Explore the place of literature in the creative industries through a unique combination of research and practical experience.
Year of entry: 2025 (September)
1 year full-time,
2 years part-time
September 2025 (semester dates)
Join us online or in person to find out more about postgraduate study at York.
Upcoming eventsThe MA in Literature in the Creative and Cultural Industries offers a versatile and innovative approach to the study of literary production in the context of the wider cultural and creative industries.
The course connects the disciplines of literary practice, publishing studies, and book and print history with the emerging field of creative industries studies, highlighting the wider material and cultural contexts for the making, selling, and consumption of literature. Combine scholarly approaches to literary production and literary culture with practice-based experience in writing and letterpress printing. Gain a unique set of skills and perspectives on the literary industry, and an understanding of its historical, economic, and social dimensions that will prepare them for further study or work in the sector.
You can develop your own distinctive pathway with relevant modules across departments, to reflect your individual passions, curiosities and research ambitions. In all these tasks you're taught and supervised by world-leading scholars, working in one of the UK's largest research centres in English literature.
You’ll engage with the wider research culture of the Department of English, one of the UK's largest research centres in modern English. We have a diverse schedule of seminars, conferences and reading groups. You’ll also be part of the Humanities Research Centre, a vibrant interdisciplinary hub which will enable you to form close social and intellectual bonds over the course of your study.
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You'll be encouraged to devise a distinctive path through the full range of our Masters provision, and relevant modules in other departments, to reflect your individual passions, curiosities and research ambitions. Modules are assessed by a research essay or practical research project, and students' developing research skills are then brought to bear on a substantial dissertation relating to the field.
In addition to the course-specific Critical Approaches to the Creative Industries, core modules will cover valuable research, writing and presentation skills. Topics may include using library and online research resources, use of archives, academic writing and how to get work published. You'll select from a wide range of option modules including relevant modules from the Management in the Creative and Cultural Industries (MACCI) course.
You'll study 180 credits in total.
You will also study three option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Your dissertation offers you the chance to examine a topic in depth and to develop your research skills. You'll work on a 14,000-16,000-word dissertation with regular supervision from a member of staff. The dissertation on this programme can also incorporate a practical project, which might take the form of a publishing project, community-based activity, or practice-based portfolio.
You'll submit your dissertation at the end of your course.
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £11,200 | £25,900 |
| Part-time (2 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. |
£5,600 | £12,950 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
You'll need copies of the texts set for each module. Where possible, we will provide digital access. We'll let you know which texts and editions you'll need to buy (whether new or second-hand) before the start of each term.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
You'll normally attend two 2-hour seminars each week. If you are a part-time student you'll attend one 2-hour seminar a week.
Seminar groups consist of fewer than 15 students in most modules, though some core modules may involve a larger number of students. You'll complete essential reading for each seminar, and we encourage you to read more widely around the topic.
You'll attend a series of training lectures and workshops, designed to address presenting your work, writing at MA level, transferable skills, and career development.
Over the course of the year, you'll give regular seminar presentations and attend research seminars and day conferences hosted by the Department. Many of these events will be organised through the Humanities Research Centre, a state-of-the-art facility unique to York.
Writers at York is a lively programme of readings and workshops, and aims to celebrate and explore the work of emerging and established contemporary writers. Writers at York is supported by the University of York's External Engagement Awards and the Festival of Ideas.
You will be based in the Department of English and Related Literature on Campus West. Most of your contact hours will be in locations nearby on Campus West, including the Department's letterpress studio, Thin Ice Press.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
For some modules you'll submit essays, but also practical projects, which might include print or publishing projects, practice-based portfolios, or projects with external partners.
There’s a wide variety of possible career paths open to you after completing this MA, both across industry and academia. You'll develop skills that are useful in any industry.
Career opportunities are likely to include a variety of roles within:
You'll develop a range of transferable skills including:
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 459-494, with 426-458 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
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