Master's Programme in English – English Literature
120 credits
The literature and culture of the English-speaking world continue to exert an incalculable influence in the present moment. The Master's Programme in English, specialising in English Literature, will allow you to explore in-depth some of the most important texts in a body of cultural practices whose roots go back to the early modern period. It offers an opportunity to engage with the extraordinary variety of writing in English, which ranges from canonical landmark texts to the most recent and emergent literary forms.
Autumn 2024 Autumn 2024, Uppsala, 100%, On-campus, English
- Location
- Uppsala
- Pace of study
- 100%
- Teaching form
- On-campus
- Instructional time
- Daytime
- Start date
- 2 September 2024
- Language of instruction
- English
- Entry requirements
-
Academic requirements
A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university, with English (or an equivalent) as the main field of study.
Language requirements
Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 7.
- Selection
-
Students are selected based on an overall appraisal of previous university studies with emphasis on the quality of the Bachelor's thesis (or equivalent project work) and a statement of purpose.
Tuition fee-paying students and non-paying students are admitted on the same grounds but in different selection groups.
- Fees
-
If you are not a citizen of a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) country, or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees.
- First tuition fee instalment: SEK 50,000
- Total tuition fee: SEK 200,000
- Application deadline
- 15 January 2024
- Application code
- UU-M5555
- Additional information
-
In addition to the general supporting documents, you also need to submit the following programme-specific documents:
- a statement of purpose (1 page) written in English in which you clearly indicate which specialisation or specialisations of the programme you are applying to
- one or two independently written academic essays in English totalling no less than 8,000 words.
The issues treated in the essay and the method used should preferably be relevant to the selected specialisation of the Master's programme.
Check the application guide for information on how to apply and what other supporting documents you need to submit.
Please note that the language requirement for this programme is proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 7. For questions about the language requirements, contact the study counsellor at the Department of English: studievagledare@engelska.uu.se
Autumn 2025 Autumn 2025, Uppsala, 100%, On-campus, English
- Location
- Uppsala
- Pace of study
- 100%
- Teaching form
- On-campus
- Instructional time
- Daytime
- Start date
- 1 September 2025
- Language of instruction
- English
- Entry requirements
-
Academic requirements
A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university, with a specialisation in languages or other humanities or an equivalent degree.
Also required is 60 credits in English, literature or another subject that includes the same competencies.
Language requirements
Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 7. This requirement can be met either by achieving the required score on an internationally recognised test, or by previous upper secondary or university studies in some countries. Detailed instructions on how to provide evidence of your English proficiency are available at universityadmissions.se.
- Selection
-
Students are selected based on an overall appraisal of previous university studies with emphasis on the quality of the Bachelor's thesis (or equivalent project work) and a statement of purpose.
Tuition fee-paying students and non-paying students are admitted on the same grounds but in different selection groups.
- Fees
-
If you are not a citizen of a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) country, or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees.
- First tuition fee instalment: SEK 50,000
- Total tuition fee: SEK 200,000
- Application deadline
- 15 January 2025
- Application code
- UU-M5555
- Additional information
-
In addition to the general supporting documents, you also need to submit the following programme-specific documents:
- a statement of purpose (1 page) written in English in which you clearly indicate which specialisation or specialisations of the programme you are applying to
- one or two independently written academic essays in English totalling no less than 8,000 words.
The issues treated in the essay and the method used should preferably be relevant to the selected specialisation of the Master's programme.
Check the application guide for information on how to apply and what other supporting documents you need to submit.
Please note that the language requirement for this programme is proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 7. For questions about the language requirements, contact the study counsellor at the Department of English: studievagledare@engelska.uu.se
About the programme
The Master's Programme in English, specialising in English Literature will introduce you to new critical and theoretical perspectives on this body of writing and enable you to gain a deeper and broader perspective on issues relating to Anglophone literature and culture as well as to key debates within contemporary scholarship. These issues include questions of migration and borders, colonisation and empire, race and ethnicity, and the transformation of literary and cultural practices.
Our programme offers a first-rate foundation for research students, both from Sweden and abroad, who wish to reconsider literature's role in the construction, interrogation and revision of a nation's culture and identity. It is also excellent preparation for students who wish to continue with doctoral studies.
During the programme, you can expect to:
- gain a deep and broad perspective on issues which profoundly affect English literature as well as contemporary life and scholarship,
- combine course work with research training and conduct your own research work in the form of a Master's thesis.
Student profile
You are passionate about literature in English and the history and politics of Anglophone cultures. You value critical and innovative thinking and enjoy drawing connections between literature and other concerns, ranging from questions about ethnicity to the environment and beyond. You like working in an international environment. Your social skills are very good and you enjoy articulating your thoughts and expressing your opinion in front of your fellow students. You are willing to take responsibility for your success and you are used to planning your own work.
Since a PhD education is a distinct possibility in your future, you would value coming in close contact with current research and prominent researchers in your field, and developing your skills as an independent researcher.
Degree
The programme leads to the degree of Master of Arts (120 credits) with English as the main field of study. After one year of study, it is possible to obtain a degree of Master of Arts (60 credits).
Content
The Master's Programme in English consists of two years of full-time study. The programme draws upon the Department's specialised competence in research and teaching within the subject. Throughout the programme, you will take a number of courses on literature, theory, and contemporary critical debates. Many of these modules include elements of English literature, allowing you to study this literature transnationally and comparatively. In addition there are core courses in English literature designed to deepen and broaden your knowledge of the diversity of writing in English. You will also complete a degree project worth 30 credits in this area. You may also opt for an internship worth 7.5 credits in your third semester or study abroad.
Courses within the programme
Semester 1
- Criticism, Theory and Practice, 15 credits
- Shakespeare and Early Modern Culture in a Global Context, 7.5 credits
- The Atlantic World: Writing the Eighteenth Century, 7.5 credits
Semester 2
- The Gothic and Romanticism, 7.5 credits
- The Nineteenth-Century Novel, 7.5 credits
- Modernisms, 7.5 credits
- Cultures of the Avant-Garde, 7.5 credits
Semester 3
- The Literatures of Decolonization, 7.5 credits
- World Literatures in English, 7.5 credits
- Book History and Material Culture, 7.5 credits
- Island Stories: Literature from the British Isles, 7.5 credits
One of the courses can be substituted for Practical Placement, 7.5 credits.
Semester 4
- Degree project, 30 credits
Learning experience
For many of your courses, you will meet weekly in small seminar groups for two hours with a tutor. The working style is exploratory and you will be expected to engage with primary sources, develop and express your own opinions and work towards independent arguments in your coursework. The final element of the programme is your Master's thesis, a piece of independent research written with the advice and support of a designated supervisor. Our programme assists you in progressing toward more independent and collaborative forms of working and researching.
English is the working language of the Department of English. In the programme, instruction, class discussions, and examinations are in English, as are all teaching materials.
Studying at Uppsala, you will be part of a community of staff and students with different international and cultural backgrounds. We foster an intimate, active research community through our research seminars and lively visiting lecturer and conference events where visitors, staff, and students gather in conversation.
Career
Completing the Master's Programme in English, specialising in English Literature, will help you develop and refine your research and analytical skills in ways that will prepare you either for doctoral study or for employment beyond the university. Our programme has been producing successful graduates for over ten years and provides excellent preparation for doctoral studies and an academic career. It also aids you in developing key skills valued by employers in journalism, publishing, tourism and creative industries, and other related educational and vocational careers.
Some of our graduates work as lecturers and researchers at universities (such as the University of Michigan, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Uppsala University, University of London). Others have obtained positions in the public and social sectors, such as Cambridge Health Alliance, European Association of History Educators, and Czech National Agency for International Education and Research. Other career paths are English teacher, translator, editorial assistant, text consultant, and rights and production coordinator in a publishing company.
Career support
During your time as a student, UU Careers offers support and guidance. You have the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities and events that will prepare you for your future career. Learn more about UU Careers.
Register your interest
Keep updated about the application process.
Contact
- For programme-specific information, please contact the study counsellor:
- masters@engelska.uu.se
- +46 18 471 12 47
- For admissions-related or general information, please contact our applicant support team:
- study@uu.se
Students
As a student you will find information about your studies in the student gateway.