COURSE CURRICULUM

The taught stage of the MA English programme provides a balanced combination of core and optional modules that develop advanced knowledge of English language, literature, research methods, and professional practice. Students begin with three core modules worth 60 credits. Studying English introduces the foundations of academic research in English language and literature, covering both qualitative and quantitative approaches to data collection and analysis. The module encourages critical engagement with different forms of evidence, research design, and methodological frameworks used in contemporary English studies. Applying English focuses on the practical value of English studies in a variety of professional and social contexts. Students explore topics such as English in education, bibliotherapy, literacy development, linguistics for social justice, policy and innovation, research communication, networking, and grant-writing, gaining transferable skills relevant to numerous career pathways. The Aston Global Advantage module enhances employability and professional development by engaging students in multidisciplinary projects addressing real-world Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) challenges while strengthening teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving abilities. To complete the taught stage, students select four optional modules worth 15 credits each, allowing them to tailor the programme to their academic interests. Options include Analysing Discourse, which explores discourse analysis through linguistic, stylistic, and narratological approaches; Reading the Nineteenth Century: Globalisation and the Novel, which examines the development of the novel in global literary contexts; Variation and Change in English, focusing on language variation and sociolinguistic influences; and Cognitive Poetics, which combines stylistics and cognitive linguistics to investigate literary interpretation. Additional options include Language and Literature in Education, Reading Contemporary Fiction, Reading and Wellbeing, and Corpus Linguistics, each offering specialised perspectives on language, literature, education, digital analysis, reader response, and wellbeing. Together, these modules provide a flexible and intellectually stimulating curriculum that develops advanced research, analytical, communication, and digital literacy skills, preparing graduates for careers in education, publishing, communications, cultural industries, research, and further academic study.