| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-10-02 | 2023-05-01 |
| 2024-01-08 | 2023-08-01 |
| 2024-04-22 | 2023-11-01 |
| 2023-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
Our English Literature MA offers the opportunity to pursue English literary studies at an advanced level. Here you will be able to develop the skills and knowledge required for textual, theoretical and historical analysis in your chosen field while participating fully in a vibrant research environment of published writers and researchers.
The programme consists of taught modules (Part One) mainly assessed by essays, followed by a dissertation (Part Two).
On this MA you can
explore your interests across the wide-ranging field of English literary studies
in their choice of taught modules, or they may elect to follow a programme of taught modules andone-to-one supervision in more specialised areas of interest
. For those wishing to specialise there is also the opportunity to cluster module choices around particularly strong areas of department expertise, such as:
Medieval and Early Modern Literature:
These are well-known and internationally recognised areas of expertise at Bangor. Members of the School of English undertake research in medieval English poetry, prose and drama; the literature of the Tudor period; the drama of Shakespeare and his contemporaries; early modern book history; and seventeenth-century literature in poetry and prose as well as on the stage. Particular areas of interest include Chaucerian studies, medieval romance, Arthurian literature, medieval and early modern drama, pre-modern travel writing, early modern memory studies, George Herbert and devotional poetry, autobiographical writing, Milton, polemical prose, words and music, manuscript studies, and the work of women writers across the medieval and early modern periods. These wide-ranging topics are reflected in the choice of modules and dissertation topics available to students.
Material Texts:
This subject area introduces the postgraduate student to many of the methodologies associated with the history of the book, the sociology of texts, the history of reading and the theories associated with editing. The investigation of the material text and the circumstances of production and consumption are growing areas within the discipline of literary studies. Students may examine a range of texts from medieval and early-modern manuscripts, through early printed books (known as incunabula) and on to the serialised texts of the Victorian period, as well as looking at cinema, screenplays and contemporary technologies of self-representation. The modules on offer in this area make the most of the School’s expertise in book history and scholarly editing, as well as Bangor University’s particularly strong archive collections (including the Cathedral Library) which contain everything from locally produced printed ephemera to documents pertaining to plantations in Jamaica. The School is also actively involved in several digitisation projects, and many of the modules will consider the impact of the latest technological revolution upon literary studies.
Revolution and Modernity, 1750 to the Present:
This area of expertise – unique in the UK – offers students the opportunity to become intimately acquainted with the historical, cultural and literary forces that have shaped our contemporary age. Here the student may explore a variety of visual and verbal print cultures, spaces and identities in order to unravel the complex relationship between texts and their contexts. Bangor University, with its neo-Gothic architecture (1911) and its proximity to Telford’s pioneering Menai Suspension Bridge (1826), is itself a physical embodiment of aesthetic revolution and the pursuit of modernity. Students are encouraged to make use of the University’s extensive archives and to take part in the research activities of the School and wider College of Arts and Humanities. While honing their knowledge of nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first century texts, students will also become fluent in contemporary scholarly discourse and develop their own critical voice.
Four Nations Literature:
This area of expertise offers the opportunity for pioneering study of the literatures of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. In so doing it represents a shift in the focus of the MA in English Literature, inviting postgraduate students to explore in greater detail the literatures of the four nations in the British Isles. It aims to widen the scope of traditional English Literature courses by seeking out continuities and contrasts between the literatures of Britain and Ireland in the modern period. In particular, the Four-Nations emphasis investigates the ways in which the literatures of Britain and Ireland register the effects of modernity on British and Irish culture and society, from the late eighteenth century to the contemporary moment. Bangor University, being conveniently located between London, Dublin and Liverpool, is the ideal place to examine such issues.The
Open Pathway
offers students the opportunity to pursue a broader portfolio of advanced literary studies in English by completing the compulsory modules and a free choice from all the available optional modules on offer.Programme Length
MA: 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time; Diploma: 9 months full-time (also available part-time)
Program Outline
What will you study on this course?
Part One:
In the first part of the MA programme, all students are required to study four modules of 30 credits each (for full-time students, this means two modules per semester).
All students study the following
compulsory modules
:
Introduction to Literary Theory, Scholarship and Research
(30 credits): This module offers the opportunity to study alongside other MA students in English Literature, and to share ideas about authorship, the history of the book, and some key contemporary perspectives on the relationship between literature and the culture in which it is produced. For writers, this module offers a valuable insight into how your creative work relates to its wider context.Material Texts & Editing
(30 credits): This module explores the rich field of working with texts - from manuscripts in the early medieval centuries to screenings in the digital age. Students have the opportunity to meet for seminars in the University archives department and to work with a team of practising academics showcasing their research experience with writings from the eighth to the twenty-first century.Student will then choose a further two modules from those on offer. In order to complete a pathway, the two modules must be selected from that pathway’s list of available modules. Students following the Open pathway may choose any two modules from the full range on offer. An example of typical modules are given below:
Modules on Medieval and Early Modern Literature may include:
Modules on Material Texts may include:
Modules on Revolution and Modernity, 1750 to the Present may include:
Modules on Four-Nations Literature may include:
In addition to the above pathway-related modules, the following modules are offered:
It may also be possible to take one optional module from the MA in Creative Writing (if the prerequisites of creative writing experience are met) or in another Arts and Humanities subject (if the necessary academic prerequisites are met).
Part Two
Preparation of a 20,000-word dissertation on a subject of your choice, researched and written under the individual supervision of a subject specialist. Those following a specified pathway will be expected to choose a subject in a relevant research area.Part Two: Preparation of a 20,000-word dissertation on a subject of your choice, researched and written under the individual supervision of a subject specialist. Those following a specified pathway will be expected to choose a subject in a relevant research area.
Modules for the current academic year
Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the English Literature Modules page.
Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.
Bangor University
Overview:
Bangor University is a public research university located in Bangor, Gwynedd, North Wales. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious degree awarding institutions in the UK, founded in 1884. The university is known for its commitment to academic excellence and its beautiful location surrounded by nature.
Services Offered:
Student Life and Campus Experience:
Bangor University offers a vibrant student life with a welcoming community. Students can enjoy a range of social activities, including free events and trips organized by the International Student Support Office. The university has a variety of clubs and societies, with over 200 to choose from, catering to diverse interests. Bangor's location between mountains and the sea provides unique opportunities for outdoor activities and sports.
Key Reasons to Study There:
Academic Excellence:
Bangor University is recognized for its high-quality teaching and world-leading research.Beautiful Location:
The university is situated in a picturesque location surrounded by stunning natural beauty.Vibrant Student Life:
Bangor offers a diverse and welcoming community with a wide range of clubs, societies, and social events.Strong Career Prospects:
The university provides resources and support to help students achieve their career ambitions.Guaranteed Accommodation:
International students are guaranteed accommodation in the university's vibrant student villages.Academic Programs:
Bangor University offers a wide range of courses across the sciences, arts, business, humanities, and law. These include undergraduate, postgraduate taught, and postgraduate research programs.
Other:
Postgraduate Courses - direct entry
Entry onto our postgraduate Masters' courses requires an undergraduate/bachelor degree of equivalent standard to the British undergraduate/bachelor degree with a minimum grade equivalent to British second-class honours. To find out more about which qualification is acceptable from the country you studied in, please refer to our
country-specific information
page.If you do not qualify for entry onto the master's degrees in our School of Business then you could consider applying for our
International Incorporated Masters degrees (IIM).
The pre-masters part of the course is delivered at Bangor University International College* (BUIC
) by our partner Oxford International Education Group. You will then progress onto your chosen masters programme at Bangor University.Postgraduate Courses - mature students with industry experience
Bangor University may also recognise the relevant professional experience of 2 years or longer for entry onto our degree programmes. We strongly advise all such applicants to submit an
online application
which MUST be accompanied by the following documents, so that admission office can consider your candidature for the course you applied for;- Employer references - must include the title of the position(s) held and key responsibilities (e.g. decision making, line management, budgets, operations etc) in detail. And the letter must be printed on the official letterhead signed by the HR department or senior manager in the company. It will also help if you can include the company details like its organisation overview, nature of the business, and its operations in the letter.
- Detailed CV - must include education and career history in detail; focussing on employers & the nature of their business, job responsibilities held, professional training & qualifications, and academic/professional achievements.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS:
IELTS Requirements:
IELTS (SELT or Non-SELT) or IELTS Indicator(tests taken from 1st July 2020 onwards) :score (6.0 (5.5))
Bangor University also recognizes Non-SELT Tests and Online Tests as mentioned below for direct entry to its degree programs.
