English Literature MSc (Res)

A Masters by Research (MScR) programme is ideal if you would like to complete a short piece of independent research in English Literature. The programme is a good stepping stone to a PhD, but is of equal value as a stand-alone qualification.<br/><br/>As a Masters by Research student, you will be part of a wider masters community while specialising in what most interests you right from the beginning of the programme. This is how it is different to a taught Masters (MSc).<br/><br/>Our highly flexible programme enables you to complete an MScR degree through a combination of coursework and a final dissertation of 15,000 words.<br/><br/>Your coursework will take the form of two essays of 6,000 words on topics related to your research focus. You will also complete assignments in research skills and methods. <br/><br/>**Research excellence**<br/><br/>Based on our performance in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF), over 90 per cent of our research and impact is classed as world-leading and internationally excellent by Research Professional. 69 per cent is graded at the world-leading level – the highest of REF’s four categories.<br/><br/>In Times Higher Educations REF analysis, English at Edinburgh is ranked fifth in the UK (out of more than 90 institutions) for:<br/><br/><br/>* the overall quality of our publications and other outputs<br/><br/><br/>* the impact of our research on people’s lives<br/><br/><br/>* our supportive research environment<br/><br/><br/>Our interdisciplinary environment brings together specialists in all periods and genres of literature and literary analysis. <br/><br/>Given the breadth and depth of our expertise, we are able to support students wishing to develop research projects in any field of Anglophone literary studies. These include:<br/><br/><br/>* American studies<br/><br/><br/>* literary and critical theory<br/><br/><br/>* the history of the book<br/><br/><br/>* gender and sexuality studies<br/><br/><br/>* global Anglophone literatures, where our specialisms include Pacific, African, South Asian, and African-American writing<br/><br/><br/>We have particular strengths in each of the main periods of English and Scottish Literature: <br/><br/><br/>* Medieval<br/><br/><br/>* Renaissance/early modern<br/><br/><br/>* Enlightenment<br/><br/><br/>* Romantic<br/><br/><br/>* Victorian<br/><br/><br/>* Modernist<br/><br/><br/>* Post-war<br/><br/><br/>* 21st century<br/><br/><br/>* Contemporary<br/><br/><br/>Emergent research themes in the department include the digital humanities, the economic humanities, the environmental humanities and literature and medicine.<br/><br/>**Go beyond the books**<br/><br/>Beyond the Books is a podcast from the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at research and the people who make it happen. <br/><br/>Listen to a mix of PhD, early career and established researchers talk about their journey to and through academia and about their current and recent research.