School of English

FACULTY OF ARTS

Postgraduate Study
 The information contained in this document was right at time of going to press.
For current information on courses and entry requirements please visit our website at www.leeds.ac.uk/postgraduate

Whilst the University endeavours to ensure that the information contained in this brochure is accurate at the date
of publication the University does not accept liability for any inaccuracies contained within it. Where circumstances
change outside the reasonable control of the University, the University reserves the right to change or cancel parts of,
or entire, programmes of study or services at any time without liability, even after students have registered at the Uni-
versity. Circumstances outside of the University’s reasonable control include, industrial action, over or under demand
from students, staff illness, lack of funding, severe weather, fire, civil disorder, political unrest, government restrictions
and concern with regard to the transmission of serious illness. The University’s contract with its students does not
confer third party benefits for the purposes of the Contract (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

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Overview (School/University).................................................................................................................4
Overview of the University and School............................................................................................................................4
What are the benefits of studying English at Leeds..........................................................................................................4
Research Seminars........................................................................................................................................................4
The University’s Libraries...............................................................................................................................................4
Regional Libraries and Archives......................................................................................................................................4
Careers..........................................................................................................................................................................4
Mentor Support..............................................................................................................................................................4
Faculty of Arts Careers Events........................................................................................................................................5
Postgraduate Opportunities............................................................................................................................................5
The Graduate School......................................................................................................................................................5

Introduction to Taught Masters............................................................................................................6

Taught Masters Programmes...................................................................................................................8
MA in Critical and Cultural Theory (English Studies)........................................................................................................8
MA in English Literature.................................................................................................................................................9
MA in American Literature and Culture.........................................................................................................................10
MA in English Language...............................................................................................................................................11
MA in English Renaissance Literature...........................................................................................................................13
Medieval Studies..........................................................................................................................................................14
MA in Modern and Contemporary Literature.................................................................................................................15
MA in Postcolonial Literary and Cultural Studies...........................................................................................................17
MA in Romantic Literature and Culture.........................................................................................................................18
MA in Theatre and Global Development........................................................................................................................19
MA in Victorian Literature.............................................................................................................................................20

Research Degrees...........................................................................................................................................21
Postgraduate research student specific facilities, opportunities and events....................................................................21

International.....................................................................................................................................................23
Supporting You............................................................................................................................................................23
Postgraduate Scholarships...........................................................................................................................................23
English Language Requirements..................................................................................................................................23

Life in Leeds......................................................................................................................................................25
University Life/Life in Leeds/City & Region/Useful Links.................................................................................................25
Accommodation...........................................................................................................................................................25
The Place (Life in Leeds)..............................................................................................................................................26

Admissions and Funding..........................................................................................................................27

How to apply................................................................................................................................................................27
Research Degrees........................................................................................................................................................27
Entry requirements.......................................................................................................................................................27
What next?...................................................................................................................................................................27
Fees and funding.........................................................................................................................................................28
Open day.....................................................................................................................................................................28
Contact Us...................................................................................................................................................................29

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The School of English

The School of English in the Research Seminars

University of Leeds is one of the The School sustains a dynamic research culture with
regular seminars given by invited academics, staff
largest and most dynamic English and current research students, which all students are
departments in the United Kingdom. encouraged to attend. These seminars cover a wide range
of subject areas and interdisciplinary interests. In addition
With over 40 full-time members of staff, whose to school-wide seminars, each research area of the School
interests range across the whole spectrum of English runs its own seminar series. The School also runs an
studies, the School has an international reputation for active postgraduate research seminar series.
research excellence.
The University’s Libraries
We offer postgraduate work at both MA and PhD levels in
The University’s BROTHERTON LIBRARY is one of the
an unparalleled range of subject areas, including:
major academic research libraries of the United Kingdom,
n Critical and Cultural Theory (English Studies)
attracting scholars from around the world to its extensive
n Medieval and Early Modern, including Shakespeare
print and manuscript collections. It has holdings of over
n Eighteenth-Century Literature
2.8 million volumes, including rare primary material in
n Romantic Literature
its special collections. The Library invests £5 million a
n Victorian Literature
year in developing its collections, and ranks as one of the
n Modern British Literature
top libraries in the UK for provision of electronic books,
n Contemporary British Literature
journals and databases. There are nearly 700 computer
n American Literature and Culture
workstations in the Library, and all library buildings are
n Commonwealth and Post-colonial Literatures
electronically enabled. There are quiet study areas and
n English Language
group work facilities. The Library runs an excellent training
n Theatre Studies
programme to help you exploit all the resources on offer.
Leeds has been an innovator in many of these areas. It
You can take a closer look at the Library, including taking
was the first British university to establish the study of
a Special Collections virtual tour, and finding out more
commonwealth literature and the first to create a Chair in
about the specific library support available for English,
American Literature. Its MA programme in Theatre Studies
at http://library.leeds.ac.uk
was one of the first in the country.

The journals Leeds Studies in English, Moving Worlds,
The James Joyce Broadsheet and Poetry and Audience,
and the poetry magazine Stand were established here and
continue to thrive. Building on its distinguished past, the
School remains at the forefront of innovative scholarship
across the whole field of English studies.
The School also plays a vital interdisciplinary role in
several of the university’s leading research centres,
including the Institute for Medieval Studies, the Institute
of Colonial and Postcolonial studies, and the Leeds Centre
for Medical Humanities.
What are the benefits of studying
English at Leeds?
The School of English is a research-led school. Students
are taught and supervised by academics who are at
the cutting edge of research in their field. Our staff
are engaged in a wide variety of research activities,
many funded by external bodies such as the Arts and
Humanities Research Council, the British Academy and
the Leverhulme Trust.
Research interests of current members of staff can be
found in the individual staff profiles on the School of
English website: www.leeds.ac.uk/english
Regional Libraries and Archives
Outside the University, the Leeds Library, England’s oldest
surviving subscription library, has a remarkable collection
of nineteenth-century first editions, and contains books not
found in the British Library. The City Library also houses a
valuable collection of Victorian books and rare periodicals.
The British Library Document supply lending division and
reading room (an invaluable resource, especially for periodical
material) is situated just outside Leeds at Boston Spa.
Careers
Undertaking postgraduate study at Leeds enhances your
career prospects. In addition to the skills, contacts and
broad professional awareness you gain in a postgraduate
course at Leeds, we offer refined support and activities to
help you achieve your career goals and make the most of
your English skills in the world of work:
Mentor Support
Leeds Graduate Careers Network gives you the opportunity
to pair up with an experienced mentor from the world of
work to receive personalised support. You explore career
options, gain tips on entry into specific careers and receive
supportive advice on developing your career plans.

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Faculty of Arts Careers Events
The Faculty of Arts hosts a number of careers events,
workshops, taster sessions and fairs which attract leading
graduate employers.

The Careers Centre

http://careerweb.leeds.ac.uk/ The Careers Centre offers
a drop-in service for advice on any career related issue. It
also organises recruitment fairs and offers career planning
strategies and help with writing a CV.

Postgraduate Opportunties
There are opportunities for second and third year
doctoral students to undertake some undergraduate
teaching as part of their career development, for which
support is offered both by induction sessions within the
school and by programmes run by the University’s Staff
and Departmental Development Unit (SDDU).
The SDDU offers a range of training opportunities for
postgraduate research students, under the umbrella
headings of: research degree process; managing
research projects; presenting research; writing and
publishing; academic integrity.

Graduate School
The Graduate School of the Faculty of Arts, housed in
the Leeds Humanities Research Institute (LHRI), was
established in 2007 to bring together postgraduates
working across the Faculty. It offers computing facilities,
social space and seminar rooms for our postgraduates to
mix, exchange ideas and create interdisciplinary networks.

Students can access our professionalisation training

events for postgraduates in the Humanities, apply for the
funding we provide for postgraduate-run workshops and
networks, and get information about the Faculty’s research
seminars and events.

For prospective students, the Graduate school provides

an overview of all the postgraduate opportunities in the
Faculty, supported by guidance on funding and career
opportunities after qualification. See www.leeds.ac.uk/lhri
for further details.

School of English, 6-10 Cavendish Road

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Introduction to Taught Masters Degrees
Our MA courses will:
n Develop your interests in greater depth than
is possible at undergraduate level
n Provide an additional qualification for
career development
n Provide a foundation for doctoral research
The School offers the following
taught Masters degrees:
n Critical and Cultural Theory (English Studies)
n English Literature
n American Literature and Culture
n English Language
n English Renaissance Literature
n Modern and Contemporary Literature
n Postcolonial Literary and Cultural Studies
n Romantic Literature and Culture
n Theatre and Global Development
n Victorian Literature
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All MA degree schemes in the School:
n Will train you in research methods
n Will require you to write a 15,000-word
dissertation on the subject(s) of your choosing,
with regular supervision
n Will prepare you for doctoral research and help
you attract external funding
n Can be taken full time (12 months) or part time
(24 months, UK/EU students only)
During your studies, you are encouraged to consider
ways to refine and develop your existing skills towards
academic progress, including publication and conference
presentation. For Masters’ students, this development
is focused upon in the Research Methods module.
The course incorporates workshops on primary research,
academic writing, publication, subject-specific research
and the dissertation. At the end of the second semester
the School holds a one-day symposium for Taught MA
students, organised by the students, where you will get
the chance to present your dissertation research to
staff and students.
Name: Georgina O’Toole
Course: MA English Literature (part time)
I am originally from Birmingham, and I completed my
undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature
at the University of Leeds. I took a year out to work before
beginning my Masters, and even though I had several
offers elsewhere, it was Leeds that I wanted to return to
for postgraduate study.

The course appealed to me because of the range of

different modules I could take, allowing me to specialise
in an area of my choosing. The teaching is excellent and I
have always found the staff to be very supportive.

I am passionate about my area of study as studying

English Literature allows you to let your imagination run
wild. Finding an idea germinating somewhere at the
back of your mind and nurturing it until it grows into a
legitimate theory or argument is extremely satisfying, and
encourages you to think in new ways. The School is strong
on American Studies – an area which I am particularly
interested in – and I also appreciate the breadth of extra-
curricular activities available, such as seminars, reading
groups, guest lectures, and events associated with PG
EngSoc, the postgraduate English society, an informal
group of School of English postgraduate students.

Leeds Student’s Union (LUU) is one of the best in the

country, and the services it offers (like Joblink) are
invaluable when you want to work alongside your studies.
I have several jobs in the University and LUU, which help
me to fund my Masters. As a part time student I have
one module per semester (and research methods this
term). This gives me plenty of time to work, but the two
hour seminars also help me to develop a really thorough
understanding of the text. I’m looking forward to my
dissertation – especially as I have two years to write it!

Leeds is a fantastic campus university and I love the fact

that it’s close to the city as well.

Leeds has everything you look for in a city – great

shopping, plenty of bars and restaurants, and a vibrant
social scene. It’s also very student-orientated, making it
feel much smaller, and more like a community, than most
big cities I’ve visited.

When I’m not studying or working I enjoy writing poetry,

and I’m a member of The Scribe, the University’s creative
arts magazine. The School of English is also home to
Poetry and Audience and supports Stand magazine, so
there is a great community and plenty of support and
advice available to those interested.

I am really enjoying my course and once I have finished I

hope to undertake a PhD and begin a research career.

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 MA in Critical and Cultural Theory (English Studies)

Critical Theory provides an increasingly vital means of intervening in contemporary

cultural debates. The School of English at the University of Leeds has a wide
range of theoretical expertise in areas as diverse as Enlightenment philosophy,
Marxism and the Frankfurt School, psychoanalysis, deconstruction, gender,
sexuality and queer theory, green critique, postcolonial theory and Holocaust
studies. Our MA in Critical and Cultural Theory emerges from exciting new
research collaborations and initiatives.
Literary study relies on the insights and methodologies Teaching and assessment
generated by theorists working in a range of overlapping
n The majority of Option modules are assessed
fields, from politics and philosophy to sociology and
by one 4,000 word essay.
anthropology. This MA enables you to read the work of
n The dissertation is 12,000 – 15, 000 words in length,
critical theorists in a more sustained and comparative
to be submitted at the end of the programme
fashion, explore the history of various critical debates and
in September.
consider how these debates inform the ways in which we
understand the complex relationship between literature,
culture and politics. By combining modules from the Critical Course content
and Cultural Theory MA with other modules from the School In addition to the compulsory module, you choose
of English, students are able to design their own intellectual at least two option modules from the following:
journey, a journey that may lead on to doctoral work or to n All that they Enfold:
manifold critical and creative paths outside the academy. Henry James’s The Wings of the Dove
n Africas of the Mind
Course structure n Ecocriticism & Environments:
Literature and Green Critique
You study one compulsory module (Research Methods/
n Fictions of Citizenship in Contemporary
Dissertation) along with four option modules, two of which
American Literature
can be a module outside of the programme and one of which
n Imperial Designs
can be a module taken outside of the School of English.
n Reading (with) Psychoanalysis
n Shakespeare and Gender
Semester One Semester Two n Poetry of Catastrophe: Reading Paul Celan
(September – December) (January – May) n So Where do you come from? Selves, Families, Stories
Option Module 1 Option Module 3 n The Enigmatic Body of Modernism
n Thing Theory
Option Module 2 Option Module 4
Research Methods and Dissertation (studied throughout the year) Please note that this is an indicative module list: our modules
change regularly and a different selection is available every year.
For a complete listing of available modules see the School website
www.leeds.ac.uk/english

Photograph of Hannah Arendt, NYC, 1944 © Estate of Fred Stein, FredStein.com

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MA in English Literature

This MA scheme is designed to allow students the greatest freedom

to explore the diversity of expertise within the School of English.
You can choose from almost fifty modules offered each Course content
year, covering an exceptionally wide range of English
In addition to the compulsory module, you choose
Literature, Language and Theatre Studies options. This
four option modules from a selection, for example:
broad scope allows you to bring together modules from
n Africas of the Mind
different historical periods and from English, American,
n All that they Enfold: Henry James’s the Wings
and Postcolonial literatures. You might choose a scheme
of the Dove
specialising in a particular period or genre, or put diverse
n Apprentices to Life: The Bildungsroman in Nineteenth-
modules together to create an eclectic programme which
Century Fiction in English
meets your own individual needs and interests.
n Arthurian Legend: Medieval to Modern
n The Brontës
The flexibility offered by this degree scheme makes it
n Caribbean and Black British Writing
attractive to many different kinds of student. You can
n Creative Writing
use it to further interests already established in your
n Culture and Anarchy: 1945 – 1968
undergraduate degree or to supplement and fill in the
n Ecocriticism and its Environments
gaps in your knowledge and expertise. If you are looking
n Enigmatic Body of Modernism
to develop a topic which crosses conventional period and
n Fictions of Citizenship in Contemporary American
subject boundaries, or are as yet unsure of the precise
area in which you want to work, the versatility of this Literature
n Forensic Linguistics
scheme makes it an excellent starting point. This MA is
n Gender, Revolution and Romanticism
particularly useful as a professional qualification if you
n Global Indigeneity
intend to pursue a career in teaching at any level, or as a
n Gothic Natures
‘refresher’ for serving teachers. The scheme also provides
n Graham Greene
an excellent basis for future doctoral study through its
n Imperial Designs
Research Methods module and dissertation, and is
n Imperial Masculinities: Late Victorian Romance Fiction
especially helpful in assisting you to define an area for
n Language Issues: Past, Present and Future
further research.
n Literary Stylistics
n Love, Sex and Marriage
Course structure n Modernism and Mass Culture
You study one compulsory module and four option n Old and New Beliefs in Medieval Scandinavia: From
modules, one of which can be a module taken outside Pagan to Christian
of the School of English. n Poetry of Catastrophe: Reading Paul Celan
n Postcolonial cultures of Encounter and settlement
n Race, Empire, Romanticism
Semester One Semester Two n Reading (with) Psychoanalysis
(September – December) (January – May)
n Renaissance on Screen
Option Module 1 Option Module 3 n Romantic Identities
Option Module 2 Option Module 4 n Sensibility and Society, 1744 – 1811
n Shakespeare and Gender
Research Methods and Dissertation (studied throughout the year)
n Shakespeare’s Tyrants
n Something Rotten: Transatlantic Capitalism and the
Teaching and assessment Literature of Waste, 1945-Present
n So Where do you come from? Selves, Families, Stories
n The majority of Option modules are assessed by one
n Thing Theory
4,000 word essay.
n William Blake: Word and Vision
n The dissertation is 12,000 – 15,000 words in
n Writing about Death in Nineteenth-Century America
length, to be submitted at the end of the programme
in September.
Please note that this is an indicative module list: our modules
change regularly and a different selection is available every year.
For a complete listing of available modules see the School website
www.leeds.ac.uk/english

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MA in American Literature & Culture

This MA explores the range and variety of American Literature and

Culture, offering the chance to develop an already existing enthusiasm
or to explore a fascinating area which may not have figured significantly
in your undergraduate degree programme.
Leeds was the first university in Britain to establish a Chair
in the field of American Literature, and today continues
Semester One Semester Two
(September – December) (January – May)
that tradition through the research and teaching interests
of five full-time members of staff. The MA affords an Option Module 1 Option Module 3
excellent platform for further work at doctoral level within Option Module 2 Option Module 4
this rich field.
Research Methods and Dissertation (studied throughout the year)

Focusing both on literary texts and their cultural contexts,

a wide variety of modules permits students to study
different genres, authors and periods. Literature is
considered alongside other forms of expression, and
American modules include options on particular genres
and periods, on the works of major individual writers, and
on drama, film and photography. American literature –
indeed, American culture as a whole – has often been
viewed as distinctive, with an inveterate tendency towards
the experimental. This MA enables you to investigate this
contention in the context of the broader School of English
MA programme since you can choose two of your options
from the wide range of non-American modules in English
literature and language.
Course structure
You study one compulsory module (Research Methods/
Dissertation) along with four option modules, two of which
can be a module outside of the programme and one of which
can be a module taken outside of the School of English.
Teaching and assessment
n The majority of Option modules are assessed
by one 4,000 word essay.
n The dissertation is 12,000 – 15,000 words in
length, to be submitted at the end of the programme
in September.
Course content
In addition to the compulsory module, you choose at least
two option modules from a selection, for example:
n All that they Enfold: Henry James’s the Wings
of the Dove
n Fictions of Citizenship in Contemporary
American Literature
n Imperial Designs
n Something Rotten: Transatlantic Capitalism
and the Literature of Waste, 1945-Present
n So Where do you come from? Selves, Families, Stories
n Writing about Death in Nineteenth-Century America

Please note that this is an indicative module list: our modules

change regularly and a different selection is available every year.
For a complete listing of available modules see the School website
www.leeds.ac.uk/english

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MA in English Language

If you enjoyed studying English Language and/or Linguistics as part of

your undergraduate degree, this MA allows you to pursue your studies to
an advanced and specialist standard within a highly-regarded School of
English. It will also provide an excellent starting point for those students
who wish to go on to pursue PhD research.
This MA scheme builds on the School’s long-standing Course structure
reputation for English Language teaching and research,
You study three compulsory modules and two
and looks to the future by emphasising current and
option modules, one of which can be a module
emerging research strands and methods. Since 1948 the
taken outside of the Language programme or outside
School of English has been the home of the world-famous
of the School of English.
Survey of English Dialects, and it continues to be a home
for research active scholars working in a range of fields
within the discipline. Semester One Semester Two
(September – December) (January – May)
This MA enables you to extend your study of an Language in Society Text Linguistics
increasingly significant and expanding discipline. It (Core module) (Core module)
provides the opportunity to follow specialist interests in the
Option Module 1 Option Module 2
option modules offered, as well as in the dissertation. At
the same time, the core modules ensure a good breadth Research Methods and Dissertation (studied throughout the year)
of coverage of key areas within the subject as a whole.
English language core and option modules are listed under
Course content. In addition to these, this MA scheme is Teaching and assessment
also linked to other MAs in the School of English, to the n Language modules are assessed by a range of
MA in the Department of Linguistics and Phonetics, and methods, often a combination of essays and data
to the MEd in the School of Education, so students who analysis projects.
wish to extend the boundaries of their studies can take n The dissertation is 12,000 – 15,000 words in
approved options from these schemes. length, to be submitted at the end of the programme
in September.
Admission to some of these modules may depend
on students fulfilling requirements made by the Course content
departments concerned.
In addition to the three compulsory modules, you choose
two option modules from a selection, for example:
n Dialectology
n Forensic Linguistics
n Language Issues: Past, Present and Future
n Literary Stylistics

Please note that this is an indicative module list: our modules

change regularly and a different selection is available every year.
For a complete listing of available modules see the School website
www.leeds.ac.uk/english

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NAME: David Wright

COURSE: PhD (Forensic Linguistics,

School of English)
I began my undergraduate life at the University of Leeds
studying BA English Language in the School of English.
Graduating with a first class degree, I decided to embark
on an MA in English Language. After achieving a Pass
with Distinction, I chose to continue further and pursue a
PhD. Both my MA and PhD are funded by the Arts and
Humanities Research Council.

A PhD is about making an original contribution to your

field of study, and that’s exactly what I want to do.
Forensic linguistics is one of the most rapidly expanding
fields in linguistics, and is a breeding-ground for
interdisciplinary collaboration. My research into authorship
analysis (analysing the authorship of documents whose
writer is unknown or disputed) has garnered wide-ranging
research interest. Moreover, the results of my research have
substantial potential for external impact, that is, methods I
develop could not only contribute to the academic field, but
also be applied in professional and public domains such as
law and security enforcement.

I enjoy feeling part of a very welcoming close-knit scholarly

community in the School of English. There are frequent
School of English postgraduate research seminars which
I have attended, giving an opportunity to see what kind of
work others are doing. I spent much of my first couple of
weeks as a PhD student attending these research seminars
and becoming a member of other research groups across
the University. Things like this really make you feel like
you’re part of something at the University.

The Brotherton and other libraries are outstanding. Rarely

do I ever need a book or journal that I can’t get at the
University. There are environments for all types of learners
to work in, quiet places, group-based, with PCs, without
PCs, anything. Also the School of English has a designated
postgraduate research room which I regularly work in,
where there are both rooms to work and rooms to relax.

In a University as large as Leeds it would be hard work to not

come across some form of social event happening on any
given day or night. I think socialising is an important part of
any PhD, to give the brain a rest and to stay motivated. I use
the newly built Edge sports facility on campus a couple of
times a week for the fitness suite and swimming pool. I am
also a member of a national karate club in nearby Farsley
where I can keep up my training. If the bank balance allows
it I like to do some shopping in the city too.

Once I’ve finished my plan is to pursue an academic

career as a researcher and lecturer. I would like to
pay back the University and the School of English by
representing them internationally through publications
and conference presentations.

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MA in English Renaissance Literature

This MA scheme studies the literature of the Renaissance in relation to a

variety of political and cultural contexts. The scheme addresses an eclectic
mix of different kinds of texts, including plays, poetry, court entertainments,
translations, political tracts, and sermons, to give a multifaceted insight into
this exciting area.
The School of English at the University of Leeds has one of
the strongest teams of renaissance scholars in the country.
Semester One Semester Two
(September – December) (January – May)
Five members of staff work centrally within the late
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The expertise of the Option Module 1 Option Module 3
group ranges from Elizabethan and Jacobean literature, Option Module 2 Option Module 4
including Shakespeare, to the literature of the restoration;
Research Methods and Dissertation (studied throughout the year)
from historicist criticism to gender studies; and from court
politics to the history of the book. This range is reflected in
the diversity of the modules on offer. Teaching and assessment
n The majority of Option modules are assessed
Students are thus able to investigate a rewarding by one 4,000 word essay.
variety of writers, issues and approaches, while the n The dissertation is 12,000 – 15,000 words in
dissertation provides the opportunity to pursue individual length, to be submitted at the end of the programme
interests in more depth and with expert supervision. in September.
Beyond this programme of study, students are welcomed
into a vibrant intellectual community, which meets
through regular research seminars, enjoys visits from Course content
scholars from all over the country, and is one of the In addition to the compulsory module, you choose at
centres from which the forthcoming Cambridge Edition least two option modules from a selection, for example:
of the Works of Ben Jonson is being directed. Student n Love, Sex and Marriage
research is also supported by the Brotherton library’s n Renaissance on Screen
outstanding resources. n Shakespeare and Gender
n Shakespeare’s Tyrants

Course structure Please note that this is an indicative module list: our modules
You study one compulsory module (Research Methods/ change regularly and a different selection is available every year.
Dissertation) along with four option modules, two of For a complete listing of available modules see the School website
www.leeds.ac.uk/english
which can be a module outside of the programme and
one of which can be a module taken outside of the
School of English.

“Sir
Anthony
Van Dyck,
Sir John
Suckling
(1632),
Copyright
The Frick
Collection,
New York.

13
Medieval Studies

The School of English at Leeds has been a leader in medieval studies since
its foundation, providing expert teaching in Old English, Middle English,
Anglo-Norman and Old Norse.
The School is also home to the UK’s oldest journal in this
field, Leeds Studies in English http://www.leeds.ac.uk/lse/
Medievalists in the School also teach in the Institute for
Medieval Studies (IMS). The School also takes an active
role in the International Medieval Congress – Europe’s
biggest medieval congress.
You can undertake medieval studies as part of your
English Literature MA or undertake an MA in Medieval
Studies through the Institute of Medieval Studies.
MA in Medieval Studies has a greater emphasis on
learning key research skills, such as medieval languages.
MA in English Literature emphasises flexibility. You can
choose from medieval modules offered within the School
and up to two modules on offer within the IMS. You also
have a choice of research methods and dissertation
components pathways; either:
Within the School of English
n Research Methods module (0 credits, pass required)
n 12,000-15,000-word dissertation (60 credits)
Or
Within the Institute for
Medieval Studies
n Research Methods module (15 credits, pass required)
n 9,000-10,000-word dissertation (45 credits)
Medieval research and teaching in the School of English
includes texts ranging through the corpus of Old English,
Middle English, Old Norse and Anglo-Norman; the
modern reception and construction of the Middle Ages;
medieval health, illness and healing; multiculturalism,
multilingualism and translation; gender studies; Arthurian
literature; and traditional beliefs and Christianisation.
Modules offered in the School of English include:
n Arthurian Legend: Medieval to Modern
n Old and New Beliefs in Medieval Scandinavia:
From Pagan to Christian
Modules offered in the Institute for Medieval Studies,
with participation from medievalists in the School of
English, include:
n Men Writing Women Writing Men
Please note that this is an indicative module list: our modules
change regularly and a different selection is available every year.
For a complete listing of available modules see the School website
www.leeds.ac.uk/english
See http://www.leeds.ac.uk/ims/study/degrees/ma/modules.html for
current modules offered within the IMS.

Medieval
images
are from
the Book
of Hours,
Brotherton
Collection
MS 1,
Brotherton
Library
Special
Collections

Destruction
of Troy,
Brotherton
Collection
MS 100,
image 10.
Image ©
University
of Leeds

14
MA in Modern and Contemporary Literature

This MA programme offers the opportunity to study the literatures of Britain

and Ireland from the birth of Modernism to the writing of the present day.
Students will encounter a variety of texts from across the Teaching and assessment
century, and will be invited both to understand those texts
n The majority of Option modules are assessed
in their historical contexts, and to view them in the light of
by one 4,000 word essay.
shifting theoretical discourses and debates.
n The dissertation is 12,000 – 15,000 words in length,

A range of option modules represent the School’s
significant expertise in the period, and students are also
welcome to take two modules from the full list of those
offered for the MA in English Literature. In its concentrated
attention on a single period, this degree programme
provides an excellent basis for students who wish to
pursue further research in the area.
Course structure
You study one compulsory module (Research Methods/
Dissertation) along with four option modules, two of which
can be a module outside of the programme and one of which
can be a module taken outside of the School of English.
Semester One Semester Two
(September – December) (January – May)
Option Module 1 Option Module 3
Option Module 2 Option Module 4
to be submitted at the end of the programme in
September.
Course content
In addition to the compulsory module, you choose at least
two option modules from a selection, for example:
n Caribbean and Black British Writing
n Culture and Anarchy: 1945 – 1968
n Ecocriticism and its Environments
n Enigmatic Body of Modernism
n Global Indigeneity
n Graham Greene
n Imperial Designs
n Modernism and Mass Culture
n Reading (with) Psychoanalysis
Please note that this is an indicative module list: our modules
change regularly and a different selection is available every year.
For a complete listing of available modules see the School website
www.leeds.ac.uk/english

Research Methods and Dissertation (studied throughout the year)

15
NAME: Brittney Coker

COURSE: MA American Literature

and Culture
I completed my undergraduate degree in California after
completing a year exchange in England. I one day hope
to become a secondary teacher in English Literature and
write a memoir.

I applied to the University of Leeds as it has a very strong

international reputation. I decided to apply for the MA
in American Literature and Culture due to the eclectic
subject specialties of the faculty. There are so many
different interests being pursued by the faculty that I
knew there would always be a faculty member to assist
me with what I want to pursue myself.

I am passionate about my area of study because I am

American and being able to examine my own culture
through an outside perspective has taught me so much
about American culture and myself as an American
abroad. During my course I have enjoyed the variety in
courses and reading lists. I like that professors are open
to allowing the discussions to go down whichever path
they lead. They are very strong individuals that encourage
each and every student to push past the boundaries. The
memoir module in particular has gotten me very excited
about pursuing my own memoir writing in the future.

Leeds is a very vibrant city. It caters to every type of

individual-- whether one is the quiet pub type, the crazy
club goer, the enthusiastic shopper or the solitary reader
or even all of the above. There are so many cultural
places to visit within the city and also a short distance
outside the city. If one wants to get away, a short train/
bus journey can take one to the most gorgeous of the
Yorkshire Dales. I feel the diversity of Leeds has made
my adjustment away from California much easier than if
I were in any other city. Everywhere I have gone, I have
met people interested in having a chat, helping with
directions, or even just a friendly smile.

The learning facilities at Leeds are definitely something

to brag about. It is never difficult to get the advice you
may need. The libraries are amazing and staff are very
dedicated to making sure there are plenty of resources
available as well as ordering those that are not.

Outside of studying I enjoy being with the friends I have

made on my course. There is such an array of things to
do in Leeds, I enjoy getting lost in the city centre. I always
seem to find some new quirky shop, a vibrant coffee
shop, or a historical site of some kind.

To anyone thinking of applying to your course I would

have to say APPLY. Choosing Leeds was one of the best
decisions of my life.

16
MA in Postcolonial Literary & Cultural Studies

This MA explores the richness and diversity of new writings in English,

paying attention to their innovative experiments with form and language, to
their several histories and specific socio-cultural contexts, and to the critical
and theoretical issues raised by colonial and postcolonial literatures.
Leeds was the first UK university to establish Teaching and assessment
‘Commonwealth Literature’ as an academic discipline
n Postcolonial Representations, along with the majority of
at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and its
Option modules, is assessed by one 4,000 word essay.
postcolonial specialists, together with visiting writers and
n The dissertation is 12,000 – 15,000 words in length, to
critics, maintain an unrivalled expertise across a broad
be submitted at the end of the programme in September.
area of this exciting and developing field. Attention is also
paid to other modes of cultural production, such as film
and music, and to the relation between literary studies Course content
and other disciplines, including history, geography and In addition to the two compulsory modules, you choose
anthropology. The cross-disciplinary Institute for Colonial three option modules from a selection, for example:
and Postcolonial Studies www.leeds.ac.uk/icps/ both n Africas of the Mind
extends and enhances research and teaching in the area. n Caribbean and Black British Writing
n Imperial Designs
Course structure n Postcolonial Cultures of Encounter and Settlement
n Global Indigeneity
You study two compulsory modules and three option
modules, one of which can be a module taken outside the Please note that this is an indicative module list: our modules
Postcolonial programme or outside of the School of English. change regularly and a different selection is available every year.
For a complete listing of available modules see the School website
www.leeds.ac.uk/english
Semester One Semester Two
(September – December) (January – May)
Postcolonial Representations Option Module 2
(Core module)
Option Module 1 Option Module 3
Research Methods and Dissertation (studied throughout the year)

17
MA in Romantic Literature and Culture

This MA programme focuses on one of the most exciting periods of British

literary and political history: the years from the Declaration of American
Independence through to the passing of the Great Reform Act in 1832.
Dominating the period is the French Revolution, an Teaching and assessment
event that inspired contrary feelings of fear and pity,
n The majority of Option modules are assessed
revulsion and enthusiasm. While the period is one of great
by one 4,000 word essay.
social upheaval, it is also one of literary invention and
n The dissertation is 12,000 – 15,000 words in
philosophical enquiry. This MA programme offers students
length, to be submitted at the end of the programme
an opportunity to explore this period by concentrating
in September.
on the related themes of sensibility, imagination, gender
and national identities, revolutionary politics and romantic
literature. The programme offers a set of options focusing Course content
on key areas of literary and cultural study in which the In addition to the compulsory module, you choose
impact of social and cultural change was most strongly felt. at least two option modules from a selection, for example:
n William Blake: Word and Vision
Course structure n Gender, Revolution and Romanticism
n Gothic Natures
You study one compulsory module (Research Methods/
n Race, Empire, Romanticism
Dissertation) along with four option modules, two of which
n Romantic Identities
can be a module outside of the programme and one of which
n Sensibility and Society, 1744 – 1811
can be a module taken outside of the School of English.
Please note that this is an indicative module list: our modules
Semester One Semester Two change regularly and a different selection is available every year.
(September – December) (January – May) For a complete listing of available modules see the School website
www.leeds.ac.uk/english
Option Module 1 Option Module 3
Option Module 2 Option Module 4
Research Methods and Dissertation (studied throughout the year)

Joshua Reynolds, Colonel Acland and Lord Sydney: The Archers

(1769), reproduced by kind permission of the Tate Gallery, London.

18
MA in Theatre & Global Development (Full-Time Only)

The MA is jointly run by The Workshop Theatre and the Centre

for Global Development.
It is aimed primarily at either those working in community- Please note that this is an indicative module list: our modules
change regularly and a different selection is available every year.
based theatre and wishing to explore discourses of
For a complete listing of available modules see the School website
development, or development practitioners seeking
www.leeds.ac.uk/english
to investigate how the arts can be used as a tool for
development. Three core modules are offered, two in
the Workshop Theatre and one in the Centre for Global Teaching and assessment
Development. n Theatre modules are assessed by a range of
methods, often a combination of essays and practical
Students are invited to choose a fourth module in Development assignments or performances.
Studies to reflect their primary interests and aims. n The dissertation is 12,000 – 15,000 words in length, to
be submitted at the end of the programme in September.
The course is run by leading academics and practitioners.
Theatre specialisms include Theatre in Education,
African Theatre and Theatre for Development, while in
Development Studies; students can focus on gender,
globalisations, rural development, development
management and the politics of development. There are
opportunities for practical work and for creating links with
professional workers in the field.

Course structure
You study three compulsory modules and one option
module, to be taken from the list of options available from
the School of Politics and International Studies.

Semester One Semester Two

(September – December) (January – May)
Uses of Theatre Making Theatre in the
(Core module) Community (Core module)
Global Inequalities and Option Module 1
Development (studied
throughout the year)
Research Methods and Dissertation (studied throughout the year)

19
MA in Victorian Literature

This MA offers an opportunity to study literary works of the nineteenth

century in a city rich in Victorian resources.
Leeds retains an unrivalled Victorian city centre, no
fewer than three Victorian theatres, many great buildings
designed and built in the nineteenth century, and an
extensive collection of Victorian paintings in the City Art
Gallery. Not only will you have the benefit of working in a
major Victorian cultural and industrial centre but you can
take advantage of the outstanding library collections of the
university and the city.
The Brotherton Library, Leeds City Library, and Leeds
Library (a subscription library) have extensive nineteenth-
century holdings, including manuscripts and Victorian
newspapers and periodicals. Option modules enable you
to develop your interests in fiction, poetry, and drama of
the period and give you the chance to explore texts and
contexts that are new to you. Victorian specialists on the
staff bring a wide range of expertise to this lively field of
study. With its scope and variety and its concentrated
scholarly attention on a single period this degree scheme
provides an excellent foundation for further research in
Victorian literature and culture.
Course structure
You study one compulsory module (Research Methods/
Dissertation) along with four option modules, two of which
can be a module outside of the programme and one of which
can be a module taken outside of the School of English.
Teaching and assessment
n The majority of Option modules are assessed
by one 4,000 word essay.
n The dissertation is 12,000 – 15,000 words in length, to
be submitted at the end of the programme in September.
Course content
In addition to the compulsory module, you choose
at least two option modules from a selection, for example:
n All That They Enfold: Henry James’s The
Wings of the Dove
n The Brontës
n Imperial Masculinities: Late Victorian Romance Fiction
n Apprentices to Life: The Bildungsroman in Nineteenth-
Century Fiction in English
n Gothic Natures
n Modernism and Mass Culture
Please note that this is an indicative module list: our modules
change regularly and a different selection is available every year.
For a complete listing of available modules see the School website
www.leeds.ac.uk/english

Semester One Semester Two

(September – December) (January – May)
Option Module 1 Option Module 3
Option Module 2 Option Module 4
Research Methods and Dissertation (studied throughout the year)

‘Self-
portrait of
Branwell
Bronte in
despair
and in a
tavern’,
pen
and ink
cartoon,
held in
Brotherton
Library
Special
Collections.

20
Research Degrees
The School offers the following research degrees:
PhD (normally 3 years full-time; 5-7 years part-time)
MA by Research (1 year full-time; 2 years part-time)
We currently have around 90 research students working in
all areas of English literature and culture, including English
Language and Theatre Studies. The School of English
has around 50 academic staff which means we have a
very broad research profile, and can offer supervision
for research degrees across the whole range of expertise
of our staff, including Medieval English literature, Early
Modern literature including Shakespeare, Eighteenth-
century literature, Romantic literature, Victorian literature,
Modern British literature, Contemporary British literature,
American literature and culture, Commonwealth and
Postcolonial Literature, English Language, Theatre
studies. A full list of our academic staff and their research
interests can be found here: http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/
people/20040/school_of_english/
We strongly encourage you to discuss your project with us
before you make a formal application. You are welcome
to contact any member of the School whose research
interests seem appropriate and they will be happy to advise
you, or you can contact the Postgraduate Research Tutor
who will match your interests to a suitable staff member.
Email: research-english@leeds.ac.uk
Assessment
Research students are examined exclusively by thesis,
with a viva voce examination. The thesis should not
normally exceed the following maximum length:
PhD: 300 pages or 100,000 words
MA by Research: 100 pages or 30,000 words
Research Postgraduate Facilities
The School has a dedicated research students’ common
room and two study rooms with a number of networked
computers to which students have 24 hour access. The
21
School also has a flexible learning space for students
which can be used to hold conferences and seminars.
The Faculty of Arts Graduate School, housed in the
Leeds Humanities Research Institute, brings together
postgraduates working across the Faculty. It offers study
facilities, a shared social space and opportunities for
interdisciplinary exchange specifically for postgraduates.
The Graduate School also runs a professionalisation
training session on ‘Organising and running conferences
and workshops’ and provides funding for conferences
and workshops run by postgraduates. Full information
about the Graduate School can be found on their website:
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/lhri/postgraduates.htm
Funding for conference attendance
and research trips
The School offers financial support to PhD students who
wish to make research trips or attend conferences during
their studies. Students can apply for a grant each year of
up to £250.
The Postgraduate Seminar
The Postgraduate Seminar is an opportunity for all
postgraduates – MA and PhD – to meet, give papers,
or discuss someone else’s paper. It is run by the
postgraduates themselves, and convenes every other
Thursday evening. All students are encouraged to attend.
It is a social event as well as an academic one. There
are also many other specialised, inter-disciplinary and
cross-Faculty research seminars run by the staff and
postgraduate students of the School.
Teaching in the School of English
The School is committed to the professional development
of its PGR students and is keen to facilitate students
acquiring teaching experience wherever possible. This
experience will provide valuable skills whether you pursue
a career in academic teaching or take up employment Graduate Training and Support Centre
elsewhere. In the second and third years of research,
http://www.sddu.leeds.ac.uk/sddu-post-grad-research_
postgraduate students will be invited to participate in
students.html The GTSC offers a wide range of training
undergraduate teaching. The School runs an Induction
and development opportunities designed to enable
Day for new teachers at the beginning of each year, and
research students to develop their research performance,
the University’s Staff and Departmental Development Unit
employability, professionalism and engagement with
(SDDU) also offers courses in teaching methods. There is
society. Courses cover a broad range of skills, including:
no requirement to undertake teaching, should students
research methodology and ethics, managing your research
not wish to do so.
degree, attracting research income, planning and
managing research, presenting and publishing research,
‘Starting Your Research research career development.
Degree’ workshops
This one-day workshop helps new research students plan Information Systems Services
what they need to do during the first few months of their (ISS) Training
studies, addressing such issues as the practicalities of
The University’s ISS department offers a range of free
doing a research degree, working with your supervisor,
training courses and online modules. These range from
planning and time management, monitoring progress,
introductory modules on how to use Microsoft Office
gathering and managing information.
packages (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook) to
more advanced IT skills for researchers.
LEAP Research Training Hub
The LEAP Training Hub (http://www.leaptraining.leeds. http://iss.leeds.ac.uk/info/260/itis_training/884/online_
ac.uk/) provides access to transferable skills training and learning/
development opportunities for research students. The
programme for PhD students is continually evolving and
covers a wide range of topics; for example, in the areas
of research management and personal effectiveness
skills, professionalisation, communications skills, research
methodologies, networking, and career management skills.

22
International

Over a quarter of our current postgraduates are from overseas.

These have recently included students from Barbados,
Canada, Czechoslovakia, Chile, China, Ghana, India, Italy,
“Without the extremely generous
Japan, Mauritius, Malaysia, Norway, Poland, Spain, Taiwan,
Trinidad and the U.S.A, who contributed to the rich diversity
financial award of the School of
of the postgraduate student experience here at Leeds. Some
of the reasons they have chosen us are:
English, as an international student
n Small seminar groups and one-to-one supervisions with
leading international scholars
with elevated fees, I would never
n Guaranteed university accommodation for the duration
of your course
have been able to complete an
n Economical tuition fees (for full details of this year’s
fees, see www.leeds.ac.uk/english
MA degree at the University of
n Graduation after one year as a full time MA student
n Leeds is the most cost-effective university town in which
Leeds. The experience was a
to study in the UK phenomenal one – intellectually,
You can view all of the facilities at the School of English
online by using our virtual tour. www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/
socially, and culturally.
info/20040/school_of_english/2132/360_virtual_tour
Academically, the degree was
Supporting You highly stimulating, and I completed
Our International Office provides extensive information
and advice to help you adjust to living and studying at my dissertation determined, and
Leeds. In addition to their support, you will be assigned a
dedicated Personal Tutor in the School of English. prepared, to pursue doctoral work.
Additional courses on academic reading and writing are Equally valuable, however, were the
available. In addition to the lively seminar series, that run
in the School, which all students are encouraged to attend, many new friends and connections
international students also have the opportunity to get to
know international students from other departments through (from all over the world) that I made
the social events organised by the International Office.
during my time in Leeds and the
Postgraduate Scholarships opportunity to explore Yorkshire
The University offers a wide range of Taught and
Research Postgraduate Scholarships to international and the U.K. None of this would
students. For a full list, see the Scholarships Database
http://scholarships.leeds.ac.uk/ have been possible without the
The School also has at least one scholarship available School’s support.”
to international students anually, including the Bonamy
Dobrée scholarship of £6,000.
Tanya Llewellyn,
English Language Requirements MA in English Literature
The School of English’s English Language minimum
requirements for those whose first language is not
English are*:
n IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with at least 6.0
in all components
n TOEFL (internet-based test) score of 92 overall,
with at least 21 in listening and reading,
22 in writing and 23 in speaking.

*correct at time of publication, please check the website for latest requirements: www.leeds.ac.uk/english

23
NAME: Ashraf R. Abdullah

COURSE: PhD English Language

I am a university lecturer of English language and linguistics
at Mosul University, Iraq. I’m doing a PhD for professional
and academic development. I grew up in the UK, then
went back home to Iraq, but English has always been a
very big part of me. I decided to apply to Leeds as my MA
supervisor and academic role model did his PhD here, and
he mentioned it was a great place to study.

I have enjoyed the independence of doing a PhD, one has

to be aware of his own responsibilities, but at the same time,
has the freedom to do whatever he wants to do, whenever
he wants to do it. During my time here so far I have given
presentations and papers at the postgraduate research
seminar groups. I have attended conferences and presented
at them. I have also audited MA modules and taught
undergraduate modules.

My supervisor is incredible. She always picks me up when

I’m down, motivates me and constantly reminds me that I
can be a great academic. Regarding my work, her feedback
has been very beneficial and influential. I could never do the
work without her.

Leeds is a very quaint city with a very vibrant lifestyle. For

younger students, the nightlife is terrific. For slightly older
ones, the other recreational activities available are quite
diverse from good dining to outdoor fun like paintballing,
climbing ... etc. I would also say that Leeds has such an
internationally diverse community, yet the people are so kind
and friendly. I play a lot of football outside my study times,
and I appreciate just spending time with friends in a good
shisha cafe.

Students have all they need and more regarding facilities.

There are plenty of quiet study areas, places to do group
study, the lecture theatres are modern and spacious and the
libraries are very sophisticated with an easy system.

Academically and socially, it’s an excellent place to study.

The supervision is brilliant and the research community
is very active. There are many conferences around to
participate in and you can even organize your own quite
easily with good support.

Once I’ve completed my PhD I plan to go home and

continue pursuing my academic career, and maybe publish
a few books!

24
Life in Leeds
The School of English is housed in attractive Victorian terraces close to the
libraries and to the University’s central Students’ Union.
University life
Established in 1904, the University is one of the largest
and most successful universities in the UK with an
international reputation for the high standard of its
teaching and research. It is a member of the Russell
Group, which is formed by twenty of the country’s most
prestigious universities. With over 1,100 research active
staff, Leeds is now among the top ten universities for
research in the UK and is internationally acknowledged as
a centre of excellence in a wide range of academic and
professional disciplines. Situated in one of the North of
England’s most prosperous cities, the University has over
32,000 students from over 100 different countries.
In order to facilitate high-quality learning, teaching
and research, our students have access to outstanding
resources including modern well-equipped lecture
theatres, seminar rooms, and computer clusters. The
library is one of the largest university libraries in the UK,
with a stock of over 2.8 million items, a wide range of
databases, electronic journals and full-text electronic
25
resources that are available campus-wide and many
are accessible remotely by members of the University.
The University also provides first class leisure facilities.
Extensive sports amenities offer sporting activities at all
levels, from recreational fun to support for top athletes.
The Students’ Union is one of the largest and most
active in the country, with a shopping mall, bars, games
complex, concert venue and award winning nightclub.
Accommodation
UK or EU postgraduate students: there are usually a
number of vacancies in University accommodation each
year. Accommodation is easily available in the private
sector. Help in locating this can be found at www.unipol.
leeds.ac.uk. New international postgraduates paying fees
at the full international rate have a guaranteed place in
University accommodation during their first year at Leeds
subject to certain conditions. See www.leeds.ac.uk/
international/accommodation.htm
The City of Leeds Victorian and Edwardian arcades and more than a
thousand commercial outlets. People from around the
As a postgraduate student at the University of Leeds
region regularly visit Leeds to shop in a centre, which
you will be part of a vibrant student community situated
includes everything from designer boutiques to the historic
in the heart of a cosmopolitan and student-friendly city
Kirkgate market for local produce. The city offers an
located in the centre of the UK, which offers a diversity
extensive choice of places to eat and drink no matter what
to suit all budgets.
your taste or budget.
Leeds, home to 700,000 people, is the capital of the
Nightlife in and around the city is well known for its
Yorkshire and Humber region, and the social and cultural
diversity and popularity. The clubs in Leeds offer a
hub of the North. The city’s roots lie firmly in the textile
sophisticated and relaxed experience with a variety
industry but more recently it has become a centre for
of music to suit all tastes. Leeds also offers a unique
trade and commerce, and one of Britain’s most important
selection of commercial and independent cinemas,
financial, banking and legal centres outside of London.
hosting the annual Leeds International Film Festival.
Leeds has all you can expect from a major city yet is
surrounded by the beautiful and accessible Yorkshire The city has a proud sporting tradition and is home to
Dales. The city centre is a mere 10-minute walk from the famous teams such as Leeds United FC and the Yorkshire
campus with fast and frequent transport links to all other Cricket Club. Located throughout the city are numerous
major UK cities. gyms and health clubs offering the opportunity to keep fit
or unwind, and to participate in sport at all levels, as well
Leeds is unrivalled in the north of England as a major
as at the University’s own extensive sports facilities.
shopping destination and centre for entertainment,
nightlife, the arts and leisure. The city boasts stunning

26
Admissions & Funding
How to apply
You can apply for all our degrees online. See the School’s
website for more details: www.leeds.ac.uk/english
What you need to provide with
your application
Please see the website for full details on what you are
required to provide with your application, and to check the
School’s deadline for applications.
All applicants are required to submit:
n Copies of previous degree transcripts (or if you haven’t
yet finished your degree, please send details of your
courses and marks so far)
n Two academic references
n An example of your written work (approximately 2,000
words) on a topic relevant to the scheme for which you
are applying
International students:
If you are an international student, you will also need to
provide your TOEFL or IELTS English Language scores
and, if your application is successful, take an appropriate
English language test on arrival.
Research Degrees
An application form is available from the Postgraduate
Office (Research) in the School of English, or can
be downloaded from the University’s web-site www.
leeds.ac.uk/rsa Note that applications are made to the
University’s Research Student Administration office and
not directly to the School of English. With the form you
should submit a research proposal of between 500 and
1,000 words. In this proposal you should describe the
scope of the project, and explain how you came to be
interested in this topic, indicating what sort of reading you
have already done in the field, and how you think that your
work could make an original contribution. We also ask
candidates to submit a sample of recent, relevant work.
*correct at time of publication, please check the website for latest requirements: www.leeds.ac.uk/english
27
Entry requirements
Taught and by Research Masters. We welcome
applications from students of all ages and educational
backgrounds. A good honours degree (1st or 2:1) or
equivalent, in English or a related subject.
PhD
Your first degree should usually be in English, or a joint
honours degree which includes English. (A degree in
American studies is accepted for students applying
to work in American Literature and Culture, and a
qualification in Linguistics may be appropriate for work
in English Language.) Normally we expect applicants to
have a First or a good Upper Second degree, and in most
cases an appropriate taught Masters degree, however,
we are aware that circumstances can vary so please do
get in touch with us if you need clarification of your own
particular position.
English Language requirements
The School of English’s English Language minimum
requirements for those whose first language is not
English are*:
n IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with at least 6.0 in
all components
n TOEFL (internet-based test) score of 92 overall,
with at least 21 in listening and reading,
22 in writing and 23 in speaking.
What next?
We aim to process your application for a place as
soon as possible which is usually within 2-4 weeks of
receipt. However, during our busiest times (April-June),
this process can take up to 6 weeks. We will contact
you in writing when a decision has been made on
your application.
Fees and funding
Full information about this year’s fees can be found on the
website www.leeds.ac.uk/english
There are three categories of postgraduate scholarships
available to you:
1. School of English Scholarships
2. University of Leeds Scholarships
3. External Scholarships
School of English Scholarships
We offer a number of scholarships paying full home/EU
fees plus a maintenance contribution:
n 2 – 4 MA scholarships (for the exact number on offer
this year, see the website), open to both taught and by
Research MA applicants
n 2 PhD scholarships
In addition the school will offer the following awards for
which no application is required.
n A variable number of Alumni Bursaries for University of
Leeds graduates (10% reduction of tuition fee)
n A variable number of Excellence Scholarships for UK/
EU applicants in receipt of a First Class BA degree
(5% reduction of tuition fee)
n Two Purvis scholarships (£1000) for the best two
Taught Postgraduate students (UK/EU/International) as
judged on academic merit
Please see the School’s website www.leeds.ac.uk/english
for information on how to apply. Early application is
essential if you are applying for funding.
University of Leeds Scholarships
For a complete listing of the awards offered by the
University, together with details on how to apply, see
http://scholarships.leeds.ac.uk/
External Scholarships
The major external scholarship provider outside the
University is the Arts and Humanities Research Council
(AHRC). At the University of Leeds, the English subject
area has been allocated 2 MA and 3 PhD awards per
year, as part of the Block Grant system. All awards pay
full fees (for home/EU students only) and a substantial
maintenance payment (home students only). For more
information, see www.leeds.ac.uk/english
The Research Degrees and Scholarships office of the
University can be contacted for further information:
www.leeds.ac.uk/rds/ a booklet setting out details of the
central University awards is published in November each
year and can be obtained by telephoning:
+44 (0)113 343 4007
or faxing: +44 (0)113 3433941
or via the web: http://scholarships.leeds.ac.uk
or email: scholarships@leeds.ac.uk
Open day
We hold one open day a year for both MA and research
degrees, usually in January/February. Information about
our open day can be found on the School website. If you
have missed the open day, or are unable to make the date,
we would be very happy to arrange an informal visit. Please
get in touch (see contact details below) to arrange this.
Contact details
For information on MA degrees:
Taught Postgraduate Administrator
School of English
University of Leeds
Leeds LS2 9JT
Tel: +44 (0)113 343 4738
Fax: +44 (0)113 343 4774
Email: postgrad-english@leeds.ac.uk
For information on research degrees:
Postgraduate Research Administrator
School of English
University of Leeds
Leeds LS2 9JT
Tel: +44 (0)113 343 4229
Fax: +44 (0)113 343 4774
Email: research-english@leeds.ac.uk
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School of English
University of Leeds
Leeds, United Kingdom
LS2 9JT
Tel: +44 (0)113 343 4738
Email: postgrad-english@leeds.ac.uk
www.leeds.ac.uk/english
University of Leeds
Leeds, United Kingdom
LS2 9JT
Tel: +44 (0)113 243 1751
www.leeds.ac.uk