Now that the M(Res) in Children’s Literature has been closed by the university, we have opened the possibility of applying instead for a Masters of Philosophy (MPhil) degree to pursue CIRCL close analysis of either Children’s Literature but also (as with the CIRCL PhD) any other field of academic thought. The MPhil is a kind of ‘mini’ PhD in that it takes place through one-to-one supervision from one of the CIRCL staff and takes a minimum of two years (maximum of three years) to write a 50.000 word (maximum) dissertation.
The key advantages are that this enables students with only a BA to proceed to postgraduate work with the MPhil, including ultimately applying for a PhD. We anticipate that although the MPhil adds an extra year compared to the one-year taught MA courses, it will almost certainly mean that a PhD can be completed in minimal time (three years full time or four years part-time) rather than the usually needed maximum registrations (four years full time and six years part-time). The second benefit is that the MPhil is charged at PhD fee-level (not taught MA fees), which amounts to half the costs of a taught MA every year, adding up in total to the same cost as a taught MA, but for two years rather than one, one-to-one supervision rather than group work, and a higher level of preparedness for the PhD should one wish to proceed with that (or a higher level of qualification than a taught MA even if one does not proceed to PhD).
Finally, as with all CIRCL work at all levels, the MPhil is ‘Artificial Intelligence’ (AI) proof: CIRCL thinking, reading, and writing cannot be done by AI!
Please see here for information about applying online and fees.
One note: for applicants who only have a BA degree, approval for acceptance to the MPhil will be required from Professor Karin Lesnik-Oberstein, the Director of CIRCL and the Director of Postgraduate Studies of the Department of English Literature, so please do contact her in advance of application at: k.b.lesnik-oberstein@reading.ac.uk