English Literature: Literature and Modernity: 1900 to the Present MSc

Level: Postgraduate taught

Subject: English

Year of entry: 2026

Study options

Mode of study

On campus

Full-time
  • MSc | 1 year | Start date: September 2026
Part-time
  • MSc | 2 years | Start date: September 2026

Key facts

School

School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures

College

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Study location

Central Area

Accreditation

Not available

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About the degree programme

Our MSc Literature and Modernity: 1900 to the Present offers an advanced focus on literature produced from the start of the twentieth century to the present day.

You will explore how writers and other cultural figures have sought to reimagine and reinvent what literature can do, how they have responded to changing social and political contexts, and how their work offers both insights into the past and ideas that speak to the present moment.

Your studies will take you through a broad and fascinating field, from the originators of literary modernism – including figures such as T. S. Eliot, James Joyce and Virginia Woolf – to late twentieth-century postmodernists and contemporary writers who continue to explore innovative ways of writing about our changing world.

We’ll explore both canonical and lesser studied writers, with the opportunity to engage with a wide range of theoretical contexts, including: 

  • critical race studies
  • ecocriticism and animal studies
  • feminist theory
  • Marxist theory
  • medical humanities
  • psychoanalysis
  • posthumanism
  • postcritique
  • queer theory

Why Edinburgh

We are the oldest department of English Literature in the world, having first offered courses in literature 250 years ago.

Studying here, you’ll be at the heart of one of the world’s major cultural hubs. Edinburgh is the first UNESCO City of Literature and is home to major literary and arts festivals that take place throughout the year, as well as globally renowned museums, galleries, theatres and libraries, including the National Library of Scotland.

We are a community of writers and readers, and there are lots of opportunities to write and share your own work across the University, such as ‘The Student,’ the UK’s oldest student newspaper (founded in 1887 by Robert Louis Stevenson) and annual student writing prizes.

The University also hosts the prestigious James Tait Black Prizez, which was established in 1919. They are Britain's longest-running literary awards and the only major book prizes judged by scholars and students.

Study options

There are two study options for this programme, both starting in September of the academic year.

Full time

If you take the full-time study option, you will complete the programme in one academic year.

You will take one core course in literary studies in Semester 1 (September to December) and one in Semester 2 (January to May). Each semester, you will also take a course in research skills and methods, and choose an optional course from a wide range. 

You will submit your dissertation (15,000 words) around 10 weeks after Semester 2 ends.

Part time

If you take the part-time study option, you will complete the programme in two academic years. 

In your first year, you will typically take two core courses in literary studies as well as two courses in research skills and methods across Semester 1 and 2. 

In your second year, you will choose two optional courses (one in Semester 1 and one in Semester 2) and submit your dissertation (15,000 words). 

What's the best type of masters programme for you?

Programme rankings

  • 3rd in the UK for English Language and Literature
  • 3rd in the UK in the broad subject area of Arts and Humanities

Rankings from QS World Rankings by Subject 2025

Programme benefits

  • Join the oldest department of English Literature in the world
  • Study literature from the start of the 20th century to the present day
  • Engage with literature in a range of theoretical contexts, including queer theory, ecocriticism, medical humanities and critical race studies
  • Learn in the heart of Scotland's capital - a UNESCO World City of Literature
  • Explore fantastic libraries and collections
  • Gain transferable skills in writing, communication, project management and text analysis

The exceptionally knowledgeable and supportive faculty of the MSc in Literature and Modernity programme enabled me to explore modern and contemporary English and Anglophone literature from a full spectrum of perspectives ranging from the canonical to the cutting-edge. The vibrant community of literary students and enthusiasts in this historic cradle of the Enlightenment always welcomes new contributions and ideas. Choose Edinburgh and an unforgettable year about literature and life!

Yibin (Jerry) Yang MSc in Literature and Modernity, 2023

Tuition fees

Tuition fees by award and duration

Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year.

Full-time
Part-time

Graduate discount

If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.

Find out how to receive your graduate discount

Deposit

You do not have to pay a deposit to secure your place on this programme.

Costs

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.

Living costs include:

  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel, clothes, books and stationery
  • recreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)

Living costs

Accommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.

University postgraduate accommodation options and costs

Funding opportunities

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money
    • taking out a loan
    • family support
  • personal savings
  • income from work
  • employer sponsorship
  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Search for other funding opportunities

You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.

Postgraduate funding opportunities

These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026.

Qualifications

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant discipline.

International qualifications

To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.

English language requirements

You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.

This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.

You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:

  • an English language test
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English
  • certain professional qualifications

English language tests we accept

We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 7 in each component.
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 145 in each component.
How old your English language tests can be
Tests no more than two years old

The following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:

  • IELTS Academic
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)
  • Trinity ISE
  • Oxford ELLT
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced
Tests no more than three and a half years old

All other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality.   

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.

UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).

Approved universities in non-MESC

How old your degree can be

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.

This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Find out more about our English language requirements

Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.

English language requirements

What you will study

The programme will be taught in seminars over two semesters, after which you will write an independently researched dissertation.

You will complete:

  • 2 core courses in literary studies, each worth 20 credits
  • 2 compulsory courses in research skills and methods, each worth 20 credits
  • 2 option courses, each worth 20 credits

Dissertation

The final element of the programme is your dissertation, a piece of independent research - 15,000 words (worth 60 credits) - written with the advice and support of a designated supervisor.

Compulsory courses

You will take two core courses in literature. 

Literature and Modernity I: Modernist Aesthetics

This first core course will provide an advanced introduction to literary modernism. You’ll read landmark works of literature from the first half of the twentieth century and encounter writers who were experimenting with novels, poetry, drama and other literary forms.

In addition, you’ll consider how major historical events shaped the period’s literature, including the First World War, growing transnational migration and the decline of the British Empire.

Reading key works of literary criticism and theory, you’ll also be exposed to the debates and discussions currently shaping the field of modernist studies.

The exact reading list changes from year to year, but in previous years, this course has included:

  • Virginia Woolf
  • James Joyce
  • T. S. Eliot
  • Zora Neale Hurston
  • Jean Rhys
  • Claude McKay
  • Katherine Mansfield
Literature and Modernity II: Late Modernism and Beyond

The second core course offers a critical survey of the literary field from the end of the Second World War right up to the present day.

Ranging across literary genres and forms, from drama to prose to poetry, you’ll study some of the most important writers of recent decades, and be challenged to think about how literature has responded to changing historical, social and political contexts.

At the same time, you’ll read key works of criticism and theory shaping the contemporary field of literary studies and be encouraged to consider where your scholarship fits within emergent and ongoing scholarly conversations.

The exact reading list changes from year to year, but in previous years, this course has included:

  • Samuel Beckett
  • Elizabeth Bishop
  • J. M. Coetzee
  • Toni Morrison
  • Angela Carter
  • Abdulrazak Gurnah
  • Ben Lerner
  • Maggie Nelson
  • Claudia Rankine

Option courses

There is a broad range of option courses to choose from every year.

Typically, they include (but are not limited to):

  • Global Modernisms: Inter/National Responses to Modernity
  • Decadence, Dazzle, Dissent: Aestheticism and Cultural Politics in the Long Twentieth Century
  • Global LGBT Fiction
  • Postcolonial Writing
  • Desire and Writing: Psychoanalysis, Literature, Criticism
  • The American Novel 1970-2010
  • Illness Narratives through History
  • Black American Fiction
  • Beastly Writing: Animals, Literature, Modernity
  • The Graphic Novel: Narrative in Sequential Art
  • Modern and Contemporary Life-Writing

Find courses for this programme

Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed.

The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme.

Full-time
Part-time

We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

Core and option courses are typically taught via weekly two-hour seminars. 

All seminar leaders hold weekly office hours where students can receive one-to-one feedback or ask questions about course materials.

Assessment

Our core courses in literature are typically assessed via a 4,000-word essay, submitted at the end of the semester.

Assessment methods will vary based on the optional courses that you choose. For example, you may be asked to:

  • write an essay, literature review, annotated bibliography, or research proposal
  • respond to a piece of writing, including through close reading
  • keep a weekly reading journal
  • give a short talk or presentation

Learning outcomes

On this programme, you will gain advanced knowledge of modern literature, from the early twentieth century to the present.

We will support you to:

  • develop an understanding of key critical and theoretical debates surrounding modern, postmodern and contemporary culture
  • engage with and discuss the relationship between social, political and historical events and literary forms

When you graduate, you will have had the opportunity to build a strong foundation in the research and writing skills required for rigorous literary analysis, along with an advanced grounding in:

  • critical reading
  • writing to specification
  • project design
  • research methods

Support for your studies

You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.

We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.  

How we support you

Where you will study

Academic facilities

The Main University Library holds academic books, journals and databases, films and other media.

It is also the home of the University's Centre for Research Collections which brings together:

  • more than 400,000 rare books
  • six kilometres of archives and manuscripts
  • thousands of works of art, historical musical instruments and other objects

Highlights of the Centre's holdings in modern literature and poetry include:

  • the W.H. Auden collection
  • the libraries of Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Hugh MacDiarmid and Norman MacCaig

Many of the University's Special Collections are digitised and available online from our excellent Resource Centre, computing labs and dedicated study spaces in LLC.

Career opportunities

Studying English Literature shows an openness to ideas and perspectives other than your own, an essential attribute in many careers and a global marketplace.

By completing this programme, you will gain a thorough knowledge and understanding of literary history, culture and theory from the start of the twentieth century to the present.

You will also be able to develop a range of advanced, transferable skills, such as:

  • research
  • critical thinking and evaluation
  • writing and communication
  • problem-solving
  • creative thinking
  • project and time management
  • public speaking and presenting
  • digital literacy

Our MSc in Literature and Modernity an excellent primer for a range of careers, and previous graduates have gone on to work in:

  • communications, marketing, advertising and public relations
  • research and academia
  • education and teaching
  • journalism, broadcasting and media
  • publishing, culture, heritage and the arts
  • translating and interpreting
  • leisure, tourism and travel

Further study

After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.

Find out more about our PhD in English Literature

Applying for research degrees

Moving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service)

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. 

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. 

With the Careers Service, you can: 

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions 

Visit the Careers Service website 

How to apply

You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin.

If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 5 applications from the same applicant.

When to apply

Programme start date Application deadline
14 September 2026 30 July 2026

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible so that we have enough time to process your application. This is particularly important if you are also applying for funding or will require a visa. Applications may close earlier than published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand.

For an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the application deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including your transcripts.

If you already have evidence that you meet the English language entry requirements, such as via an approved English language test, please upload this evidence at the time of your application. If you have not already met your English language requirements, we will still review your application and issue a decision providing it is otherwise complete.

Application fee

There is no fee to apply to this programme.

What you need to apply

As part of your online application, you will need to provide: 

You will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:

When you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.

References

You do not need to provide a reference when you submit your application for this programme.

There may be certain circumstances when a reference will be required, for example if we need to verify work experience. If that is the case, we will contact you after we have reviewed your application to request a reference.

Apply

Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for.

After you apply

Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.

Checking the status of your application

We will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.

Receiving our decision

What to do if you receive an offer:

What our students say

Living in Edinburgh while studying for my MSc in English Literature has been a truly enriching experience: not only because of the city’s historical and aesthetic importance, cultural events, and proximity to nature, but specifically due to the traces of Scotland’s great writers and literary heritage you can find around every corner in monuments, landmarks, museums, libraries, archives, bookshops, and literary festivals.

Julia Voigt MSc Literature and Society graduate, 2025

Julia, who provided us with this quote about her experience of living and studying in Edinburgh, is originally from Germany. While studying with us, she was the Postgraduate Taught School Representative for the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC). 

Together with Programme Representatives, Postgraduate Representatives are your voice in the university - sharing your feedback to continually improve the student experience for everyone. Their roles are voluntary, and supported by the Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA).

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:

  • apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programme
  • accept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 July
  • study at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in September

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

We also offer accommodation options for couples and families.

Accommodation for couples and families

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

Societies and clubs

The Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) supports more than 300 student-led societies and clubs, and promotes opportunities with local charities through its volunteering centre.

Across the University, there are lots of opportunities to get involved in:

  • reading and writers' groups
  • poetry slams
  • creative writing and publishing
  • student theatre

We also have a fantastic Writer in Residence. They organise our annual writing prizes for students.

Throughout the year, their drop-in sessions give you the chance to:

  • share your work
  • get feedback
  • meet other student writers
  • get inspiration and prompts for new work

They also regularly host talks and workshops, many of which feature guest writers.

Over the years, our Writers in Residence have included some of Scottish literature's most significant contemporary authors, such as:

  • Jenni Fagan
  • Liz Lochhead
  • Sorley Maclean
  • Norman MacCaig
  • Michael Pedersen
  • Alan Warner

Societies

Sports clubs

The city of Edinburgh

A UNESCO World City of Literature, Edinburgh is a remarkable place to study, write, publish, discuss and perform prose, poetry and drama.

Our buildings are close to the National Library of Scotland, one of only six copyright libraries in the UK and Ireland. 

We are also near:

  • Edinburgh Central Library
  • Scottish Poetry Library
  • Scottish Storytelling Centre
  • Writers’ Museum
  • a fantastic range of publishing houses, bookshops, and theatres

We have strong links with the Edinburgh International Book Festival, which annually welcomes around 1,000 authors to our literary city.

Find out more about living and studying in Edinburgh

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include: 

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustments

Health and wellbeing support services 

Disability and Learning Support

General enquiries

Contact our enquiry team about your eligibility or how to apply.

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Admissions Office

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