MA/MS in English is a master's degree in Literature programme offered by Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada. The programme runs for 16 months, delivered on campus. Tuition for international students is CAD 18,024 per year (CAD 9,945 per year for local students).
Also offered as: Bachelor's Degree
At a glance
Degree:Master's Degree
Field:Literature
Duration: 16 months
Delivery: On Campus
Local tuition: CAD 9,945 / year
International tuition: CAD 18,024 / year
Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
This program leads to a Master of Arts in English at Dalhousie University, offered through the Department of English in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences in Halifax. It is a thesis-based degree: students complete graduate coursework and then carry out independent research under a faculty supervisor, culminating in a thesis defence. The program can be taken full-time or part-time, with a standard length of 16 months or longer, and is delivered in person. Coursework and research draw on the department's strengths across literary and cultural study, giving students the chance to shape a program of study around their own scholarly interests within a small graduate cohort. The degree functions as a research credential that develops close reading, writing, and analytical skills applicable well beyond a university setting. Graduates go on to doctoral study in English or related humanities fields, and others move into careers such as law, publishing, communications, journalism, and teaching. The program suits students with an undergraduate background in English or a closely related discipline who want to pursue sustained, supervised research on a topic of their choosing, whether as a step toward a PhD or as preparation for professional work that values advanced written and critical-thinking skills.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:3.70 / 4.3
Admission Requirements: Applicants need a GPA of at least A- (3.7 on the 4.3 scale) in courses from the last two years. Two academic letters of recommendation are required, submitted online or as signed hard copies. A formal writing sample is not required, though one may be requested from applicants whose first language is not English or who studied at an unfamiliar university system; all applicants submit a 500-word Statement of Intent describing their specific interests in the program. Non-native English speakers must meet Dalhousie's English language proficiency standards. The application deadline is January 15 for Fall admission.
