MA/PGDip Children's Literature

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100% of RU’s submitted work in English Language and Literature was recognised either internationally or nationally for its originality, significance and rigour, with more than 30% of that work regarded as being either ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. More information.

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General programme information

This popular programme in children's literature not only involves the study of children's books, in all forms, but also their influence within our culture. We are internationally acclaimed for our work in children's literature, and this programme allows you to combine an overview with the opportunity to specialise in a field where original research is flourishing.

Our enthusiastic teaching team encourages students to explore the relationships between the adults who produce, publish, and in various ways, introduce books to children, and the children who are meant to read them. You will also be introduced to critical theories and methods, enabling you to analyse the various sign systems employed in children's literature, and so to identify and evaluate the kinds of messages and value systems encoded in books for young readers.

In addition to modules on the historical development of children’s literature, the programme also covers contemporary debates about children’s reading, adaptations of texts, and material which has found popular favour in youth sub-cultures. The programme seeks to generate enquiry into current perceptions of children and the ways in which children’s literature is used as a forum for transmitting and challenging dominant ideological constructions of society.

Jacqueline Wilson at Roehampton

The award-winning children’s author has been named a Professorial Fellow of the University. Jacqueline will draw on her expertise to offer students on the MA Children's Literature programme an insight into being a highly successful writer who knows how to engage children and address their concerns in thought-provoking narratives.

Key areas of study

Students construct their programmes from the following modules, but please note that this selection is subject to change:

Critical and theoretical perspectives (CTP)*
Research methods: skills and theories*
The history of children’s book illustration
Visual texts
Children as readers
Children’s literature from 1900-1960
Children’s literature from 1960-present
Children’s literature in translation
Children’s literature of migration
Dissertation (MA students only)#
Origins and developments of children’s literature
Research enquiry
Time and history
Verse and voice
Writing for a child audience

* Compulsory for MA and Postgraduate Diploma Students
# Compulsory for MA students

MA students must take: Critical and Theoretical Perspectives; Research Methods: Skills and Theories; Dissertation. They will complete their programme with any threeof the remaining 20 credit modules.

Postgraduate Diploma students must take: Critical and Theoretical Perspectives; Research Methods: Skills and Theories. They will complete their programme with any three of the remaining 20 credit modules.

Students have the opportunity to attend day conferences, evening lectures and summer schools, all featuring well known speakers.

Modules which are compulsory for MA students are guaranteed to be taught each year; the remaining modules are normally taught at least once every two years.

Distinctive features

The programme is not limited to the study of children’s books as such, but also examines the relationship between children’s books and their influence within our culture. The eclectic and rigorous nature of the programme means that students following it will be well prepared to take the opportunity it offers to contribute original work from a variety of perspectives in an exciting new area.

This programme has proved to be valuable to a wide range of students from the UK and overseas. It is popular with those who are concerned with the subject in their capacities as academics, publishers, librarians, teachers, counsellors and parents and those who work with children in other professional areas. It is particularly suitable for graduates wishing to undertake research in a wide-ranging and expanding field.

Many students continue to work while they study which enables them to share and explore the insights they have derived from using literature with and for children with colleagues.

The creative writing module, ‘Writing for a Child Audience’, represents an exciting new addition to the programme, recognising the fact that many of our students have ambitions to write for children.

The programme is supported by the specialist Children’s Literature Collection (including the Richmal Crompton Collection) in the University Library and librarians with an extensive knowledge of the subject.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching consists of lectures, seminars and tutorials. Teaching takes place on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons (from 2.00-4.00pm) and evenings (from 5.30-7.30pm).

Part-time students normally attend only one evening/afternoon each week.

All modules are assessed by coursework (essays). In addition, MA students must submit a dissertation of 15,000-20,000 words.

National Centre for Research in Children's Literature

Roehampton houses the National Centre for Research in Children's Literature, which regularly hosts major conferences in the field as well as conducting and facilitating research projects and initiating publications. The centre helped establish and administer the Marsh award for children's literature in translation and was actively involved in creating the post of children's laureate.

In the year 2000 Roehampton University was awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in recognition of the Centre's excellent work.

Children's literature can also be studied by Distance Learning

Entry requirements

A good second-class honours degree (or above) in a relevant subject area (normally English, history or another humanities subject), or alternatively a teaching qualification, plus further advanced study.

Appropriate qualifications and experience, such as publishing, librarianship or freelance research will also be considered.

Students without these qualifications may be admitted as associate students, with the possibility of changing to MA/postgraduate diploma subject to convener's approval.

If you have not quite reached this standard, or feel that you would benefit from a short course in English before you start your degree programme at Roehampton, we can help. Please find which course would be right for you.

You can also view our postgraduate entry requirements.

Length of programme

Full-time: 1 year Part-time: 2-6 years

Number of places

Programme start date

September and January

Number of Credits

PGDip: 120 MA: 180

Fees

Band 3

Contact the course convener

Dr Lisa Sainsbury