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Course overview

  • Deepen your understanding of gender and sexuality - two of the most powerful concepts shaping contemporary life
  • Gain critical insight into the histories and politics of feminist, queer, and trans studies, including the UK’s first dedicated module on ‘Trans Theory’
  • Join the vibrant research culture of the Centre for the Study of Sexuality and Culture - home to pioneering projects like the AHRC-funded research network “Beyond Radical: Queer Theory and the UK”
  • Connect with leading thinkers and creatives at the Manchester Sexuality Summer School, an annual event exploring cutting-edge debates in the field
  • Immerse yourself in Manchester’s dynamic feminist, queer, and trans cultural scene - unmatched anywhere else in the north of England
  • The University of Manchester is a world-leading institution, ranked in the top-50 globally for Arts and Humanities by Times Higher Education 2025

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Study MA Gender, Sexuality and Culture

Contact details

School/Faculty
School of Arts, Languages and Cultures
Contact name
PG Taught Admissions
Email
Website
http://www.alc.manchester.ac.uk/english/
School/Faculty overview

See: About us

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

We normally expect students to have a First or Upper Second class honours degree or its overseas equivalent in a humanities-based subject area.

English language

We will only consider a minimum overall grade of7.0 in IELTS with7.0 in writing and noskillbelow 6.5 or 100+ in the TOEFL iBTwith a minimum writing score of 25 and no skill below 22.

If you haveobtained a differentqualification, pleasecheck our English language requirements to ensure that it is accepted and equivalent to the required standard.

Please note that this course does not make conditional offers on completing a pre-sessional course. You must already meet the minimum requirements as outlined above or your application will be rejected.

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Other international entry requirements

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements including English language see entry requirements from your country .

Fees and funding

Fees

Fees for entry in 2026 have not yet been set. For reference, the fees for the academic year beginning September 2025 were as follows:

  • MA (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £13,000
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £27,000
  • MA (part-time)
    UK students (per annum): £6,500
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £13,500

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit: postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

International Student CAS Deposit

International applicants will be required to pay a mandatory CAS deposit of £2,500 that confirms your intention to study in the UK.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

Application and selection

How to apply

Apply online

Advice to applicants

The personal statement in the application form should demonstrates your understanding of the subject andyour motivation for wanting tostudy the programme.

We also require an academic-standard essay (in English)no more than4,000 words long on subject related to Gender, Sexuality and Culture.

Please use the Portfolio option in the Supporting Documents section of the application form to upload your writing sample.

How your application is considered

Applications are mainly considered on the basis of an assessment of past and predicted academic achievements and the required supplementary evidence that supports the application. Once we have an application that is ready for a decision, the admissions tutor (often the Programme Director) will relay the decision to the admissions team, who will send you this decision.

Please note that your application is usually received by the School 24 to 48 hours after the time you submit it. If you have not provided documentation that allows the admissions tutor to make a decision, we will contact you.

Overseas (non-UK) applicants

The University will take into account the academic standing of a candidate's University, as advised by our international office using published world and country rankings.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

Course details

Course description

The MA in Gender, Sexuality and Culture isn’t just a degree, it’s an invitation to rethink the world we live in.

Whether you're passionate about LGBTQ+ rights, feminist theory, queer and trans theory, or the cultural politics of identity, this bold and interdisciplinary course gives you the tools to explore gender and sexuality in powerful, transformative ways. Taught by leading voices in the field, you’ll connect theory with real-world impact — from trans studies and queer cinema to race, pop culture, and political resistance.

What makes us unique?

  • Interdisciplinary to the core – Study across English, American Studies, Art History, Politics, History, Modern Languages, Theology, Sociology, Anthropology, and more
  • Research-rich environment – Home to the Centre for the Study of Sexuality and Culture (CSSC), a national and international centre of excellence for gender and sexuality studies
  • Live culture meets academic thought – Manchester’s festivals, museums, and queer arts scenes add fuel to your studies
  • Global perspectives – Tackle debates that matter across borders: intersectionality, trans rights, postcolonial identities, and the legacies of the AIDS crisis

This course is made for the curious and the critical.

Special features

Sexuality Summer School

An unforgettable week-long event bringing together international scholars, artists, and students to explore the cutting edge of feminist, queer and trans theory, culture, and activism.

Dynamic Research Culture

Join a buzzing intellectual community shaped by the CSSC , the Morgan Centre , CIDRAL , and many scholars working across the University on diverse topics from LGBTQ+ inclusion in healthcare, to the cultural politics of chem sex.

Cultural Manchester

Manchester enjoys a dynamic cultural scene. Annual festivals celebrate everything from contemporary literature to gay rights.

Teaching and learning

You’ll learn through seminars, lectures, workshops, and independent research, led by staff including:

Coursework and assessment

You will be assessed in a variety of ways depending on the units you take, including written assignments, participation in discussions, and presentations.

Course unit details

You will undertake units totalling 180 credits. Core and optional units combine to make 120 credits, with the remaining 60 credits allocated to the dissertation.
You can see the full information online for our module 'Trans Theory' ENGL71831

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
ENGL60000 60 Mandatory
ENGL60971 30 Mandatory
AMER62002 15 Optional
AMER62031 15 Optional
ENGL60081 30 Optional
ENGL60152 30 Optional
ENGL60451 30 Optional
ENGL60462 30 Optional
ENGL60882 15 Optional
ENGL70032 30 Optional
ENGL71212 30 Optional
ENGL71821 30 Optional
ENGL71832 30 Optional
HIST65182 15 Optional
POLI71151 15 Optional
SALC61081 15 Optional
SOCY60551 15 Optional
SOCY60991 15 Optional
SOCY70061 15 Optional
Displaying 10 of 19 course units
Display all course units

What our students say

My first semester at UoM has seen me negotiating between what I assumed to be the ultimate truth and the very, many theoretical knowledge that scholars over decades have developed.

The programme has given me language, histories and methods to think about my position in this world as a black woman from the Caribbean.

Kristina / MA Gender, Sexuality and Culture Student

"The MA in Gender, Sexuality and Culture is unique in the UK, and Manchester offers a great variety of study resources. Furthermore, the city's cultural offering complements my course extremely well." – Anne, MA student

Read all about student Kristina's experience on the MA Gender, Sexuality and Culture course here at Manchester in this blog post .

Facilities

You will have access to one of the UK's five National Research Libraries at Manchester, as well as 24/7 study facilities at the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons and cultural assets such as the John Rylands Library, the Whitworth and the Manchester Museum.

Find out more about facilities for master's students .

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

Careers

Career opportunities

This course opens doors to careers in:

  • Policy and government
  • Human rights and advocacy
  • Publishing and media
  • NGOs and non-profits
  • Academic research and teaching

You’ll graduate with critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills that employers value - and a deep understanding of cultural change in action.

The University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate. At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability .

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.