Course summary
The academic study of children’s literature has developed over the past 30 years, and is now a recognised multidisciplinary field of enquiry. This programme will enable you to explore the relationship between reader, writer, text and context, and consider the processes that underpin those interactions. Why study MA Children's Literature at Goldsmiths
- This postgraduate course will deepen your familiarity with a range of children's literature, from 'classic' works, to contemporary texts. Through this, you'll develop a detailed knowledge of the issues and debates in the field, analysing children's literature using theories from education, cultural studies, literary theory, psychology, sociology, history and philosophy.
- We foster a critical stance towards children's literature, academic reading, and ideological underpinning. All of our staff are actively involved in research in the fields of education and children's literature. Award-winning author Michael Rosen is part of the leading team on this programme.
- The Masters in Children's Literature aims to incorporate and respond to your unique background as an individual. we encourage you to use this to address the challenging issues of representation and diversity in children's literature. You may come from a publishing background or work in education or children's media. If you have a passion for children's literature then this is the course for you.
- Students on this programme's creative writing pathway will be able to work with published creative writing lecturers, including the novelists Ardashir Vakil and Sara Grant, to create short stories, novels, and poems for children and young adults. Creative writing alumni have had their work published, including a recent book by Dashe Roberts 'The Bigwoof Conspiracy (2020); a creative writing handbook co-authored by Harry Oulton 'The Writing Deck: 53 Prompts for Putting Pen to Paper (2019); and Anna Dempsey won the Costa Short Story Award (2019).
Modules
Common Compulsory Modules Whether you choose the Issues and Debates, or the Creative Writing pathway, you will take the following two compulsory modules. Children's Literature: Theory and Criticism 30 credits Children’s Literature, Culture and Diversity 30 credits Issues and Debates pathway Students on this pathway will study the following compulsory modules. Researching Children's Literature 30 credits Dissertation 60 credits You will also take a 30-credit option module offered by the Department of Educational Studies. Children's Literature in Action 30 credits Creative writing pathway Students on this pathway will take the following modules, as well as completing a final project portfolio worth 60 credits. Workshop in Creative and Life Writing 30 credits Writing for Children and Young Adults 30 credits Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.
Assessment method
Book studies, assignments, project (optional), dissertation, creative writing (optional).
Entry requirements
You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least second class standard in a related field. You might also be considered if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level. If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 7.0 with a 7.0 in writing and no element lower than 6.5 to study this programme. Additional Entry Requirement for the Creative Writing Pathway To apply to study on the Creative Writing Pathway you should follow the usual application process, submitting a substantial piece or pieces of original creative writing, up to a maximum of 3,000 words, with your application. This work does not have to be in the form of writing for children/young adults. It will be considered by the Module Leader of the Workshop in Creative and Life Writing. Your submission should include one item from the following list: 1 short story; 7-10 poems; 1 or 2 extracts from a novel; 1 or 2 extracts from non-fiction writing, for example, memoir.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Additional fee information
Unless otherwise stated the annual fee for part-time students is half the full time fee quoted.
Provider information
Goldsmiths, University of London
New Cross
Lewisham
SE14 6NW