MA - English Literature

I’m in my late fifties, and coming to a higher degree after over thirty years as a teacher of English and drama. I did my first degree at Durham in the 70s and loved it; I had no way to afford an MA then and a full-time job and the self-indulgence of having two daughters were further impediments. I’m now at the start of my second part-time year of studying for the MA in English and thoroughly convinced that I made the right choice of place, course and method of study.
I have to admit I was terrified at the start of the course – all those super-bright young things with top BA degrees would surely wipe the floor with me intellectually and I would feel weird and isolated. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The age gap swiftly became irrelevant as we shared fascination with our studies and our moans in equal measure, and I was lucky enough to make some good friends. I also rediscovered the sheer joy of launching myself into extended work in a really well-equipped library, and of access to amazing on-line facilities as well as Real Books. I chose the Open Pathway, allowing me to combine a range of topics to follow subjects I love – creative writing, modern drama, Shakespeare and his contemporaries and Victorian fiction. I also discovered the amazing range of open seminars and lectures available for me to attend, from a guest lecture on Renaissance frontispieces to interdisciplinarity in the Humanities and aspects of Victorian material culture. I have wormed my way onto other courses by “auditing” them – one of these allowed me to spend a morning a week working with eight-year-olds on a writing project which we then transformed into a book of their work. In another of the courses we prepared and published an anthology of our own writing, so I can claim to have two publications already!
I feel so lucky to have enjoyed the camaraderie of fellow-students and the support of the tutors, but the intellectual rigour of the course has also been extremely stimulating. I was silly to be afraid, but I have had to work hard, and even though that is enjoyable it’s not trivial. I would thoroughly recommend the course and the university to anyone who would enjoy the chance to submerge themselves in reading, writing and learning.

At the age of 33, I decided to pursue my Master’s degree. I have work experience as a Trainer, Technical Writer, Executive Assistant and a Special Projects Coordinator. I have enjoyed working in the business world, but my dream has always been to be a professor in English Literature. I enjoy the academic setting and the conversations that only seem to happen in a classroom.
I had found a few websites where I was able to enter in my information and the type of universities and degree programs I was interested in pursuing, and the websites would help me narrow down my searches and also send my information to matching universities
While applying to a few US universities, I received an email from the US recruiting team for the University of Warwick saying that I might find myself a good fit at Warwick, and I should go to Warwick’s website to find out more information. After doing some research on Warwick’s site, I decided to go ahead and apply thinking there was no way I’d actually get to go to England to pursue my MA. But, it couldn’t hurt to try.
I received my acceptance email from Warwick and was beyond excited. Plus, being an American, it was such a validating experience being accepted by an exceptional English university like Warwick. I was able to get the financial support I needed to come to Warwick and enrolled.
I came a week early and went through the International Student Orientation that Warwick offers. I highly recommend this for international students. They walk you through all of the processes and enrolments that are required as an international student. I have met people from all over the world as Warwick has a large international student enrolment, which has broadened my worldview and understanding of the world.
I am now in my first term at the University of Warwick. My courses are incredibly interesting and diverse. The classes are purposefully kept small (maximum class size is 15 students) to create an environment for discussion and to encourage us as students to cultivate our own opinions. I am glad I have had the opportunity to get my master’s degree at the University of Warwick and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in getting out of their comfort zone and pursuing their education at a top ranked university.