Can I specialise in literature or linguistics on the MA English Language and Literature?

Yes. The MA English Language and Literature offers specialist pathways in literary criticism, linguistics and historical English. The dissertation can sit on any of these or bridge them, and module choice is weighted to your chosen pathway.

Is the MA English Language and Literature good preparation for a PhD?

Yes. The MA English Language and Literature is structured around the research-readiness standards UK doctoral programmes expect. Several graduates each year move directly into doctoral study at LSJHML or partner universities.

Can the MA English Language and Literature be taken part-time?

Yes. The MA can be taken over 24 months part-time, with the same dissertation requirements. Online and distance routes are available; admissions can advise on the best mode for your circumstances.

What dissertation can I write on the MA English Language and Literature?

A 12,000–15,000 word piece of original research on a literary, linguistic or historical-English topic. Past dissertations have included corpus-based studies, period-specific literary criticism and sociolinguistic analyses of UK varieties of English.

Do I need an English undergraduate degree for the MA English Language and Literature?

Strongly preferred. Applicants with a 2:2 in a related humanities subject are also welcome, and those with a 2:2 in any subject plus two years of relevant professional experience may apply with a written sample for the MA English Language and Literature.

MA English Language and Literature | LSJHML London | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MA English Language and Literature at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a one-year UK Master's degree for graduates working at advanced level across literary criticism, linguistics and the history of English. You will choose specialist pathways across the discipline, take advanced research methods training, and write a 12,000-to-15,000 word dissertation on a literary, linguistic or historical-English topic.

This is a research-informed MA for students who want serious depth on either side of the English discipline — or who want to bridge them. By the end you can produce postgraduate-quality work, defend it in viva, and step into doctoral study or research-adjacent roles.

Key Features

One-year UK Master's degree in English — twelve months full-time, twenty-four months part-time.
Specialist pathways — literary criticism, linguistics or historical English.
Advanced methods spine — close reading, corpus methods, palaeography basics.
Supervised dissertation of 12,000–15,000 words with a named supervisor.
Research masterclasses with working academics in literary studies, applied linguistics and historical English.
September and January intakes with scholarship review on every application.

What You Will Learn

The MA English Language and Literature is structured around the working life of a postgraduate English researcher — choose a specialism, read at depth, design a methodology, write to publishable standard. You finish able to run an independent research project and step into doctoral study or research roles.

Advanced literary criticism — narrative theory, formalism, comparative analysis.
Period specialism — choose from medieval, early modern, Romantic, Victorian, modern, contemporary.
Genre specialism — fiction, poetry, drama, life-writing, longform non-fiction.
Advanced linguistics — applied linguistics, sociolinguistics, semantics and pragmatics.
Corpus methods — corpus building, concordancing, statistical analysis of language.
Historical English — Old, Middle, Early Modern and Late Modern English at advanced level.
Research methods — research design, ethics, literature review.
Dissertation craft — methodology chapter, viva preparation.

Who This MA Is For

English, linguistics or related humanities graduates targeting doctoral study.
Working English teachers and academics seeking advanced specialism.
Editors and writers wanting research depth alongside their craft work.
International graduates seeking a UK English Master's taught in central London.

Career Pathways

MA English Language and Literature graduates move into doctoral study, secondary and further-education teaching (after PGCE), academic publishing, editorial and policy roles. Typical first or next roles include:

Lecturer (after PhD — further or higher education)
Academic Editor (university press, scholarly journal)
English Teacher (after PGCE — secondary or further education)
Educational Materials Writer (publisher, exam board, awarding body)
Research Associate (university English or linguistics department)
Editorial Assistant (academic publisher, journal office)

The MA serves as the standard research-readiness step toward doctoral study at LSJHML or partner universities.

Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent) in English, linguistics or a related subject, OR a 2:2 in any subject with two years of relevant professional experience.
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
Personal statement (max 1 page) outlining your motivation, relevant experience and intended specialism.
Two academic or professional references.
Applicants without a related undergraduate degree may be considered with significant industry experience and a written sample.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.