English Literary Research, MRes, PGCert, PGDip

The English department at Nottingham Trent University has an outstanding international research reputation. The latest Research Assessment Exercise judged 85% of research in the department as world leading or of international quality. What will I study?

You will learn more about approaches to the study of literature, and will have the opportunity to study authors, literary movements, themes or critical ideas in depth. Studying alongside our team of academics you will become embedded in our research culture. Our academics have a wide variety of specialist interest areas which would be suitable to support a range of literary topics.

The course has been designed to provide you with the independence of a research degree with some of the guidance of a taught masters. Within the course you will take part in student-led symposia. These will give you the opportunity to present and exchange ideas on other students’ work. These sessions lead to a study proposal that gives a detailed description of the dissertation topic. The symposia encourage discussion, cooperation and the sharing of problems and solutions.

Central to the course is the dissertation; it allows you to explore, in detail, your area of literary interest. An individual supervisor will support you throughout your dissertation. You will take part in one-to-one tutorials and the supervisor will offer advice on developing appropriate study methods and provide feedback on drafts of the dissertation.

Whether you wish to take this course as a route to a PhD or as a stand-alone degree, the course structure and its assessments enable you to research a literary interest deeply, organise your ideas effectively, develop your written and oral expression, and to interact in productive ways with your peers.

Special features

In the latest Research Assessment Exercise 85% of research in English at NTU was rated to be of world leading or of international quality. English staff have gained international recognition for their expertise across a range of subjects and many of them teach on this course.

To further your progression throughout the course you will have the opportunity to attend research papers by fully qualified specialists in their chosen fields and by advanced PhD students. You will be able to participate in discussions, and reflect upon and discuss good practice in the dissemination of research.

Any questions?

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Core modules

• English Literary Research
• Theoretical Approaches. An Advanced Introduction – through two-hour sessions, taught by lecture, seminar and workshop, you will examine a range of literary theories. You will consider how their application to a variety of texts shapes our reading of the texts and our understanding of the theories themselves.
• The Symposia. You will explore key theoretical and practical issues in relation to English studies in general, specific texts and practices, and to your individual dissertation topics in particular. You will develop interpretations appropriate to postgraduate level work in a supportive, problem-solving environment based on round-table discussion.
• Departmental Research Seminars. You are encouraged to attend the English team’s fortnightly research seminars offered by visiting academic speakers, English staff, and PhD candidates. These will enhance your understanding of literary theory and of research in English Studies. You will be given the opportunity to present a short paper on your own research with fellow students from the course.
• Dissertation. The dissertation is the cornerstone of the MRes in English Literary Research. It provides the core research project which draws together students’ understanding and skills from other elements of the English Literary Research MRes course. It is an opportunity to demonstrate flair and imagination within the subject as well as rigorous analytic and research design abilities.

Courses available

• MRes / PGDip in English Literary Research. This course is available to any successful student for work on any anglophone author(s), literary movement, theory, theme or period.
• MRes in English Literary Research - Gay and Lesbian Studies
• MRes in English Literary Research - Modernism
• MRes in English Literary Research - Post colonialism
• MRes in English Literary Research - Romanticism
• MRes in English Literary Research - Travel Writing
• MRes in English Literary Research - US American Literature
• MRes in English Literary Research - Women's writing

Resources and facilities

English at NTU is home to the Raymond Williams Centre, the Centre for Travel Writing Studies, the Centre for Colonial and Postcolonial Studies, and the Little Magazines project. Further details can be found on the School of Arts and Humanities website.