Victorian Studies MA

COURSE OVERVIEW

Drawing on Birkbeck's position as a world-leading centre in the field of nineteenth-century studies, our MA Victorian Studies offers you the chance to take a genuinely interdisciplinary approach to studying the literature, culture and history of Victorian Britain. You will encounter a compelling range of Victorian texts, contexts, themes and ideas on a degree course that does justice to the energy and variety of the Victorian period.

Two core modules introduce you to some of the most significant debates, ideas and events of the long nineteenth century, and offer you the chance to develop new critical approaches to Victorian studies. These are supplemented by a wide range of option modules, which allow you to pursue your own interests in the field of Victorian studies and beyond. You will be supported with one-to-one supervision for your culminating dissertation.

Students in their final year of study have the chance to take an internship module. Successful interns spend a term working with one of London's Victorian cultural institutions, gaining first-hand experience of working in the cultural sector and using their host institution's archives to develop a unique research project. Previous interns have worked with the Bethlem Museum of the Mind, the Salvation Army Heritage Centre and Archive, and the Guildhall Art Gallery, and have developed their projects into funded doctoral research topics. Read about one intern’s experience.

CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY

Graduates can pursue career paths in academia and the wider education sector, publishing and editing, the creative arts, library and archive work, arts administration, journalism and writing-based careers.

Normally a second-class honours degree (2:2) or above in a relevant subject such as English, history, philosophy or history of art, but a degree in other subjects will be considered, as will other qualifications.