Postcolonial and World Literatures (MLitt)

The year-long MLitt in Postcolonial and Word Literatures is a full-time taught postgraduate programme run by the School of English. It is an intensive taught programme of study which aims to foster the next generation of scholars in postcolonial and world literary studies.

Covering both postcolonial and world literatures, this course offers a unique opportunity to expand students’ knowledge and understanding of a global range of theories and literatures, focusing on European colonialism and its legacies today, while working with research-active experts in a wide range of relevant topics.

Highlights

• The UK’s first combined Master’s programme in postcolonial and world literatures.
• Achieve an in-depth knowledge of postcolonial studies in light of renewed scholarly interest in world literatures, and in dialogue with research staff.
• Explore a global range of writers from the colonial to the contemporary on a programme that offers a comprehensive training in postcolonial and world literary studies.
• Covering a wide range of periods, topics and contexts, the programme offers the opportunity to study the theoretical, literary, cultural and historical dimensions of contemporary postcolonialism from colonial encounters to the emergence of the field and its current articulation in a globalised era of world literature.
• Develop your skills as a researcher within a specific area of study by taking special topic modules.

Teaching format

In each semester students take one module that concentrates on the literature of the field and one module that engages with the field’s theoretical, cultural and historical developments.

All compulsory modules will be taught in small groups normally with a maximum class size of 15 students. There are weekly classes for each module, which will typically take the form of a mixture of lecture and seminar, allowing for both independent and group study in a supportive framework of teaching and learning.

Modules are assessed through oral presentations, learning journals and coursework essays. The School of English prides itself on its support of student work through detailed feedback and commentary.

Students are encouraged to develop their own, individual interests through their choice of an optional module.

Conferences and events

The School of English hosts research events through its four research groups:

• Creative Writing
• 18th century, Romantic and Victorian
• Medieval and Renaissance
• Modern and Contemporary

The School of English normally also hosts an annual colloquium. Recent themes have been:

• The English Legal Imaginary, 1500-1700
• Bannockburn, 1914: Anniversary culture, war and national identity in Scotland
• Opera and Fiction
• World Literature and Dissent
• (Un)Civil War?
• John Keats and Romantic Scotland
• Libraries in Literature.

The Postgraduate Forum offers postgraduates the opportunity to present research in progress to a group of their peers. 

Careers

Graduates of the course go on to pursue careers in a range of sectors including journalism, marketing, publishing and teaching, and do so with an appreciation of the value of diversity, inter-cultural dialogue and difference to society.

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students on a taught postgraduate course and offers a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.

Visit the Postcolonial and World Literatures (MLitt) page on the University of St Andrews website for more details!