English Literature MA - 2021/2
Awarding body
University of Surrey
Teaching institute
University of Surrey
Framework
FHEQ Levels 6 and 7
Final award and programme/pathway title
MA English Literature
Subsidiary award(s)
| Award | Title |
|---|---|
| PGDip | English Literature |
| PGCert | English Literature |
Modes of study
| Route code | Credits and ECTS Credits | |
| Full-time | PPG63001 | 180 credits and 90 ECTS credits |
| Part-time | PPG63002 | 180 credits and 90 ECTS credits |
QAA Subject benchmark statement (if applicable)
Other internal and / or external reference points
N/A
Faculty and Department / School
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences - School of Literature and Languages
Programme Leader
THOMPSON Carl (Lit & Langs)
Date of production/revision of spec
08/09/2022
Educational aims of the programme
- To prepare graduates to undertake a PhD programme in the relevant field.
- To provide students with the transferable skills of critical thinking, analysis, communication, and textuality that are attractive to a wide range of employers, from the cultural industries to marketing and advertising to tourism and leisure to the civil service and public/private partnerships.
- To provides advanced understanding of the contexts, theoretical paradigms, methodologies and modes of interpretation that are vital in contemporary literary studies.
- To acquire sound knowledge of the major principles of literary criticism.
- To develop the critical language and terminology to carry out in-depth analyses of literary texts from across the diverse range of periods, areas, and approaches to the study of English literature.
- To reflect on their own practice as literary critics.
- To help students to apply scholarly approaches to critically evaluate the major schools of literary criticism and literary theory in light of current and the possibilities of future development.
- To instil in students the capacity for carrying out independent research in an area of literary studies.
Programme learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | Awards | Ref. | |
| Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the main principles and challenges of literary studies. | K | ||
| Relate developments in the field of literary studies to the social, political and historical contexts of the literary work (or works). | K | ||
| Distinguish different approaches to literary studies and reflect upon these in their own. | K | ||
| Develop a critical engagement with various theoretical approaches and methods. | K | ||
| Recognise the critical language required in advanced literary studies. | K | ||
| Identify and explain relevant techniques and strategies for analysing texts from a variety of perspectives. | K | ||
| Able to critically appraise scholarly writing on a wide range of literary studies subjects. | C | ||
| Able to strategically develop research skills for retrieving information crucial for understanding the context of textual production. | C | ||
| Able to conduct conceptual and advanced research related to specific periods in the study of literature. | C | ||
| Able to formulate and address research questions relating to the field of study. | C | ||
| Able to produce high-quality analyses of a variety of literary genres which are appropriate to their context. | P | ||
| Able to verbally present abstract ideas and concepts in a clear and appropriate fashion. | P | ||
| Able to confidently deal with reading complex texts. | P | ||
| Able to acquire a sound knowledge of the key debates in literary studies. | P | ||
| Able to acquire review/evaluation skills for textual analyses at level 7. | P | ||
| Able to combine an understanding of text and context within and between periods. | P | ||
| Display competence in a range of skills at postgraduate level, including advanced analysis and synthesis of arguments, presentation, the conducting of independent research, and the efficient processing of complex ideas and arguments. | T | ||
| Collaborate by working in small groups to exchange ideas and engage in debates. | T | ||
| Develop knowledge in a specialised subject, area or period and command of terminology. | T | ||
| Organise, research and deliver a sustained piece of work to a high standard. | T | ||
| Create and carry out a research project of significant complexity. | T | ||
| Reflect upon the knowledge gained and incorporate this into independent learning strategies. | T | ||
| Manage learning self-critically. | T | ||
| Exercise initiative and personal responsibility. | T |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Programme structure
Full-time
This Master's Degree programme is studied full-time over one academic year, consisting of 180 credits at FHEQ level 7*. All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)
*some programmes may contain up to 30 credits at FHEQ level 6.
Part-time
This Master's Degree programme is studied part-time over two academic years, consisting of 180 credits at FHEQ level 7. All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)
Programme Adjustments (if applicable)
N/A
Modules
Year 1 (full-time) - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7
Module Selection for Year 1 (full-time) - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7
Students choose five of the listed optional modules (two in Semester 1 and three in Semester 2). They also have two compulsory modules in Semester 1 and one compulsory module in Semester 2 to complete.
Year 1 (part-time) - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7
Module Selection for Year 1 (part-time) - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7
Over the course of the two-year Part-Time programme, students choose five of the listed optional modules. By the end of Semester 2, Year 2 students must have completed all three compulsory modules alongside five optional modules. It does not matter which year (or mix of years) the compulsory modules are taken in as long as by the end of Semester 2, Year 2 all three compulsory modules have been completed.
Year 2 (part-time) - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7
Module Selection for Year 2 (part-time) - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7
Over the course of the two-year Part-Time programme, students choose five of the listed optional modules. By the end of Semester 2, Year 2 students must have completed all three compulsory modules alongside five optional modules. It does not matter which year (or mix of years) the compulsory modules are taken in as long as by the end of Semester 2, Year 2 all three compulsory modules have been completed.
Opportunities for placements / work related learning / collaborative activity
| Associate Tutor(s) / Guest Speakers / Visiting Academics | N | |
| Professional Training Year (PTY) | N | |
| Placement(s) (study or work that are not part of PTY) | N | |
| Clinical Placement(s) (that are not part of the PTY scheme) | N | |
| Study exchange (Level 5) | N | |
| Dual degree | N |
Quality assurance
The Regulations and Codes of Practice for taught programmes can be found at:
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.