Course information

Course highlights

• Gain an excellent foundation for further research on women writers and the relationship between gender and literature.
• Consider broader historical and contemporary debates in feminism and gender studies, and examine the diversity of women’s literary practices across a range of centuries and genres.
• Develop your skills as a researcher within a specific area of study by taking special topic modules.
• Participate in the School of English's wider research culture through the School's period-based research groups, annual colloquia and postgraduate forum.

Teaching format

The MLitt in Women, Writing and Gender is an intensive one-year taught programme which aims to introduce students to key issues surrounding the contemporary discussion of gender. 

Taught modules comprise weekly classes and seminars, with class sizes typically ranging from three to ten students. Assessment comprises written essays and a short oral presentation.

During the course of the year, but with particular focus during the last four months, students will research and write a 15,000-word dissertation on a topic of their choosing.

Further particulars regarding curriculum development.

Modules

The modules in this programme have varying methods of delivery and assessment. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the latest module catalogue.

Compulsory modules

• Literary Research: Skills and Resources: trains students in the understanding and use of the essential skills and resources of research in English Studies; it also provides preparation for the MLitt dissertation.
• Theories and Contexts: supports students' work by providing a theoretical and critical background to key debates in contemporary feminist and gender theory.
• Women, Writing and Gender 1: Renaissance to Romanticism: seeks to introduce students to a range of debates concerning women, writing and gender through history. 
• Women, Writing and Gender 2: Victorian to Contemporary: continues the chronological survey of debates surrounding women, writing and gender begun in the previous module by examining continuity and change in constructions of gender across the period 1800 to the present.

Optional modules

Students will choose one optional module out of the following three choices:

• Special Topic in English Studies: a directed reading programme which allows students to explore topics in greater depth than is possible in compulsory modules.
• a compulsory module from another English MLitt (see module catalogue)
• an approved postgraduate-level module outwith the School of English (arranged independently with another school such as Classics, Modern Languages, Divinity or Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies).

The modules listed ran in the academic year 2015-2016 and are indicative of this course. There is no guarantee that these modules will run for 2016 entry.

Take a look at the most up to date modules in the module catalogue.

Dissertation

Student dissertations will be supervised by members of the teaching staff who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process. The completed dissertation of not more than 15,000 words must be submitted by a date specified in August. 

If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MLitt, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MLitt.

Conferences and events

The School of English hosts research events through its four research groups, Medieval and Renaissance, 18th century, Romantic and Victorian, Modern and Contemporary and Creative Writing. 

Events are open to all members of the School and to the public, unless explicitly restricted, and there is an active student-run Literary Society and the Postgraduate Forum, where postgraduates meet to present and discuss their on-going work. Each semester, the School invites distinguished visiting academics and creative writers to lead seminars, lectures and workshops as part of our regular research events.

• English Colloquium
• Postgraduate Forum
• Literary Society

Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our Admissions policy.

Curriculum development

As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online. (PDF, 72 KB).

Tuition fees

The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online. (PDF, 84 KB).