English Literary Studies

Entry requirements

We will consider applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree with 53% or above in their first degree in a relevant subject area. While we normally only consider applicants who meet this criteria, if you are coming from a different academic background which is equivalent to degree level, or have relevant work experience, we would welcome your application.

Applicants may also be asked to submit a personal statement and an academic writing sample. The writing sample requested is normally around 2,000–3,000 words of prose, such as a critical essay or an excerpt from one produced for an undergraduate degree. However, this is not mandatory for your initial application. You are welcome to include a writing sample if you wish.

Test Name: IELTS Academic, IELTS Online, IELTS One Skill Retake and IELTS Indicator (IELTS – Academic version)
Required Score: 6.0 overall and no less than 6.0 in any section

Test Name: TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, TOEFL iBT Paper Edition and TOEFL MyBest scores
Required Score: Overall score 87 with minimum scores of 21 for writing, listening, reading and speaking.

Test Name: Pearson Test of English (Academic) PTE
Required Score: 64 overall with no less than 64 in all communicative skills

Test Name: LanguageCert International ESOL SELT
Required Score: B2 Communicator with minimum 33 in writing, speaking, listening & reading

Test Name: LanguageCert Academic
Required Score: 65 overall and no less than 65 in any skills score

Test Name: INTO Pre-sessional English
Required Score: 60 and no less than 60 in any sub-section

Test Name: Study Group Academic English
Required Score: Minimum of 60% overall, no less than 60% in any section

Test Name: Skills for English: SELT
Required Score: B2 Pass

Test Name: Duolingo English Test - test taken up to 30th June 2024
Required Score: 110 overall and no less than 110 in Literacy, 95 in Conversation, 110 in Comprehension and 90 in Production

Test Name: Duolingo English Test - test taken from 1st July 2024
Required Score: 110 overall and no less than 110 in any Integrated Subscore

Careers

Graduates of this MA will be well-prepared for careers in writing, publishing, journalism, film and TV, advertising and marketing, non-profit organisations, social enterprises, and education. The course also serves as an excellent foundation for pursuing doctoral research in literature. Those who complete the MA and identify a compelling research topic (often based on their third term dissertation) are encouraged to apply to the Exeter PhD.

An English degree is a uniquely versatile qualification valued by employers for the combination of communication and analytical skills as well as combining an understanding of literature and media in a historical and cultural context. For some of our students the MA is a step on the path to doctoral study, for others it opens a range of career paths in areas such as teaching, publishing, media, journalism, advertising and communications.

In recent years the positions some of our graduates have gone on to include:

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