Service can support you if you are experiencing short- or long-term mental health difficulties during your studies.

    Assessment

    Assessment is an integral part of your university studies and usually consists of a combination of coursework and examinations, although this will vary from course to course - on some of our courses, assessment is entirely by coursework. The methods of assessment on this course are specified below under 'Methods of assessment on this course'. You will need to allow time to complete coursework and prepare for exams.

    Where a course has unseen written examinations, these may be held termly, but, on the majority of our courses, exams are usually taken in the Summer term, during May to June. Exams may be held at other times of the year as well. In most cases, exams are held during the day on a weekday - if you have daytime commitments, you will need to make arrangements for daytime attendance - but some exams are held in the evening. Exam timetables are published online.

    Find out more about assessment at Birkbeck, including guidance on assessment, feedback and our assessment offences policy.

    Methods of assessment on this course

    Essays and a dissertation of 15,000 words.

  • Careers and employability Careers and employability

    Careers and employability

    Our graduates are trained to be effective researchers with good communication skills and an ability to sift and critically assess a wide range of textual and other cultural materials. On graduating successfully from this MA English Literature and Culture you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including:

    • postgraduate-level training in writing research-based essays and longer-form work
    • an advanced critical ability to examine cultural objects in their formal, historical and theoretical contexts
    • the ability to effectively use world-leading research libraries and archives.

    You will find graduates of this MA following career paths in:

    • journalism
    • professional writing
    • arts administration or research
    • civil service
    • law and business professions
    • publishing roles
    • teaching in schools or as lecturers in further and higher education
    • museum and cultural heritage work
    • cultural education
    • curation.

    A number of our Master's students also go on to study at PhD level, and we will provide you with structured support and guidance if you wish to pursue this path.

    Recent graduates from this subject area have found employment in the following roles:

    • Policy Adviser at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
    • Classics Editor at Penguin Books
    • Curator at the Guildhall Art Gallery
    • Curator at the Science Museum
    • Public events and exhibitions co-ordinator at the Warburg Institute
    • Film programmer for the Barbican arts complex
    • Company Manager at the Jupiter Theatre in Florida
    • Curator of Contemporary Literary Archives at the British Library.

    We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

  • How to apply How to apply

    How to apply

    You apply directly to Birkbeck for this course, using the online application link.

    You will need to prove your identity when you apply - read more about suitable forms of identification.

    When to apply

    You are strongly advised to apply now, to ensure there are still places on your chosen course and to give you enough time to complete the admissions process, to arrange funding and to enrol.

    You don't need to complete your current programme of study before you apply - Birkbeck can offer you a place that is conditional on your results.

    You will also receive information about subject-specific induction sessions over the summer.

    Help and advice with your application

    Get all the information you need about the application, admission and enrolment process at Birkbeck.

    Our online personal statement tool will guide you through every step of writing the personal statement part of your application.

    Apply for your course

    Apply for your course using the apply now button in the key information section.

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Related courses

Course structure

Course structure listing

Course structure and modules for English Literature and Culture MA: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, flexible learning, starting September 2025

For this flexible route, you can choose to take modules online or you can choose to take them on campus. You must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:

  • two compulsory modules, including an uncredited dissertation skills module (30 credits)
  • three option modules (90 credits)
  • a 15,000-word dissertation (60 credits).
Compulsory modules - online or on campus
Indicative option modules - online or on campus
Indicative option modules - on campus
MA English Literature and Culture dissertation

Please note that the option modules listed here may change annually.

Course structure and modules for English Literature and Culture MA: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, online, starting September 2025

For this online route you must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:

  • two compulsory modules, including an uncredited dissertation skills module (30 credits)
  • three option modules (90 credits)
  • a 15,000-word dissertation (60 credits).
Compulsory modules
Indicative option modules
MA English Literature and Culture dissertation

Please note that the option modules listed here may change annually.

Course structure and modules for English Literature and Culture MA: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting September 2025

For this on-campus route you must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:

  • two compulsory modules, including an uncredited dissertation skills module (30 credits)
  • three option modules (90 credits)
  • a 15,000-word dissertation (60 credits).
Compulsory modules
Indicative option modules
MA English Literature and Culture dissertation

Please note that the option modules listed here may change annually.