Masters by Research programmes

Choose from a range of Masters by Research programmes in English Literature and related disciplines.

What can I study?

Masters by Research in English Literature

This highly flexible programme enables you to complete a Masters by Research (MScR) degree through a combination of coursework (two essays of 6,000 words on topics related to your research focus, plus assignments in research skills and methods) and a final dissertation of 15,000 words. Drawing on our academic staff’s extensive breadth of expertise, we are able to support students wishing to develop research projects in any field of Anglophone literary studies.

We have particular strengths in each of the main periods of English and Scottish Literature – medieval, renaissance/early modern, enlightenment, romantic, Victorian, modernist, post-war, contemporary and 21st century. We also have concentrations of expertise in American studies, in literary and critical theory, the history of the book, gender and sexuality studies, and in global Anglophone literatures - where our specialisms include Pacific, African, South Asian, and African-American writing. Emergent research themes in the department include the digital humanities, the economic humanities, the environmental humanities and literature and medicine.

Full-time, one year (all students) ꟾ part-time, two years (eligibility criteria apply)

Find out more and apply on the University of Edinburgh Degree Finder

MSc by Research in Medieval Studies

Home of the cross-disciplinary Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, the University of Edinburgh has one of the largest communities of medieval and Renaissance specialists in the world. Join our community and undertake a 15,000 word dissertation under the guidance of an experienced and well-published supervisor. Our research interests are wide-ranging and global, and include history, languages and literatures, history of art and architecture, music, divinity, archaeology, law, Celtic and Scottish Studies, Islamic, European, and Asian Studies.

Full-time, one year (all students) ꟾ part-time, two years (eligibility criteria apply)

Find out more and apply on the University of Edinburgh Degree Finder

Entrance requirements, fees, funding and more...

You can find out about entrance requirements, start dates, fees and scholarship opportunities for all our Masters by Research programmes on the University of Edinburgh’s Degree Finder. Degree Finder links straight through to EUCLID, the online system for applying to postgraduate programmes at the University of Edinburgh.

Applications to start a Masters by Research programme in September 2023 are now open.

Find out more on the University of Edinburgh Degree Finder

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

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