Masters Programmes in Gender and Women's Studies

The Centre for Gender and for Women's Studies offers a range of single and combined MA programmes which can be taken full-time over one year or part-time over two years. All these MAs address key contemporary concerns along with a thorough introduction to and exploration of feminist intellectual traditions. You will learn about debates within Gender and Women's Studies and how to pursue your own concerns. You will develop skills in relevant research methods as well as knowledge of intellectual concepts.

The MA in Gender and Women's Studies programme is cross-disciplinary. The programmes are taught by academics from several departments who are strongly committed to Gender and Women's Studies and are actively engaged in exciting research which integrates concerns about gender, power and difference with work in Cultural Studies, English, Environmental Policy, Health Studies, History, Management, Politics, Religious Studies, Science Studies, Sociology and Theatre Studies. Whichever programme you choose you will gain an understanding of the diversity of feminist perspectives and be able to develop intellectually informed and methodologically skilled ways to identify, define and research your own interests.

We hope students on all the MA courses draw on each others experience and ideas and that the programmes complement each other, as well as having their distinctive concerns. The MA Convenor organises social events for all MA students within the Institute.

We are recognised for funding for both MA and research degrees by the ESRC and the AHRB.

You can choose from the following specialist MA programmes:

MA in Gender and Women's Studies
MA in Feminist Cultural Theory and Practice
MA in Gender and Women's Studies and English
MA in Gender and Women's Studies and Sociology
MA in Gender and Women's Studies and Education

For more information please see below:

The MA in Women's Studies

The purpose of this MA is to offer students postgraduate training which will deepen their perspectives on Gender and Women's Studies and allow them to develop specialist interests. You will gain a thorough introduction to the intellectual traditions, concepts and political concerns which have shaped the evolution of Women's Studies through consideration of key debates and issues. You will also be introduced to, critically reflect upon and have the opportunity to practice, feminist research methods. Through reading this MA you will gain an understanding of the diversity of feminist perspectives and approaches to research, a thorough knowledge of key debates and authors and develop research methodology skills.

The MA in Feminist Cultural Theory and Practice

The MA in Feminist Cultural Theory and Practice draws on largely the same modules as the MA in Women's Studies, but with a stronger emphasis on the role of cultural formations , a different core course, and closer links with the MA in Visual Culture and the MA in Cultural Studies. You are able to take one of the core modules from these MA's as an option: this will allow you to gain a knowledge of some of the wider debates in cultural studies that inform, and are informed by, feminist debates. Although the MA is meant to investigate the specific questions posed by feminism about culture, you will be invited to consider the relation between feminist work and cultural studies. The MA will allow you to investigate cultural practices from a range of different feminist perspectives, and will also ask the question of why 'culture' itself has become a privileged term in feminist research.

MA in Research Training in Women's Studies

This MA is designed to provide you with a thorough training in qualitative and quantitative research methods contextualised within feminist theory and practice. It responds to ESRC guidelines for research training in which the MA year provides the groundwork for PhD research.

MA in Women's Studies and Education

The MA in Women's Studies and Education combines work in Women's Studies and in Educational Research. This course offers the opportunity to pursue issues pertaining to education and gender including: equal opportunities in educational settings and feminist perspectives on education. Students do core courses in each of the disciplines and they can choose from a range of optional courses in addition to these. This combination is administered from the Educational Research Department and applications should go to that Department.

MA in Women's Studies and English

The MA in Women's Studies and English combines work in Women's Studies and in English Literature. Students who want to pursue literary studies or who have a particular interest in women's literature or feminist literary theory will find this an attractive combination. Students do core courses in each of the disciplines and they can choose from a range of optional courses in addition to these. This combination is administered from the Centre for Gender and Women's Studies.

MA in Women's Studies and Sociology

The MA in Women's Studies and Sociology combines work in Women's Studies and Sociology. Students who are particularly interested in social research and/or feminist sociological theory will find this an attractive course. Students do core courses in each of the disciplines and they can choose from a range of optional courses in addition to these. This combination is administered from the Centre for Gender and Women's Studies.

Why Lancaster?

Lancaster leads the league tables
Wide range of accommodation
Beautiful countryside & proximity to the Lake District
Excellent preparation for careers and further research

All our degrees can be taken either full-time (12 months) or part-time (24 months).

Visiting Students?

The department welcomes applications from MA students registered at other Universities at home and abroad to come to Lancaster for short periods as visiting students. Further information.