English Literature: American Modern Literature MLitt

Due to unprecedented demand, applications for the September 2022 intake are now closed. Applications for the September 2023 intake will re-open from 1 October 2022.

The Masters in American Modern Literature focuses on the American Literature of the late nineteenth to the twenty-first century. The required courses range across fields and genres including art history, film, ecocriticism, sociology, urban studies, travel writing, and music, as well as providing a grounding in traditional and emerging narratives of modern American literary history.

Academic contact:
- Chris.Gair@glasgow.ac.uk
- Stephen.Burn@glasgow.ac.uk
Teaching start: September
Important dates for students starting in academic year 2022-23

MLitt: 12 months full-time; 24 months part‑time

Why this programme

The university offers superb archival resources in the Special Collections of our library, the Hunterian Art Gallery and Museum as well as the nearby Kelvingrove Museum.

Literary analysis will be informed by Glasgow’s tradition of interdisciplinary approaches to American culture, drawing on film, music, philosophy, and art to help frame the development of American modern literature.
You will be able to work with a team of internationally-renowned North Americanists to develop your research skills and pursue your own research interests in relation to American modern literature.

Programme structure

You will take:

Three core courses
Three optional courses

The course themes: Cities, Institutions, Movements, Entertainments and Anthologies represent the efforts to see writers and canons in dynamic contexts. The course also promotes dialogue and effective comparisons between sessions, suggesting different routes that you may pursue in depth during your degree.

You will also produce a dissertation.

The two semesters of coursework are followed by one term of supervised work towards a 15,000 word dissertation. The topic normally arises out of the work of the previous two semesters, but the choice is very much open to the student’s own initiative. Your supervisor helps you to develop the proposal and plan the most appropriate reading and methodology.

Optional courses

You may also take other courses within English Literature’s PGT offerings and, with the convenor’s permission, one course from elsewhere in the College of Arts and the University.

Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract.

Career prospects

The critical and analytical skills that you will acquire include:

the ability to find, select and manage large quantities of information
confident and persuasive oral and written communication
problem solving through creative and critical thinking.

These make this programme an ideal step towards an academic or other career.

Fees & funding

Tuition fees for 2023-24

MLitt

UK

Full-time fee: £10050
Part-time fee: £1117 per 20 credits

International & EU

Full-time fee: £22140

Additional fees

Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
Registration/exam only fee: £170

Entry requirements

2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject unless otherwise specified.

We also require:

A sample of written work, about 3,000 words in length. This can be a previous piece of work from an undergraduate degree. The work should be written in English. The content does not have to cover a topic related to this specific programme, but the sample should show the potential to engage successfully with postgraduate-level literary studies through demonstrating analytical ability and knowledge of appropriate scholarly methods and conventions.
A short statement of around 500 words outlining your interest in this programme.
At least one academic reference.

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

7.0 with no sub-test under 7.0.
Tests must have been taken within 4 years 5 months of start date. Combined scores from two tests taken within 6 months of each other can be considered.

Common equivalent English language qualifications

All stated English tests are acceptable for admission to this programme:

TOEFL (ibt, my best or athome)

100 with minimum R 24, L 24, S 23, W 27.
Tests must have been taken within 4 years 5 months of start date. Combined scores from two tests taken within 6 months of each other can be considered.

PTE (Academic or Academic Online)

70 with minimum 70 in all subtests.
Tests must have been taken within 4 years 5 months of start date. Combined scores from two tests taken within 6 months of each other can be considered.

Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

185 overall, no subtest less than 185
Tests must have been taken within 4 years 5 months, combined scores from 2 tests sat within 6 months of each other can be considered.

Glasgow International College English Language (and other foundation providers)

65%.
Tests are accepted for academic year following sitting.

University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses

Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.

Alternatives to English Language qualification

Undergraduate degree from English speaking country (including Canada if taught in English)
Undergraduate 2+2 degree from English speaking country
Undergraduate 2+2 TNE degree taught in English in non-English speaking country
Masters degree from English speaking country
Masters degree (equivalent on NARIC to UK masters degree) taught in English in non-English speaking country.

For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.

Pre-sessional courses

The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We also consider other BALEAP accredited pre-sessional courses:

For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our enquiry form

International students

We are proud of our diverse University community which attracts students and staff from over 140 different countries.

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.

Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.

Documents

As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:

A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
One reference letter on headed paper
Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
A copy of the photo page of your passport (Non-EU students only)

You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.

You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.

For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, check Frequently Asked Questions

Guidance notes for using the online application

These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form.

If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application then you should visit the Application Troubleshooting/FAQs page.

Name and Date of birth: must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
Contact Details: Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
Choice of course: Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
Proposed date of entry: Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
Education and Qualifications: Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
English Language Proficiency: Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
Employment and Experience: Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.

Reference: Please provide one reference. This should typically be an academic reference but in cases where this is not possible then a reference from a current employer may be accepted instead. Certain programmes, such as the MBA programme, may also accept an employer reference. If you already have a copy of a reference on letter headed paper then please upload this to your application. If you do not already have a reference to upload then please enter your referee’s name and contact details on the online application and we will contact your referee directly.

Application deadlines

Due to unprecedented demand, applications for the September 2022 intake are now closed. Applications for the September 2023 intake will re-open from 1 October 2022.

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