COURSE CURRICULUM

The MA in English Literature at Lancaster University offers a rich and flexible curriculum designed to develop advanced critical and creative skills. The program is structured around four core themes—Body, Place, World, and Spirit—through which students explore literature across historical periods and cultural contexts. Core modules such as Body, Place, World, and Writing in the World encourage students to engage deeply with texts, examining how literature reflects and shapes human experience, social environments, and cultural understanding. The English Literature Independent Project allows students to pursue a substantial piece of research tailored to their interests, fostering independent scholarly inquiry and advanced analytical skills. Optional modules provide opportunities to expand learning into areas such as Creative Writing, including Masterclasses and Workshops that develop voice, process, and experimentation, or Spirit and Transnational Cinemas, which broaden perspectives on literature, culture, and media. The combination of core and optional modules equips students with strong research, writing, and critical thinking skills, alongside creative and interpretive abilities. Graduates leave prepared for careers in publishing, cultural management, education, writing, or further academic study, with the capacity to approach literature from both rigorous analytical and imaginative perspectives, reflecting Lancaster’s emphasis on innovative and world-engaged literary scholarship.