This MA offers an intellectually dynamic introduction to one of the most exciting eras in literary history. Grounded in and administered from the Centre for Studies in the Long Eighteenth Century, this is an interdisciplinary MA programme that builds upon the expertise and common research interests of 18th-century researchers and teachers across the Faculty of Humanities. The Centre provides an excellent research context for the MA programme and any further postgraduate work that will arise from it.

Among the teachers involved in this MA are Jennie Batchelor (English), Jonathan Friday (History and Philosophy of Art), Donna Landry (English), Paddy Bullard (English), Ben Thomas (History and Philosophy of Art).

The School offers a number of distinct MA programmes, and plays a central role in the interdisciplinary MA in Medieval and Early Modern Studies.
The English MA literature programmes aim to increase your knowledge of the key elements that make up the complex nature of English and American literature and culture. The programmes give a wider and deeper understanding of the writers and areas studied, encourage you to probe the theoretical and scholarly issues which you could explore in further research, and offer opportunities to develop your creative writing.
Each MA programme consists of four taught modules and a 12-15,000 word dissertation or equivalent. You must get satisfactory results in your taught modules before going on to spend the final third of your MA course writing a dissertation on a topic of your choice. On the Creative Writing MA the dissertation is replaced with a creative writing project in which a collection of poems or a substantial work of fiction will be produced.
As a basis for work on your dissertation and advanced research, you are also required to take the School and Faculty research methods programmes.
Availability of modules
Not all modules listed here necessarily run every year. Please consult the School for details of availability.

Course content

• Core modules: Extremes of Feeling: Literature and Empire in the 18th Century; Hacks, Dunces and Scribblers.
• Two from: Hogarth and the Analysis of Beauty; Jane Austen and Material Culture; From Caxton to Kindle. Additional wild modules may also be available.
• Dissertation

Assessment

Assessment is by a 5-6,000-word essay for each module, and a 12-15,000-word dissertation.

Admissions enquiries

T: +44 (0)1227 827272
E: information@kent.ac.uk

Subject enquiries English

School of English, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NX, UK
T: +44 (0)1227 823054
E: english-office@kent.ac.uk

Creative Writing

Scarlett Thomas
School of English, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NX, UK
T: +44 (0)1227 827290
E: s.thomas@kent.ac.uk

Postcolonial Studies

Dr Caroline Rooney
School of English, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NX, UK
T: +44 (0)1227 827948
E: c.r.rooney@kent.ac.uk

Medieval and Early Modern Studies

Dr Catherine Richardson
School of English, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NX, UK
T: +44 (0)1227 824656
E: c.t.richardson@kent.ac.uk

Before applying, please read our ‘How to apply’ section.

You can then go straight to the online application form by clicking the programme below:

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