Our expertise with English as an expressive medium and a field of disciplinary study has led us to design a choice of focused postgraduate modules. These will stimulate your research interests and enhance your understanding of the various historical, creative and critical discourses that have shaped the contemporary discipline of English Studies. Given our context, special attention is paid to southern Africa in relation to the wider world, and we have an ongoing concern with postcolonialism and the emergence of new ‘englishes’.
For further information, including info about the PhD, please contact the Postgraduate Co-ordinator, Dr Matthew Shum: shum@ukzn.ac.za
English Studies offers:
A coursework Honours: 1 year full-time (2 years part-time), based on combinations of the modules listed in this brochure. Full-time students take two modules in each semester. Students who choose English Studies as their home discipline are permitted to replace an English Studies module with one module from another discipline. Students are assessed through combinations of seminar presentation, essay, short task and exam. (Note: in any one course taken in Honours, the long essay must replace the exam.)
An MA by thesis (with support) The research MA is a guided degree. Initially, students are directed towards departmental, school and/or college workshops which assist a postgraduate researcher in identifying a research topic, writing a proposal, and becoming familiar with key literary-cultural debates. Thereafter, a student works with an individual supervisor who facilitates the student’s planning, drafting and writing of a dissertation of approximately 100/120 pages. (The MA thesis may address any area, including cultural studies, creative writing, and translation. Possibilities depend in part on the availability of supervision.)
Your MA studies can be FREE! If you work hard, the MA can be completed full-time in 1 year. There are NO FEES in the first year. If your research runs into the second year, UKZN will charge for a year’s registration. The NRF may provide bursary funding.
Semester 1 Modules
Semester 2 Modules