Interested in postgraduate studies in English?
(For information on postgraduate study with the Linguistics Programme, please visit the Linguistics postgraduate webpage.)
400-Level
We warmly invite students who have completed a BA degree to consider undertaking an Honours year at Otago or, if they wish to study part-time, to consider a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts over several years. Both qualifications serve as a necessary step to enter the MA programme, and consist of a series of taught papers and a research essay on a topic selected by the candidate.
Download the 400-Level handbook (PDF)
Master of Creative Writing
From 2025, the English and Linguistics programme at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, the University of Otago, is offering a new Master of Creative Writing (MCW). The year-long, full-time course enables candidates to engage in a significant piece of original creative writing in the form of fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction or another agreed genre or mix of genres. Study by distance is also possible.
Find out more about the Master of Creative Writing programme
MA or PhD?
Students who have completed a BA Honours or Postgraduate Diploma in the subject at a satisfactory level (normally A- or above) are welcome to apply for an MA, and students who currently already hold an MA are welcome to apply to do a PhD.
Please visit the MA or PhD pages for more details and the application form.
Visit our staff pages as a general guide to staff research areas along with our current postgraduate candidates' profiles and list of past theses topics.
More details about postgraduate study:
English Postgraduate Information Booklet (PDF)
Language requirements for postgraduate study
Master of Arts (Coursework) programme for Humanities students
The Master of Arts (Coursework) (MA (Coursework)) programme is designed to provide a multi-disciplinary grounding for Humanities students in a range of subjects as preparation for further study or future employment.
The programme will take either 12 months or three semesters of full-time study to complete. The programme can also be studied part-time.
Find out more about the Master of Arts (Coursework) programme
MA and PhD Scholarships
Otago offers both MA scholarships and PhD scholarships. We also offer annually the University of Otago City of Literature PhD Scholarship. Applications close each year on 31 January.