About the course

The English master's programmes are designed to serve both as an autonomous degree for students wishing to pursue more advanced studies in English literature, and as a solid foundation for doctoral research.

The English Faculty includes numerous scholars and teachers working in the modern period, as can be seen here. Within the modern period, particular areas of interest among faculty members include modernist poetry, fiction, and drama, the cultural contexts of literature, literature and science, life writing, modern drama and performance studies, contemporary poetry, post-colonial studies and Irish literature.

The Bodleian Library, the English Faculty Library, the Taylorian, the History Library and the Rothermere American Institute Library provide a great wealth of resources for the study of modern literature at Oxford. Students are welcome to attend lectures across related disciplines. The faculty has a number of visiting lecturers and writers every year.

Assessment

In addition to the dissertation, you will submit three essays of 5,000-6,000 words – one at the end of the first term, and two at the end of the second term – relating to the ‘B’ and ‘C’ courses that you have taken.

Students normally take all four components to fulfil the requirements of the degree. All course work will be completed by the end of the second term (Hilary term), leaving the summer term (Trinity term) for the writing of the dissertation, which is submitted in early June.

Graduate destinations

Many English taught-course students go onto doctoral research, both at Oxford and at other universities worldwide. Other graduates pursue careers in occupations including teaching, journalism, law, publishing and the civil service.