Category: Testimonials

Sireethorn (Pam) Simawathna, CIRCL MA 2012-2013 ‘With great support from the tutors and friends I have had a wonderful year in exploring and reconsidering the way I have been thinking all my life. In many ways it is my personal journey during which I have learnt a lot, not only about how to (or not […]

Lisa Stallard, CIRCL MA 2012-2013 ‘After a first term I felt the benefits of the [CIRCL] approach in all areas, not just academically, and at the close of [the taught part of the MA] am excited to continue my learning into my dissertation and take the approach into my next steps, in a career and […]

Samantha Horsfield, CIRCL MA 2011-2013 (part-time) ‘I was nervous doing the course as a part-time student as I worried that I may be at a disadvantage. This was definitely not the case. The course is structured so well, and the support I received from [the MA staff] Karin, Neil and Sue (as well as the […]

Sue Lee, CIRCL MA 2012-2013 ‘I am grateful and happy for having had the chance to take part in the Children’s Literature MA course at The University of Reading. Meeting the professors through weekly seminars and throughout the essay and dissertation writing process has helped me broaden my perspective, deepen my understanding, and heighten my […]

Katy Corderoy, CIRCL MA 2017-2019 (part-time), CIRCL PhD (part-time) from 2020 ‘My masters with CIRCL has increased my confidence and my critical thinking skills monumentally. At the conclusion of this course and with the support of the lecturers and my course mates I now work for an academic publisher in a senior role of Marketing […]

Pancharle (‘Andy’) Thongpanich, CIRCL MA 2011-2012 ‘Intriguing. Challenging. Opens up a whole new world for me. Would recommend the course to anyone who seeks unique ideas and inspiration, especially for the Ph.D. level. All the staff are very helpful and supportive.’

Gemma Budd, CIRCL MA 2011-2012 ‘The Children’s Literature MA has aided my development of extensive academic skills and has introduced me to complex and fascinating theoretical approaches, which can be used to question supposedly obvious or accepted ideas encountered not just in Children’s Literature but across all types of literature. However, I also feel the […]

Zoe Roxon, CIRCL MA graduate 2010-2011 ‘The MA is like choosing the red pill in the film the Matrix – because you can’t look at the world the same way after taking the course!’

Ellie Hunt, CIRCL MA graduate 2010-2011 ‘The Children’s Literature Masters has been really enjoyable, I loved revisting old childhood favourites and viewing them from a new perspective as well as discovering new authors, critics and opinions on children’s literature.’

Catrin Edwards, CIRCL MA graduate 2006-2007, CIRCL PhD graduate 2010 ‘Studying the MA in Children’s Literature was an excellent introduction to and preparation for academic practice and further research as it provided me with an opportunity to engage in discussions surrounding the issues addressed by current researchers during CIRCL seminars in a nurturing and supportive environment.’

American student, CIRCL MA graduate 2009-2010 ‘Be prepared to completely challenge the way you think about interpreting texts and media’; ‘take this course if you want to go for a doctorate and actually do something original … there’s no program like it in the States.’

Hilary Fraser, CIRCL MA graduate 2000-2001, CIRCL PhD graduate 2009 ‘The Reading MA in Children’s Literature was a stimulating and thoroughly enjoyable experience for me. The course is intellectually demanding and wide-ranging in its approach to the field of children’s literature and its cultural context. Though it focuses on the child in literature it is not […]

Helen Ainslie, CIRCL MA graduate 2004-2005, CIRCL PhD graduate 2009 ‘Studying the Children’s Literature MA at Reading was a hugely challenging and rewarding experience for me. When I began the course I had no idea how much my own thinking, reading and argument would develop, so much so that by the end I considered continuing with […]

Hannah Smith (from January 2011 married name: Dr Hannah Anglin-Jaffe), CIRCL MA graduate 2001-2002, CIRCL PhD graduate 2005 ‘My undergraduate degree was English Literature with Education Studies at the University of Cambridge and as part of that course I took a module in Children’s Literature and absolutely loved it. I therefore decided to research MA courses […]

Sara Broad, CIRCL MA graduate 2004-2005 ‘I know that I would never have thought of undertaking a PhD without undertaking my MA in CIRCL.’

Yuko Ashitagawa, CIRCL MA graduate 2001-2002, CIRCL PhD graduate 2005 ‘I gained much more than I had expected from the MA. The course was not just about children’s literature; it led me to reconsider the way I read, think, and argue. It prepared me for my PhD research and had an influence on my whole life. […]

Y. A., overseas CIRCL MA graduate 1994-1995 ‘The staff and fellow students are very supportive and I enjoyed studying a range of materials. I would certainly recommend this course to anyone who is interested in Children’s Literature.’

Neil Cocks, CIRCL MA graduate 1994-1995, CIRCL PhD graduate 2000 ‘Studying on the MA in Children’s Literature was a genuinely life changing move, and a wholly positive one at that. Prior to the course I had been interested in Literature and Philosophy, having taken a BA in the subjects. It was only with the MA […]