Children's Literature (Taught)

Expand your understanding of children’s and young adult literature by specialising as a researcher, creative writer, or children’s book illustrator with the MA Children’s Literature programme.

Why study MA Children's Literature at Goldsmiths

• Develop a well-rounded understanding of children’s and young adult (YA) literature, focusing on its creative, cultural, and commercial impact in the UK and globally.

• Learn from leading figures in children’s and young adult literature, including former Children’s Laureate, Professor Michael Rosen.

• Engage with industry professionals, educators, and literacy advocates who regularly join us as guest speakers.

• Benefit from the opportunity to apply for one of our internships to support the development of your career. In 2024-2025, placement opportunities have been offered with BookTrust, the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, and Usborne Books, a leading independent children’s publisher.

• Celebrate the importance of culturally relevant books for showing underrepresented readers that they have a place in the world. Our core module – Inclusion and Diversity – examines how texts for young people can challenge and disrupt existing power systems.

• Specialise as a researcher, creative writer, or children’s book illustrator and build a portfolio of work to support you in life beyond the MA Children’s Literature.

• Contribute to Spinning Gold, the online publication led by MA Children’s Literature students, and take part in the Children’s and Young Adult Literature Research Forum, where you’ll connect with fellow researchers and practitioners in the field.

Pathways
The optional elements of this programme mean you can choose between pursuing a pathway focusing on the study of literature for children in community contexts (Theory and Criticism pathway) or to mainly focus on developing your writing for children (Creative Writing pathway).

MA Children’s Literature: Theoretical Approaches to Children’s and Young Adult Literature
This pathway is for those who want to specialise as a researcher and a critical thinker. Whether you come from an academic, publishing, education, or children's media background, and whether you are an established professional or just starting out, this pathway will support your development in the world of children’s and YA literature.

It can also prepare you to go on to doctoral-level study.

MA Children’s Literature: Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults
Those on this pathway will explore the world of children’s and YA literature, and find innovative and exciting ways to develop their creative writing for diverse readers, while reflecting critically on the process and contexts in which they write.