English – Contemporary Literature MA

• Overview

  Postgraduate Event

  This exciting course examines the role of contemporary literature in a number of different contexts. You will have the chance to explore a diverse range of texts, across varied modules, with the chance to explore a topic of your choice in specialist detail through your dissertation. You could study post-1945 classics, including late modernists like Samuel Beckett, as well as surveying the latest novels.

  You may explore specialist fields such as trauma fiction or gender and sexuality, master the latest literary theories, or investigate new genres and popular narrative media, including contemporary gothic literature, film, video games and comic books.

  Course

  Highlights

  • Research-informed modules on current topics.
  • Flexible evening study time.
  • This course is eligible for the postgraduate loan.

  Apply Now Open Days

  
• Course Details

  The programme is built to encourage you to not only examine the contemporary moment – our time, our culture – in isolation, but to use contemporary literature as a window to broader concerns: literary traditions and heritage, politics and society, personal identity and representation.

  Full-time English Masters students will take two 30 credit modules in each of two terms, followed by the dissertation. The four modules to be offered in any given year are pre-selected by the tutors from the list below.

  Part-time students can take the course over two or three years. In both cases, the first year will contain one module in each of two terms, amounting to 60 credits. If you choose to study over two years, the second year will contain one module in each of two terms, plus the dissertation, amounting to 120 credits.

  If you choose to study over three years, the second year will contain one module in each of two terms, amounting to 60 credits, and the third year will involve the dissertation only, to make up the final 60 credits (please note: student loans are not normally available to those studying the three-year option).

  All modules will be taught in the evenings (6-9pm) allowing you to take your course entirely outside of normal working hours.

  Methods of Learning

  Modules are taught face to face in small groups, with occasional preparatory work and consolidation activities that are completed online, with tutor guidance.

  Assessments

  Assessment varies from module to module, but there are currently no exams for this course. Previous modules have used annotated bibliographies, essays, online discussion forums, critical explications and presentations as forms of assessment. Your final assessment consists of a 15,000 word dissertation.

  Dissertation

  The dissertation, provides greater opportunity for choice of topics and allows you the chance to master a specific area reflecting your own interests and chosen approaches.

  Read more

  Additional

  Information

  Opportunities Abroad

  You have the chance to spend your second term with one of our Erasmus partners as part of the funded Erasmus scheme. We have agreements with the University of Zaragoza, Spain and the University of Muenster, Germany.

  Contact our course enquiries team for more information.

• Careers and Events
  • Open Days

    Discover your Course

    Our Open Days offer you a fantastic opportunity to get a real taste of university life at Northampton and discover how studying here will be a life-changing experience.

    Each Open Day has a packed programme of subjects talks, advice sessions and activities designed to give you all the information you need about studying with us.

    To find out more about the day, please feel free to have a look at our Open Day Guide.

    
  • Careers

    Career Opportunities

    Students who have studied with us have gone on to a variety of careers, including: teaching, adult education, journalism, theatre management, marketing, editorial work with major publishers, librarianship, arts administration, museum and curatorial work, librarianship, bookselling, social work training, management trainee schemes with large companies, local government.

    
• Requirements

  To apply for the MA in English (Contemporary Literature) we normally ask that you have a Bachelor’s degree in English, or a related discipline, at 2:1 or higher. Applications with alternative qualifications or experience and from overseas students are welcomed and will be assessed in accordance with the University’s Admissions Policy and Academic Regulations.

  For more more information on how to make an application, please visit our How to Apply page.

  If you are an International student and would like information on making an application, please see our How to Apply page.

  English Language Requirements

  All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • Minimum standard – IELT 6.5 (or equivalent)
    for study at postgraduate level.

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

   

  Contacts

  Course enquiries
  study@northampton.ac.uk

  Application status enquiries
  admissions2020@northampton.ac.uk

  Online enquiry form

  Current student enquiries
  SID@northampton.ac.uk

  International student enquiries
  international@northampton.ac.uk

  Applying for 2020
  Facebook Applicant Group

  Office hours:
  Mon – Thu: 9am – 5pm
  Fri: 9am – 4.30pm

  Phone Call

  0300 303 2772

  +44 (0)1604 892134

  +44 (0)1604 892546

• Course Content
  • Level 7

  Every module is delivered by internationally-renowned staff in a research-informed context they are rotated across a three-year cycle, and the three designated modules on offer in any given year are pre-selected by the tutors.

  • Critical Theory and Methodologies (30 Credits)
    Module code: LITM033

    Core Module Y
  • Twenty-First Century Storytelling (30 Credits)
    Module code: LITM034

    Core Module N
  • Contemporary British Gothic (30 Credits)
    Module code: LITM035

    Core Module N
  • Literary Modernism in the Postmodern World (30 Credits)
    Module code: LITM036

    Core Module N
  • Pulp Visions (30 Credits)
    Module code: LITM037

    Core Module N
  • Gender, Sexuality & Writing the Body (30 Credits)
    Module code: LITM038

    Core Module N
  • Brave New Worlds (30 Credits)
    Module code: LITM039

    Core Module N
  • Trauma Fiction (30 Credits)
    Module code: LITM040

    Core Module N
  • Literary Transmediations (30 Credits)
    Module code: LITM041

    Core Module N
  • Shakespeare our Contemporary: Text and Screen (30 Credits)
    Module code: LITM042

    Core Module N
  • Research Project / Dissertation (60 Credits)
    Module code: LITM043

    Core Module Y

  Please note that not all modules will be offered every year. In order to ensure every module is delivered by internationally-renowned staff in a research-informed context they are rotated across a three-year cycle, and the three designated modules on offer in any given year are pre-selected by the tutors.

  In 2020-21, we are currently scheduled to offer ‘Critical Theory and Methodologies’ (autumn), ‘Literary Transmediations’ (autumn), ‘Trauma Fiction’ (spring) and ‘Twenty-First Century Storytelling’ (spring).

  Facilities &

  Special Features

  You will benefit from

  • a specialist understanding of contemporary culture
  • close attention from staff with research expertise
  • freedom to choose your own dissertation topic for in-depth research
• Further Studies
  • Postgraduate Opportunities

    Graduate Discount Scheme

    Our graduate discount scheme is open to graduates of the University of Northampton who enrol on a full master’s programme.

    Qualifying students will receive 20% discount on the full tuition fee for their Master’s course.

    *Find out if you are eligible for 20% fee discount by visiting our webpage.

    
  • Student Story

    Ellie Castell

    Ellie enjoyed her undergraduate experience here so much, she decided to continue studying with us. Barely two months after her summer graduation from her English degree, Ellie was preparing to start studying again – this time for a Master’s in English.

    Read more about Ellie’s experience.

    
  • Research

    We are committed to delivering outstanding research that makes a difference to society. Our Research Institutes and Centres work closely with external partner organisations, locally, nationally and internationally. We produce internationally renowned and relevant research and disseminate knowledge on an international scale.

    All module tutors on the programme are based in the Centre for Critical and Creative Writing, and staff profiles can be found here:

    The Programme Leader is Dr Rod Rosenquist

    
  • Business and Enterprise

    We are committed to supporting and encouraging business growth and we are involved in a variety of initiatives which seek to benefit the wider community as well as students and staff of the University.

    Discover what businesses we work with and what opportunities may be available to you on our Business and Enterprise pages.

    
• Fees & Funding
  • UK & EU
  • International

  20/21 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £6,840
  Part Time: £3,800 Year one (100 credits) £3,040 Year two (80 Credits) Year

  Postgraduate Loans
  If you are starting a postgraduate Master’s course in 2020 either full-time or part-time* you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan through Student Finance England.

  Additional Costs
  We do ask that you buy the prescribed primary texts for each module. We carefully review the costs of every module each year, so that they do not exceed £100 per module. In practice, by using libraries, freely available online resources and second-hand copies of books, costs are often less than half of this total figure.

  You will have the chance to attend a range of research seminars, conferences, field trips and other activities beyond the curriculum for free or at minimal cost.

  19/20 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 19/20 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £6,750
  Part Time: £3,750 Year one (100 credits) £3,000 Year two (80 Credits) Year

  Postgraduate Loans
  If you are starting a postgraduate Master’s course in 2019/20 either full-time or part-time* you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan through Student Finance England.

  Additional Costs
  We do ask that you buy the prescribed primary texts for each module. We carefully review the costs of every module each year, so that they do not exceed £100 per module. In practice, by using libraries, freely available online resources and second-hand copies of books, costs are often less than half of this total figure.

  You will have the chance to attend a range of research seminars, conferences, field trips and other activities beyond the curriculum for free or at minimal cost.

  20/21 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  International: £13,750

  Additional Costs
  We do ask that you buy the prescribed primary texts for each module. We carefully review the costs of every module each year, so that they do not exceed £100 per module. In practice, by using libraries, freely available online resources and second-hand copies of books, costs are often less than half of this total figure.

  You will have the chance to attend a range of research seminars, conferences, field trips and other activities beyond the curriculum for free or at minimal cost.

  19/20 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 19/20 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  International: £12,750

  Additional Costs
  We do ask that you buy the prescribed primary texts for each module. We carefully review the costs of every module each year, so that they do not exceed £100 per module. In practice, by using libraries, freely available online resources and second-hand copies of books, costs are often less than half of this total figure.

  You will have the chance to attend a range of research seminars, conferences, field trips and other activities beyond the curriculum for free or at minimal cost.

  Scholarships

  Dr Mike Daniel Research Degree Scholarship

  The Dr Mike Daniel Research Degree Scholarship awards £500 to a postgraduate research degree student at the University of Northampton. Dr Mike Daniel was Pro…

  EU and International Scholarships

  We’re committed to offering the opportunity to study in the UK to the best and brightest students from around the world.

  TD Lewis Scholarship

  The T D Lewis Scholarship provides both undergraduate and postgraduate students with financial awards of up to £1,000.  This scholarship is awarded on educational excellence…

  The Chancellor's Fund

  The Chancellor’s Fund is a bi-annual fund providing students with awards of between £100 and £1,000. You must be a current student to apply.  The…

• Part Time Study Available

  Courses offered on a part time basis are an excellent way of gaining a qualification around a busy home life or job. The University of Northampton recognises that many of our students have family and work commitments and offer various courses on a part time study basis, working flexibly around your requirements.

  A lot of our courses can be completed part-time, so you can fit your studies around your life. The majority of part-time and professional courses start in October. Please apply as soon as possible to ensure we have your details before your course starts.

*Course data provided by Unistats