Nineteenth-Century Literature and Culture MA

Program Overview

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This postgraduate program delves into the literary and cultural landscape of the 19th century, exploring canonical and lesser-known works through interdisciplinary lenses. Students engage in research methods, culminating in a dissertation or research essay, while developing critical thinking, analytical, and communication skills for diverse career paths.

Program Outline

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Outline:

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Year 1

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Nineteenth-Century Literature: The Canon and Beyond

• Examines critically a range of nineteenth-century literary texts, allowing students to gain a sophisticated understanding of the main genres, styles, and contexts associated with the literary culture of the period.
• Analyzes novels, poetry, drama, short stories, and non-fiction prose.
• Focuses on both famous and obscure writers, examining how they interacted with and shaped their culture.

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Nineteenth-Century Culture

• Employs an interdisciplinary approach to inform and develop students' knowledge and understanding of the literature, immersing them in the atmosphere and debates of the period.
• Examines key events, issues, and movements in the nineteenth century and their impact on the literary culture.
• Analyzes literary texts in relation to social history, politics, economics, theology, philosophy, science, technology, art, and architecture.

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Research Methods

• Explores the range of resources open to researchers in English generally, and in nineteenth-century literature and culture in particular.
• Includes the use of contemporary periodicals and archives, special collections, bibliographies, and internet databases and sources.
• Encourages students to consider ways of disseminating their research in writing, online, and in presentations.

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Dissertation

• Enables students to pursue and complete an extended research project on any aspect of nineteenth-century literature and/or culture.
• Students work under the guidance of a supervisor to hone and clarify their argument.

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Research Essay

• Offered as an alternative to the Dissertation.
• Allows students who do not wish to undertake the Dissertation to exit with a Postgraduate Diploma on the completion of all of the taught modules and the Research Essay.
• Enables students to pursue a short research project on an aspect of nineteenth-century literature and/or culture.

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Special Author(s)/Topic(s)

• Focuses in detail on either one or a group of nineteenth-century authors, or one or more related topics of interest in nineteenth-century literature and culture.
• Encourages students to use a range of critical and theoretical approaches, including biographical and bibliographical study, historical contextualization, theoretical/topic-based study, and structural and/or stylistic analysis.

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Assessment:

• Essays
• Research projects
• Presentations
• Dissertation

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Teaching:

• Group seminars
• Individual tutorials
• Field trips to local museums, archives, events, or places of interest

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Careers:

• Teaching
• Administration
• Careers requiring enhanced communication, analytical, and research skills

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Other:

• The program is taught by a dedicated and experienced team of tutors with expertise in a wide range of topics and genres.
• The program is housed in a Grade II listed building (The Vicarage) designed by John Douglas.
• The program is offered on a full-time or part-time basis.

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Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

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Home Students

£8,505 per year (2024/25)

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International/EU Students

£14,750 per year (2024/25) The tuition fees for international students studying Postgraduate programmes in 2024/25 are £14,750. The University of Chester offers generous international and merit-based scholarships for postgraduate study, providing a significant reduction to the published headline tuition fee. You will automatically be considered for these scholarships when your application is reviewed, and any award given will be stated on your offer letter. For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section. Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.

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Additional Costs

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees. If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.

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Bursaries and Funding

The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships. Full details, as well as terms and conditions for all bursaries and scholarships can be found on the Fees & Finance section of our website.