Shakespeare and Renaissance Studies MA

Program Overview

The MA in Shakespeare and Renaissance Studies at the University of Exeter delves into the richness of Renaissance literature and its cultural context. Students develop an in-depth understanding of Shakespeare's works and engage with a range of optional modules from an extensive list, fostering critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills. Led by renowned scholars, the program prepares graduates for careers in academia, publishing, media, and beyond.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Specialization: This MA program allows students to specialize in Shakespeare and Renaissance studies while also deepening their knowledge across a wide range of optional modules.
• Objectives:
• Improve communication and analytical skills.
• Faculty: Taught by internationally recognized scholars specializing in Shakespeare and performance, Milton and Civil War writing, manuscript studies, and other areas.
• Target Audience: Ideal for those interested in progressing to doctoral research, recent graduates wishing to extend their studies, individuals in employment seeking career development, and those seeking to broaden their intellectual horizons.
• Resources: Students have access to the University of Exeter's Special Collections relating to English Literary Studies, The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum, the Digital Humanities Lab, as well as collections in Exeter Cathedral Library and Devon and Exeter Institute.

Outline:

• Structure: The MA program consists of 120 credits of compulsory modules and 60 credits of optional modules.
• Compulsory Modules:
• EASM023 Dissertation (60 credits):
This is the culmination of the program, requiring students to conceive, plan, research, and write an independent 15,000-word dissertation.
• Choose two out of the following three modules (30 credits each):
• EASM109 Bodies Politic: Cultural and Sexual Politics in England, 1603-1679
• EASM191 Environments of Early Modern Drama
• EASM192 Global Voices: Shakespeare and the Early Modern World
• Optional Modules: Students must choose 60 credits from a list of options.
The specific modules available may vary depending on staff availability, research interests, timetabling, and student demand.
• Examples of available modules (30 credits each):
• EASM150 Empire, Decadence and Modernity: Literature 1870-1910
• EASM151 Modernism and Material Culture
• EASM157 The Literature of Cold War America
• EASM169 Publishing and Power: Black and Asian Literary Networks in the UK
• EASM180 Crossing Medieval Boundaries
• EASM184 World Literature and Postcolonial Studies
• EASM152 Criticism and Theory: Critical and Literary Theory in a Global Context
• EASM167 World Cinema / World Literature
• EASM171 Expanding Queerness: Critical Debates in Theory, Literature, Film and Television
• EASM174 Writing Women in the English Middle Ages
• EASM177 The Global Publishing Marketplace: Creating Audiences

Assessment:

• Coursework: Modules are assessed through critical essays, commentaries, and literature reviews.
• Dissertation: The final assessment piece is the dissertation, a 15,000-word independent research project demonstrating subject knowledge and methodological skills.

Teaching:

• Learning and Teaching: The program emphasizes collaborative, small group learning.
Modules are delivered through seminar groups, with one two-hour seminar per week.
• Independent Work: Students are expected to engage in intensive, self-motivated research and writing outside of seminars.
• Active Participation: Students are encouraged to discuss ideas, interact with peers and faculty, and participate in visiting speaker seminar series, postgraduate conferences, and activities organized by the Centre for Early Modern Studies.
• Skill Development: The program aims to develop and enhance communication, analytical, and critical thinking skills.

Careers:

• Skills Acquired: The MA in English equips students with a range of skills, including research, analysis, assessment, written and verbal communication, information management, idea development, teamwork, problem-solving, and decision-making.
• Career Paths: The MA can lead to doctoral study, teaching, publishing, media, journalism, advertising, and communications.
• Examples of Graduate Positions:
• Copywriter
• Marketing Assistant
• Assistant Editor
• Publishing Assistant
• Editorial Assistant
• Freelance Journalist
• Writer

Other:

• Research Environment: The University of Exeter's English and Creative Writing Department is world-leading, hosting talks, workshops, and conferences featuring prestigious visiting speakers and departmental experts.
Postgraduate students are included in these events.
• Research Centers and Groups: The department houses several research centers and groups, including:
• Centre for Early Modern Studies
• Centre for Literature and Archives
• Centre for Victorian Studies
• Exeter Screen Studies Research Centre
• Medieval and Renaissance Research Group
• Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Research Group
• North American and Atlantic Research Group
• World and Postcolonial Research Group
• Creative Industries and Technologies Research Group
• Creative Writing Research Group
• Digital Humanities Lab: The Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences houses the Digital Humanities Lab, a state-of-the-art facility offering unique spaces, equipment, and training for staff and students.
The lab supports innovative Digital Humanities research, offers training and teaching, and undertakes the digital preservation and display of historic material and artefacts using advanced technologies.

2024/25 entry UK fees per year: £12,000 full-time; £6,000 part-time International fees per year: £24,300 full-time; £12,150 part-time