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MLitt, MSc Gender Studies (Applied)

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Gain the very best conceptual and practical skills in gender analysis and research, all underpinned by feminist and queer theory. Apply now for our Masters in Gender Studies (Applied).

Key facts

  • Award Masters / MLitt, Masters / MSc, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma
  • Start date September 2024
  • Duration MLitt / MSc full-time: 12 months, MLitt / MSc part-time: 27 months
  • Mode of study full time, part time
  • Delivery on campus

Overview

Our Masters degree in Gender Studies examines the history, context and development of key debates around gender, sexuality and identity, exploring commonalities and differences in the ways they have played out in a range of contemporary, historical and global cultures.

Developed by specialists who are passionately engaged with gender, feminist and queer issues, the strength of our programme lies in its interdisciplinary curriculum which branches across multiple fields ranging from: film, media and literary studies, sociology, history, philosophy, curation and politics.  

Through core modules like Understanding Gender, Researching Gender and Key Feminist Thinkers, you’ll explore a range of theoretical and methodological approaches for studying gender. You’ll also delve into the ways in which academic debate informs, is shaped by and is at times distanced from how gender actually ‘works’ in true situations.

The course places the application of learning to real-world contexts at the heart of its teaching. You’ll have the opportunity to apply your learning on a research placement. The course team has established links with potential placement providers from the third sector, as well as with a number of organisations who are committed to gender equality as part of their work in arts, culture and sport.

As a member of the Institute for Advanced Studies, you’ll have access to seminars and events held across the university led by staff and practitioners working on gender, LGBT, queer and feminist issues.

Top reasons to study with us

Course objectives

Choose your own route

We offer both an MLitt degree and an MSc degree route to allow for different specialisms and research-training needs:

  • The MSc degree is a recognised doctoral training programme for the Scottish Graduate School for Social Sciences, and places a greater emphasis on social science research methods and data analysis. It’s the recommended route if you’re interested in PhD study in Social Sciences.
  • The MLitt degree offers you more optional modules and is better suited to students looking for an all-round education in Gender Studies, or are interested in further postgraduate study in Arts and Humanities.

Work placements

Your research placement enables you to apply your research in real-world contexts. We have connections with a wide range of potential placement providers, from the leading feminist organisations across the third sector in Scotland to a number of organisations who are committed to gender equality as part of their work in arts, culture and sport. 

Flexible learning

If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

A minimum of a second class Honours degree (2.1 preferred) or equivalent. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate work experience are encouraged to apply.

Other routes of entry

If you don't currently meet our academic requirements, INTO University of Stirling offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need to progress onto some of our courses. Explore INTO University of Stirling to see the pathway and pre-masters routes available.

International entry requirements

View the entry requirements for your country.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

  • IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill.
  • Pearson Test of English (Academic) 61 overall with 56 in each sub-skill.
  • IBT TOEFL 80 overall with 18 in reading, 23 in writing, 19 in listening and 21 in speaking.

See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.

Pre-sessional English language courses

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.

Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses.

Course details

The Gender Studies (Applied) Masters course combines interdisciplinary core modules on gender theory, feminist research and philosophy, LGBT+ studies and queer theory, with optional modules from a range of disciplinary traditions.

Core modules focus on providing you with an interdisciplinary frame for the critical study of gender that is grounded in feminist and queer theory, and empower you with critical thinking skills to challenge and better understand how both gender and sexuality shape the work and our places in it. Collectively, they equip you with a knowledge and understanding of key debates in gender studies about ontology, epistemology and methodology, and enable you to identify the ways these debates have played out in different disciplines and contexts.

If you follow the MSc degree route, you’ll take two further research methods core modules with a focus on quantitative and qualitative data analysis, which provide advanced social science-oriented methods training. This is essential for students considering undertaking further postgraduate research in Social Sciences.

Optional modules – of which MLitt degree students take three, and the MSc degree students one – offer opportunities for wider, research-based learning, collectively providing a multi-disciplinary perspective for the study of gender issues. Advanced readings in Gender Studies allows students to work on a research project of their own choosing with one-to-one tutorial support from experts in the field. Other modules include: Queer Studies in Dark Times which considers recent developments in queer theory in the current volatile cultural climate, and Contemporary Masculinities, a timely module which takes aim squarely at shifts in attitudes towards global masculinities.

You’ll then complete the course by researching and producing your own dissertation on a Gender Studies topic of around 15,000 words.

 

Modules

The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the current academic year (September 2023). Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.

Course Details

Teaching

The core modules are delivered in weekly seminars which combine delivery of lecture material and small group tasks/discussions and debates which seek to unpack weekly learning.

We also have guest speakers from research and activist areas of social politics.

Fieldwork

Some examples of field trips include:

  • Glasgow Women’s Library
  • National Library of Scotland: Moving Image Archive
  • SQIFF (Scottish Queer International Film Festival)
  • Glasgow Film Festival
  • Glasgow Women’s Rape Crisis Centre
  • Zero Tolerance
  • The Ferret
  • Radical Independent Community Book stores

Assessment

Assessment is all conducted through coursework. The assessments are designed to allow you to develop and enhance academic skills in writing and research. The Understanding Gender, Researching Gender and Key Feminist Thinkers modules all have more than one assessment point in order to allow for feedback and improvement.

In research focused modules such as Advanced Readings in Gender Studies or the research placement module, you’ll deliver your work in a form agreed in advance with the placement provider/academic supervisor. This allows you to meet their needs, but also get the chance to develop skills in delivering research in real-world contexts.

Key staff

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Dr Katherine Champion Lecturer in Media and Communications

Senior Lecturer, Dr Katherine Champion, a specialist in Media and Communications, explains how studying at Stirling can enhance your career prospects.

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Fees and funding

Fees and costs

2023/242024/25
Students from the UK and Republic of Ireland£7,600£8,000
International (including EU) students£17,775£18,700

University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our  Stirling Alumni Scholarship.

Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship

Fees shown are for a full-time, one-year Masters course. 

If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees. 

If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry. 

For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.

Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.

Fees shown are for a full-time, one-year Masters course. 

If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees. 

If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry. 

For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.

Postgraduate tuition fee loans

This course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the section, below, for more details.

Additional costs

There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.

Scholarships and funding

Funding 

Eligible international students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.

University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.

Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.

If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.

Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.

Dr Dee Amy-Chinn Gender Studies Scholarship

Students of the MLitt and MSc Gender Studies (Applied) can apply for the Dr Dee Amy-Chinn Gender Studies Scholarship.

Postgraduate tuition fee loans

Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.

English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.

Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.

Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £5,500 from Student Finance NI.

Cost of living

If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.

International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.

Find out about the cost of living for students at Stirling

Payment options

We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay

After you graduate

Our Masters course combines in-depth knowledge of gender studies with transferable skills in research and analysis that are indispensable to a range of public, private and third-sector organisations.

The course can also serve as a launching pad for further postgraduate studies.

Testimonial quotes

This is an exciting and innovative course. It’s also a crucial time in the development of women’s soccer in Scotland, and as the top team in the country, we’re delighted to be able to offer research placements to Gender Studies students.

Laura Montgomery
Club Manager, Glasgow City FC

Employability skills

We offer a comprehensive employability and skills programme to help you maximise your time at university and develop the graduate attributes required by employers. We have a dedicated Faculty Employability and Skills Officer. There's also our Careers Service who work in partnership with academic staff to ensure you get the best out of your University experience and are given the right opportunities to make you ready for the world of work.

Companies we work with

Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis have been delighted to work students from the Gender Studies programme at the University of Stirling. There are so many complex areas that practitioners in our service would benefit from knowing more about and the research students we have worked with have provided us with valuable knowledge that we can then use to implement change at a strategic and operational level.

Paula Manners
Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis Centre

What our students said

Caroline  Darke
Caroline Darke
United Kingdom
MLitt Gender Studies
It provides an excellent opportunity to apply this learning in real and practical ways, ensuring that your research can have a direct impact on the lives of women and girls across the UK, and beyond.
Read Caroline's story

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