English Studies
Coursework
The Master of English Studies (MES) is one of Australia’s premier postgraduate coursework degrees in English studies. It attracts local and international students who seek a comprehensive and highly regarded coursework degree in English literature and who may also be using the MES as a stepping stone to entering doctoral studies in Australia or overseas.
English teachers find the MES an excellent way to enrich their subject knowledge and develop their love of literature. Furthermore, teachers in New South Wales may apply to the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards to claim a proportion of their coursework hours as recognised professional learning.
The Master of English Studies offers graduates opportunities to pursue or advance careers in any vocation or area that demands intellectual flexibility and versatility, critical thinking and the ability to communicate such as teaching, the media, public and community service, and academia.
This course brings together contemporary critical theory with literary narratives to investigate how and why literature continues to enjoy particular resonance in a twenty-first-century environment. It focuses on four core critical approaches: critical reading, literary history, genre, and literary comparison, including the question of English as a world literature. Part of this program's aim is to consider ways in which the study of literature in English works in a specifically Australian cultural context. In this sense, the program is aligned with the contemporary repositioning of Australia in relation to the 'Asian century' and to global culture more generally. Building on Australia’s long-established international reputation in Cultural Studies, this program also seeks to expand consideration of literary as well as cultural narratives across a broad transnational framework. It provides an excellent foundation for research students, both from Australia and overseas, who wish to reconsider literature in English within a dynamically expanding global field.
See also Creative Writing
Awards and requirements
Refer to the English Studies course rules for further information.
Master of English Studies
Candidates for the Master of English Studies must complete 72 credit points, including:
- a minimum of 24 credit points of core units of study
- a maximum of 42 credit points of elective units of study
- a minimum of 6 credit points of capstone unit of study
Graduate Diploma in English Studies
Candidates for the Graduate Diploma in English Studies must complete 48 credit points, including:
- a minimum of 24 credit points of core units of study
- a maximum of 24 credit points of elective units of study
Graduate Certificate English Studies
Candidates for the Graduate Certificate in English Studies must complete 24 credit points including:
- a minimum of 12 credit points of core units of study
- a maximum of 12 credit points of elective units of study
Candidates for the Masters program who have completed previous study in a relevant discipline may be eligible for a reduction in the requirements in accordance with the table below.
| Level of prior learning | Full-time duration | Credit points to complete |
|---|---|---|
| AQF Level 8 eg. Honours in a relevant discipline, as determined by the Faculty | 1 year | 48 |
Contact
Department of English website: sydney.edu.au/arts/english/
School of Literature, Art and Media website: http://sydney.edu.au/arts/slam/
Postgraduate Coursework Coordinator:
Dr Jan Shaw
Phone: +61 2 9351 7413
Email: