English Studies MA – broaden your creative abilities and your career prospects.

English Studies MA 

Come here. Study at a Top 50 UK University. Get somewhere.

About the University of Sunderland

Located in the north-east of England, Sunderland benefits from the perfect combination of city and seaside living and is a friendly, diverse, and affordable place to live and study.

Our courses are career-focused and professions-facing, ensuring you have a head start in the workplace when you graduate. Many of our courses are co-designed by employers, affiliated to professional bodies and our lecturers are closely linked to their sectors. We also offer postgraduate conversion courses that enable you to start on a new career.

We’re pleased to be placed within the top 50 UK universities in The Guardian University Guide 2023. We are proud to be recognised for the first time as a World Ranked University by The Times Higher Education World Rankings 2023.

English Studies MA 

Overview

MA English Studies combines the study of literatures, linguistics, critical theory and creative writing. Studying English at postgraduate level will allow you to immerse yourself in literature from 1660 to the present day, while also studying linguistic theory and developing your own writing abilities.

You’ll develop your skills in analysis, reasoning and communication, creating an excellent foundation for either a communication-based career or further academic study. This course is particularly useful as CPD for English teachers.

Spectral Visions Press

Spectral Visions Press is a publishing house located at the University of Sunderland, which specialises in creative writing inspired by Gothic literature.

In its first month, Spectral Visions Press received close to 100 submissions from around the globe for its creative writing collection ‘Spectral Visions: Grim Fairy Tales’, and for its Gothic studies-centred academic journal ‘Monstrum’.

As well as offering opportunities to publish your creative writing, Spectral Visions Press can also provide you with valuable experience of the publishing industry. More than 70 student volunteers help run the publishing house, with support from the University’s academic team. You’ll gain a work reference in addition to your academic reference – a huge advantage when applying for popular publishing jobs.

Scholarships and Bursaries

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that are available to postgraduate students including:

• Alumni Loyalty Scheme – 20% waiver on the full cost of course fees to reward loyal alumni who return to study a postgraduate degree at the University
• North East Postgraduate Discount – 20% fee waiver on the full cost for postgraduate taught masters programmes for students impacted by cost-of-living challenges who have a local connection to the north-east region
• International Scholarship £900 tuition fee reduction

See terms and conditions for postgraduate scholarships and bursaries.

Career ready

A Masters degree in English is a qualification that employers understand and respect. It is powerful testimony to your intellectual competence.

Your highly developed skills in communication, research and analysis will make you a perfect fit for a wide range of organisations. Many of our graduates progress to careers in teaching, journalism, PR, business and publishing.

With this qualification you also have the option to continue in academia, and study for a PhD.

Find out more about the course and hear from students about their experience and career outcomes.