We’re really looking forward to the Term 1 symposium, which will be held on Wednesday 8th January 2014. Papers reflecting work from the MA options Literary Theory in the 21st Century and London Now will form the symposium panels.

London Now panel

Our second symposium of the year took place in the Wren Library in Lincoln Cathedral. This is the first time we have held a symposium in the Cathedral and it definitely lived up to expectation – see the photos under the ‘Symposia’ tab.

This year we heard paper presentations from the Literary Theory in the 21st Century module, which were organised into three panels: 1) Trauma Theory and the Gothic 2) 21st Century Fiction: New Readings 3) Beyond Anthropocentrism: Humans, Animals and the Posthuman. The papers were great, demonstrating originality, impressive research skills and genuine intellectual curiosity. Our visiting Professor, John Drakakis, who gave feedback on the papers, was very impressed with the standard of work.

The symposium finished with a buffet lunch and wine in the Chapter House. All in all it was a great day, and wonderful to have some prospective MA students in attendance too.

Here are some of our happy graduates from the MA English Studies and, for the first time, MA 21st Century Literature programmes. The graduation ceremony was held in Lincoln Cathedral, and a reception in the grounds of Lincoln Castle followed: a great day was had by all. Many congratulations once again to our graduates!

The first term of the current academic year is well under way. Students on all three of our MA programmes – MA English Studies, MA Creative Writing and MA 21st Century Literature  – are busy reading and writing in preparation for their assignments on topics including 21st century poetry, utopianism, Victorian literature and culture, and more. We wish them well with their studies.

This blog site aims to give interested students a little more information about our MA programmes than is available on the University of Lincoln website. If you would like to discuss an application for MA English Studies or MA 21st Century Literature further, please contact either the Admissions Tutor Dr Christopher Marlow (cmarlow@lincoln.ac.uk) or the Programme Leader Dr Sian Adiseshiah (sadiseshiah@lincoln.ac.uk). For MA Creative Writing, please contact Dr Phil Redpath (predpath@lincoln.ac.uk).

The Term 2 MA in English Studies and MA in 21st Century Literature symposium took place yesterday. There were panels on 21st Century Literary Theory, Nineteenth Century Life Writing and contemporary representations of London (‘London Now’). The symposium was lively and stimulating and students’ papers were engaging and well presented. Have a look at the photos under on the ‘Symposia’ page – more photos to follow.

MA English Studies students graduated this afternoon in Lincoln Cathedral. After twelve months of hard work the class of 2010 completed their dissertations in mid-September 2011, and received their results in November. Today we celebrated their achievements, and we wish them all the best for the future.

Term 2 of our MA English programmes began today. Over the next twelve weeks, students on the English Now 2 core module will discuss writing by Alexander Masters, Colm Toibin, Hilary Mantel, Sarah Waters, Andrea Levy, Zadie Smith and others. The optional modules London Now, Literary Theory in the 21st Century and Nineteenth Century Life Writing are also running this term. For more information on the programmes please click on the tabs above.

Twelve MA English Studies and MA 21st Century Literature students took part in a postgraduate symposium at the university on 19th December. Presenting to an audience of their peers and their tutors, students on modules covering Contemporary American Fiction, Reading Trauma in the 21st Century, and Poetry and Poetic Culture in the Nineteenth Century delivered polished 20-minute papers throughout the day. The standard of the work was extremely high, discussions were supportive and lively, and this was a great way to end the term. Some photographs of the event can be seen on the ‘Symposia’ page.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The subject of English at the University of Lincoln is now on Twitter! To hear about talks, ideas,  publications, conferences and more, please follow @LincolnEnglish.

This term’s postgraduate symposium is nearly with us. On December 19th MA English Studies and MA 21st Century Literature students will gather to present 20 minute research papers to an audience of their peers and English faculty members. Our biannual symposia give students an opportunity to exchange ideas, develop presentation skills, and socialise in a familiar, convivial environment. It promises to be a excellent end to the term.