Aiden

Why did you choose to study your course at Surrey?

The English Literature MA at Surrey features an incredible variety of modules that let you customise the kind of programme you want to study. The core modules offer both a really broad range of approaches and theories relevant to studying English at MA level, and the flexibility to approach those topics in the way you want for your assignments. The optional modules let you take those core skills and bring them to such a variety of fields of study. I chose options that varied from writing in the games industry to the study of 19th century literature. You can really create a course that suits your interests and the skills you want to develop.

What are the best things about Surrey and your course?

Each part of the course had something great about it. The staff were incredibly knowledgeable, helpful and supportive throughout. When I joined this course, a few years had gone by since completing my undergraduate degree, so when it came round to studying again it could feel a bit daunting! In every module though, the lecturers were incredible at making time to chat about their subject and provide guidance on taking on the challenges of an MA. There was a genuine sense of care and enthusiasm for the students’ development and understanding of the course material.

The department has great links to the thriving games industry here in Guildford. The Writing Gaming module was enhanced by the guest lectures arranged with industry professionals who provided great inspiration and info on what a career working in that field looked like!

Other modules such as 19th Century Literature and Medieval Women’s Writing let you really deep-dive into a particular field of study. A lot of the content on these courses was new to me, and getting immersed in a new range of texts, writers and approaches was such an interesting experience.

Another shoutout has to go to the optional Open Writing modules available on this course. These open-ended modules were a fantastic opportunity to have the support of a personal tutor while carrying out your own research or creative writing project. This provides great opportunities to reflect upon your own interests and develop them - and proved to be a great way to synthesise many of the skills learned elsewhere on the course!

What are the best things about life here as a postgraduate student?

Surrey University is a great location to study. The campuses are really nice to spend some time on, with lots of cafes and green spaces. There are also so many societies that you can get involved with and meet folks who share your interests!

The campus is close to Guildford town centre, which has loads of nice spots to visit, as well as good railway links that can quickly get you to London, and the south coast! I’ve really enjoyed exploring the area, with lots of hiking in the Surrey Hills!

What are your career plans?

I began this course intending to develop skills that would be useful in the publishing industry, and I would still love to pursue this as a career. The opportunities provided by this course, though, have given me a few more options to consider, with features such as guest lectures from professional writers and exploration of options for further study providing great inspiration.

What advice do you have for students thinking of doing this course?

This course is a great opportunity to study the things that interest you! With so many options to define your own research and projects, and with such supportive staff, you can really develop your own set of skills and expertise within English Literature. 

The many crossover points with the Creative Writing course offer great chances to try something different and approach your field of study from a new angle. I recommend swapping out at least one of your essay assignments for a Creative Writing piece if that interests you, to see what working in that area is like!

If you have an interest in a broad range of topics within English Literature, this will be a fantastic course for you! Enjoy it, and good luck!