Victorian Studies MA

Course description

Our MA in Victorian Studies provides an inter-disciplinary approach to the study of the Victorian period. Leicester is home to the internationally renowned Victorian Studies Centre and you’ll benefit from our expertise as the longest established Victorian Studies Centre in the UK.

This course offers you an ideal platform to delve into the areas of Victorian life that interest you the most, offering you greater depth and insight than previous studies. You will also be exposed both to canonical works and hidden gems of the time, giving you an excellent grounding in this fascinating period of history.

Teaching and learning

During the course you will be taught through a range of methods, including:

• seminars
• workshops
• individual supervisions
• presentations
• directed and self-directed study, writing, and research time.

In seminars, a small group of students (usually between 3 and 13 participants) is led in a discussion of texts and issues by a tutor. For each seminar you will read the set texts and prepare other work, which may include a presentation. For workshops on the 'Research Methods' core module, you will be taught together with students from other MAs in English, working together on problem-solving, research, and presentation skills.

Assessment on a module usually consists of one or two pieces of written work. Common types include essays in response to a choice from set questions, editorial exercises, and critical reviews of recent work in a field. Some modules may feature oral presentations.

Careers and employability

A Masters degree in Victorian Studies is an excellent preparation for a wide range of careers. As well as deepening your knowledge in your chosen areas, you will also develop transferable skills, such as research, analysis, and presentation skills.

Completing an MA can be the first step in an academic career in Higher or Further Education, whilst also enhancing your career options outside the field of academia.

One popular career choice is teaching English, either in the UK (having completed a PGCE) or abroad (with a TEFL or TESOL qualification). Many of our students go on to careers as journalists on local, national and specialist newspapers and magazines. The fields of publishing, advertising, arts administration, PR, television, the film industry and other media-related jobs are also ideal destinations for English Studies graduates.

Previous graduates have gone on to careers as:

• archivists
• civil servants
• librarians
• parliamentary researchers
• social workers
• IT consultants
• accountants
• solicitors or barristers after completing a Law conversion course

Students need to have: 2:1 honours degree in a related area (or equivalent). You will be asked to provide a personal statement as part of your application, explaining why you have chosen this course. Where appropriate, you may be asked to submit an essay as part of our admissions process. We will contact you if this is the case.