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Written by Mark Bennett
The Master of Letters (MLitt) is a postgraduate degree focused on specific Arts and Humanities subjects. It's similar to a Master of Arts (MA) or a Master of Science (MSc), but only a few universities in England and Scotland offer it.
What makes the MLitt a bit different is that it can be a taught program or a research-focused one, instead of the more commonMA or MPhil options.
This page gives a straightforward overview of the MLitt degree, including how long it typically takes and how it differs from other types of Masters degree.
The MLitt is a specialised Masters degree, usually awarded in Literature, Law, Theology, History or related Arts and Humanities subjects. It stands for Magister Litterarum, which is Latin for ‘Master of Letters’.
Type | Taught / Research |
Subjects | Arts & Humanities |
Qualification Level | 7 (NQF) |
Length | 1-2 years |
Credit Value | 180 CATS / 90-120 ECTS |
Availability | Primarily UK and Ireland |
Historically, the MLitt originated within the ‘ancient universities’ of England and Scotland.
These universities organise their degree structure slightly differently to other institutions. In particular, they tend to award the MA (Master of Arts) as an integrated four year ‘undergraduate’ Masters or as an automatic degree, conferred upon BA graduates after a certain period of time.
Degrees like the MLitt help ‘stand in’ for other postgraduate degrees and avoid confusion between qualification types (at least in theory!).
The MLitt is somewhat unusual in that it can take very different forms:
Both types of MLitt are ‘Masters level’ degrees. They are recognised as ‘level 7’ qualifications by the UK’s qualifications framework and as ‘second cycle’ degrees by the European Bologna Process.
This means that an MLitt is effectively equivalent to other postgraduate Masters degrees.
An MLitt will usually have the same basic entry requirements as the degree it ‘replaces’ in a university’s postgraduate portfolio.
If you’re applying for a taught MLitt, expect its admissions requirements to be similar to those for an MA. You’ll need to hold a good Bachelors degree in an appropriate subject.
If you’re applying for a research MLitt, you may also be asked to put forward a research proposal, outlining your project.
The MLitt is one of the rarer qualifications you’ll come across whilst looking for a Masters. Though the degree originates within the UK higher education system, comparatively few British universities offer it.
Those that do are mainly located in Scotland, where the MLitt often stands in for the MA as a taught postgraduate degree.
The ‘medieval’ English universities of Oxford and Cambridge (collectively known as 'Oxbridge') also award the MLitt, but do so as a research degree. The same is true of some Irish universities.
Outside the UK, the MLitt is less common.
A small number of universities in the USA and Australia award the MLitt as a specialised degree, beyond the taught Masters level. These may be advanced courses, requiring an existing Masters. Or they may sit between MA and PhD level as options within a broader graduate programme.
This page focusses on UK MLitt degrees (where there’s already more than enough variety to deal with!). MLitts are less common in other countries, but some are offered in the USA, Australia and New Zealand. They tend to be advanced qualifications, preparing for PhD work or providing specialised training. The best way to check specific MLitt programmes is to use our course search.
As its name suggests, the ‘Master of Letters’ is associated with the study of the written word. MLitt qualifications are therefore common in Literature and related subjects – particularly in Scotland, where the degree often takes the place of a taught MA.
Don’t take this association with ‘Litt-erature’ too ‘litt-erally’ though. MLitt programs can also cover other areas of the Arts and Humanities such as History, Law, Theology, Philosophy or Politics.
This is particularly true in England and Ireland where the MLitt may be offered as a research degree in these fields.
Unsurprisingly, the MLitt won’t normally be offered in Sciences. These subjects usually award the MSc as a taught Masters or the MRes / MPhil as a research degree.
You won’t normally ‘choose’ the MLitt over an alternative option. Instead, the qualification is offered by some universities in place of a more familiar Masters degree.
An MLitt will therefore be appropriate if you would otherwise study a taught MA (in Scotland). Or if you wish to complete a shorter research project in the manner of an MPhil (at some universities in England).
Whatever your circumstances, you don’t need to worry about studying an MLitt instead of another postgraduate Masters. The qualification is fully recognised within international higher education systems.
The variety of programme types that award this degree means there isn’t really a single typical MLitt study experience.
But that doesn’t make it hard to describe the MLitt. In fact, it can actually make it easier.
In most cases the MLitt ‘stands in’ for a more familiar Masters degree such as an MA or an MPhil. If so, your MLitt will generally be similar to the degree type it ‘replaces’ at your university.
If you’re studying the MLitt as a one-year, taught Masters (as is common in Scotland), you can expect the experience to be a lot like studying a postgraduate MA.
You’ll spend most of your degree studying a series of modules on specific topics and will often have the option of choosing those that most interest you.
You’ll then proceed to a final dissertation, during which you’ll investigate and write up an original research topic.
Assessment for a taught MLitt will primarily consist of coursework essays or similar assignments set at the end of each module. Your dissertation will usually be marked as a piece of written work, rather than through an oral ‘viva voce’ exam.
In Scotland, the taught MLitt effectively stands in for MA programmes in the Arts and Humanities. Both are taught courses with similar content, assessment and requirements. Employers (and PhD admissions processes) will regard both qualifications as being broadly equivalent.
MLitt degrees in England are usually research based. Some MLitt programmes feature initial training in research methods, but your degree probably won’t include any taught ‘classes’.
Instead you will spend your time producing an independent project – much like an MPhil or PhD student. You’ll be assigned a supervisor and will be examined solely on the quality of the thesis you submit. This will often mean facing an oral ‘viva voce’ exam, similar to that for a PhD.
English MLitt programmes are mainly offered at Oxford and Cambridge. These universities tend to offer highly structured versions of the MPhil, as one-year courses preparing for a PhD programme. The MLitt provides an alternative for students who simply wish to complete a shorter (two-year) research project. However, a research MLitt may not allow you to upgrade to a PhD.
All versions of the MLitt include a thesis, but the length of this will vary by programme.
Taught MLitt degrees are normally worth 180 credits, the same as an equivalent MA programme. You’ll gain 120 credits for completing modules in each of two teaching semesters, with the final 60 awarded for your dissertation.
Taught MLitt degrees are normally worth 180 credits, the same as an equivalent MA programme. You’ll gain 120 credits for completing modules in each of two teaching semesters, with the final 60 awarded for your dissertation.
Ready to start looking for your ideal programme? Browse and compare MLitt degrees on FindAMasters.com.
Mark joined FindAMasters to develop our first ever advice articles in 2013 and now serves as our Director of Audience & Editorial, making sure our websites and information are as useful as possible for people thinking about Masters and PhD study. He has a PhD in English Literature from the University of Sheffield, as well as Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Kent and the University of South Wales.
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