Postgraduate taught  

English Literature: Modernities - Literature, Culture, Theory MLitt

Detail from the painting Group VI, Evolution, No. 15 by Hilma af Klint

Detail from the painting Group VI, Evolution, No. 15 (1908) by Hilma af Klint.

Guided by a team of internationally recognised experts, you will investigate the key texts and concepts that shape our understanding of literature and culture across a period of radical change from 1880 to the present. You will relate the literary texts you study to developments in other cultural practices, such as film, theatre and the visual arts.

Register your interest for more information

Why this programme

English Literature: Modernities PresentationEnglish Literature: Modernities Presentation
  • The programme has an international reputation for delivering outstanding research-led teaching, with a particular focus on interdisciplinary and theoretically informed approaches to this literary period.
  • You will have access to world class libraries and museums, as well as the extraordinary diversity of cultural, literary and artistic events that make Glasgow such an enriching place for postgraduate study.
  • The programme includes tailored workshops with the University’s archives and Special Collections, as well as a bespoke field trip to the archives of the National Library of Scotland and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.
  • Meet our students

    Postgraduate English Literature: Modernities MLitt student Gunnar Lundberg takes us through GOMA and gives an insight into life as a postgraduate student in the College of Arts & Humanities at the University of Glasgow.

    Meet Gunnar, an English Literature: Modernities student (YouTube)

Programme structure

Full-time students

Semester 1 - September to December

Semester 2 - January to March

Summer - April to September

Part-time students

First year

Second year

Option courses

We have affiliated option courses, and students may also choose from courses in the subject, School, and College of Arts & Humanities (by arrangement with conveners and subject to agreement and availability of places). Not all options will be available in any given year, depending on staff availability. A number of option courses have been devised with the needs of the Modernities programme particularly in mind including, but not limited to:

Delivery

All taught courses are 20 credits and are delivered in weekly 2 hour seminars or similar.

Students are taught in seminars and proceed through a planned sequence of reading and discussion. The working style however is exploratory rather than didactic; students are expected to engage fully with primary sources, to develop, express and take responsibility for their own opinions and to work towards independent argument and expression in their resulting coursework and dissertation.

Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract.

Career prospects

Modernities has been producing successful graduates for over 15 years and provides excellent preparation for PhD study and an academic career, as well as developing key skills valued by employers in journalism, the heritage and creative industries, and other related educational and vocational careers.

Fees & funding

Tuition fees for 2025-26

MLitt

UK

  • Full-time fee: £11250
  • Part-time fee: £1250 per 20 credits

International & EU

  • Full-time fee: £25320

Deposits

International and EU applicants are required to pay a deposit of £2000 when an offer is made.

Deposits: terms & conditions

Additional fees

  • Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
  • Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
  • Registration/exam only fee: £170

Funding opportunities

Alexander and Dixon Scholarship (Bryce Bequest)

College of Arts and Humanities Widening Participation Postgraduate Taught Scholarships

Beatrix Whistler and James McNeill Whistler Scholarship

GREAT Scholarships 2025

The Snowdon Trust Master’s Scholarship

Banco de Mexico

Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans

DAAD-University of Glasgow 1-year Master’s grant

Colfuturo Fundacion para el Futuro de Colombia

Commonwealth Scholarship Schemes

Chevening Scholarship

CONICyT (La Comsion Nacional de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnologica de Chile)

University of Glasgow African Excellence Award

CONACyT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia) / FUNED Agreement

World Changers Glasgow Scholarship

University of Glasgow Caribbean Excellence Award

Postgraduate Student Loan (Scotland and EU)

Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loans England only (PTFL)

Postgraduate Loans for Welsh Students

Alumni Discount

Postgraduate Access Scholarship

Global Leadership Scholarship

Glasgow Excellence Award (UK)

HESPAL Scholarship

Postgraduate Student Loan (NI)

World Changers Glasgow Scholarship PGT (EU)

The Clan Gregor Society Prize

The Dima Alhaj Scholarship

Sanctuary Scholarships

Travel Bursary for Forced Migrants

Glasgow Highland Society Scholarship

The scholarships above are relevant to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database

Entry requirements

2.1 Hons (or non-UK equivalent) in English Literature or American or Irish or Scottish or History of Art or Philosophy or any Modern Language or Film and Television Studies or Theatre Studies or any other national Literature or Comparative Literature or any other relevant subject.

Please include a short statement of around 500 words outlining your interest in this programme.

We also require a sample of written work of around 3,000 words in length. This can be a previous piece of work from an undergraduate degree. The work should be written in English. The content does not have to cover a topic related to this specific programme, however the sample should show the potential to engage successfully with postgraduate-level literary studies by demonstrating analytical ability and knowledge of appropriate scholarly methods and conventions.

English language requirements

International students

We are proud of our diverse University community that includes students and staff from more than 140 different countries.

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.

Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.

Documents

As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:

  • A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
  • A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
  • Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
  • One reference letter on headed paper
  • Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
  • Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
  • A copy of the photo page of your passport

You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.

You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.

For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, see how to apply for a postgraduate taught degree

Guidance notes for using the online application

These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form. 

If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, see Application System Help.

  • Name and Date of birth: must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
  • Contact Details: Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
  • Choice of course: Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
  • Proposed date of entry: Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
  • Education and Qualifications: Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
  • English Language Proficiency: Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
  • Employment and Experience: Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.

Reference: Please provide one reference. This should typically be an academic reference but in cases where this is not possible then a reference from a current employer may be accepted instead. Certain programmes, such as the MBA programme, may also accept an employer reference. If you already have a copy of a reference on letter headed paper then please upload this to your application. If you do not already have a reference to upload then please enter your referee’s name and contact details on the online application and we will contact your referee directly.

Application deadlines

September 2025

International & EU applicants

  • 25 July 2025

UK applicants

  • 22 August 2025
Apply now

More information about this programme