Arts & Humanities

Master of Arts (Literature)

The Master of Arts in Literature is a postgraduate programme that provides advanced study of literary theory, criticism, and creative writing across African, diaspora, and global literatures. The programme trains graduates for careers in academia, publishing, creative industries, and cultural research.

Core areas include literary theory and criticism, postmodernist criticism, oral literature, African literature, diaspora studies, creative writing, literary stylistics, and research methods in literature. Students engage with both classical and contemporary literary traditions.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi, Maseno University, and the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. UoN charges KES 21,000 per unit with a total programme cost of approximately KES 441,000. CUEA charges KES 89,063 per semester for full-time study.

Students develop competencies in critical analysis, literary research, creative writing, comparative literature, and scholarly communication. The programme includes coursework, research methodology, thesis writing, and oral defence.

The programme is delivered over four semesters of sixteen weeks each. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree in Literature, Theatre, Film, or equivalent with at least Second Class Honours Upper Division. Lower Division with relevant work experience may be considered.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, literary critics, authors, editors, publishing professionals, and cultural researchers in universities, publishing houses, media organisations, and cultural institutions.

Skills Required

Literary Theory and Criticism
Comparative Literature Analysis
Creative Writing and Composition
Oral Literature Research
Postmodernist Critical Analysis
African and Diaspora Literature Studies
Literary Stylistics and Linguistic Analysis
Research Methods in Literary Studies
Scholarly Writing and Publication
Cultural and Performance Studies

Key Subjects

Literary Theory and Criticism
Postmodernist Criticism
African Literature
Oral Literature
Creative Writing
Literary Stylistics
Diaspora Studies
Research Methods in Literature
Comparative Literature
Literary Movements

Certifications

MLA Literary Studies Certification
ALA African Literature Certification

Specializations

Literary Theory and Criticism

Focuses on advanced literary theory, criticism, postmodernism, structuralism, post-structuralism, and applying critical frameworks to literary texts.

African Literature

Examines African literature, oral traditions, contemporary African writers, regional studies, and understanding African literary traditions and their global context.

Creative Writing

Covers creative writing, experimental writing, poetry, prose, drama, and developing original creative literary works.

Diaspora Studies

Focuses on diaspora literature, African American literature, migration narratives, transnational identities, and understanding diaspora literary traditions.

Oral Literature

Examines oral literature, folklore, performance studies, oral traditions, and researching and preserving oral literary heritage.

Children's Literature

Covers children's literature, young adult fiction, educational publishing, and understanding and creating literature for young readers.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 220,500
Private, up to: Ksh 249,800
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Literary Theory and Criticism
Postmodernist Criticism
African Literature
Oral Literature
Creative Writing
Literary Stylistics
Diaspora Studies
Research Methods in Literature
Comparative Literature
Literary Movements

Modules

12 in the programme

Principles and Practice of Criticism
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines principles and practice of literary criticism, critical frameworks, classical and modern criticism, and applying critical methods to literary texts.
Research Methods in Literature and the Performing Arts
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods in literature and performing arts, archival research, textual analysis, performance analysis, and conducting literary research.
Literary Movements and Ideas up to the 21st Century
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines literary movements and ideas from classical to 21st century, romanticism, realism, modernism, postmodernism, and understanding literary history.
Diaspora Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers diaspora literature, African American literature, migration narratives, transnational identities, and understanding diaspora literary traditions.
Postmodernist Criticism
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines postmodernist criticism, post-structuralism, deconstruction, intertextuality, metafiction, and applying postmodernist critical frameworks.
Research Methods in Oral Literature
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers oral literature research methods, folklore, performance studies, fieldwork, ethnography, and researching oral literary traditions.
Creative Writing
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines creative writing, experimental writing, poetry, prose, drama, craft, and developing original creative literary works.
The Novel
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers the novel as a literary form, novel theory, narrative techniques, African novel, contemporary novel, and analysing the novel form.
Proposal and Thesis Writing
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines research proposal development, thesis writing, literature review, methodology, and preparing for the research thesis.
Advanced Literary Stylistics and Criticism
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines advanced literary stylistics, linguistic analysis of literature, style, rhetoric, and applying stylistic analysis to literary texts.
Genre and Regional Studies in African Literature
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers genre studies and regional studies in African literature, poetry, drama, novel, East African, West African, and Southern African literature.
Research and Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a literature topic, demonstrating mastery of literary research methods and original scholarly contribution, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Literary Theory and Criticism
Focuses on advanced literary theory, criticism, postmodernism, structuralism, post-structuralism, and applying critical frameworks to literary texts.
African Literature
Examines African literature, oral traditions, contemporary African writers, regional studies, and understanding African literary traditions and their global context.
Creative Writing
Covers creative writing, experimental writing, poetry, prose, drama, and developing original creative literary works.
Diaspora Studies
Focuses on diaspora literature, African American literature, migration narratives, transnational identities, and understanding diaspora literary traditions.
Oral Literature
Examines oral literature, folklore, performance studies, oral traditions, and researching and preserving oral literary heritage.
Children's Literature
Covers children's literature, young adult fiction, educational publishing, and understanding and creating literature for young readers.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MA Literature programme begins with morning seminars on literary theory, criticism, or creative writing. Students engage with both classical and contemporary literary texts, analysing themes, styles, and cultural contexts. Literary theory sessions cover postmodernism, structuralism, post-structuralism, feminist criticism, and postcolonial theory. African literature sessions examine oral traditions, contemporary African writers, regional literature, and the African literary canon. Creative writing workshops provide opportunities for students to develop original poetry, prose, and drama. Oral literature sessions explore folklore, performance studies, and oral traditions. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering literary research methods, archival research, and scholarly writing. Guest lectures from published authors, visiting scholars, and literary critics provide real-world insights into the literary profession. The programme culminates in a research thesis demonstrating mastery of literary analysis and original scholarly contribution.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's growing creative economy, publishing industry, media sector, and cultural institutions create demand for qualified literary professionals.
UoN offers MA Literature at KES 21,000 per unit with a well-established Department of Literature.
Career opportunities in academia, publishing, media, creative writing, cultural research, and communications.
Programme provides advanced critical, analytical, and creative skills applicable across multiple sectors.

Against it

Literature is a niche field with fewer direct career positions compared to professional degrees.
Academic and publishing positions are competitive and may require additional qualifications.
CUEA private tuition of KES 89,063 per semester is relatively expensive compared to public universities.
Research in literature requires access to archives, libraries, and primary texts, which may be limited in Kenya.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 188 arts & humanities courses

Public171k to 221k

171k at Maseno University221k at University of Nairobi

Private178k to 250k

178k at Catholic University of Eastern Africa250k at Daystar University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

UoN MA Lit 441K/2yr=220.5K/yr. CUEA 356K/2yr=178K/yr. Daystar ~249.8K/yr.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. ALA supports African literary research. MLA supports literary studies professional development. The programme's literary and cultural focus attracts humanities, arts, and international education funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
ALA Research Funding
MLA Fellowship Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate literary studies at recognised universities.
ALA Research Funding
GrantKsh 300,000
ALA supports African literary research, providing funding for postgraduate research in African literature.
MLA Fellowship Funding
FellowshipKsh 400,000
MLA supports literary studies globally, providing fellowships for postgraduate study in literature.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme accepts graduates from literature, theatre, film, English, linguistics, and related fields. Maseno requires BA in Literature or B.Ed Arts in English and Literature. Lower Division with work experience may be considered. Four-semester programme with full-time and part-time modes.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework essays, seminar presentations, literary analysis papers, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering literary theory, criticism, African literature, and creative writing, conducted at end of each semester.
Creative Writing Portfolio
Practical30% of the mark
Assessment of creative writing portfolio, including original poetry, prose, or drama, demonstrating craft and literary skill.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a literature topic, demonstrating mastery of literary research methods and original scholarly contribution, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Nairobi offers MA in Literature through its Department of Literature. Maseno University offers MA in Literature through its School of Arts and Social Sciences. CUEA offers MA in Literature at its Langata campus. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate literary studies.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. UoN offers MA in Literature through its Department of Literature. Maseno offers MA in Literature through its School of Arts and Social Sciences. CUEA offers MA in Literature at its Langata campus.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches literature in universities, conducting research and training future literary scholars and professionals.
Literary Critic
Low demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Reviews and critiques literary works, writing for publications, journals, and media, and contributing to literary discourse.
Author
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 500,000
Writes original literary works including novels, poetry, drama, and creative non-fiction for publication and performance.
Editor
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 450,000
Edits literary and academic publications, overseeing content quality, style, and publication processes in publishing houses.
Cultural Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 450,000
Conducts research on cultural and literary traditions, overseeing research projects, publications, and supporting cultural preservation.
Publishing Professional
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Works in publishing houses, overseeing manuscript development, editorial processes, and literary publication and distribution.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, literary critics, authors, editors, and cultural researchers in academia, publishing, and media.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Zotero
SoftwarePrimary
Reference management software for literary research, citations, bibliographies, and managing research sources.
NVivo
Software
Qualitative data analysis software for textual analysis, coding, thematic analysis, and literary research data.
Scrivener
Software
Writing software for creative writing, long-form manuscripts, thesis writing, and organising literary projects.
Google Scholar
Platform
Academic search platform for literary research, finding scholarly articles, books, and literary criticism.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

A literature degree only leads to teaching.
The programme opens careers in publishing, creative writing, journalism, cultural research, media, diplomacy, and communications, not just teaching.
Literature is not a serious academic discipline.
Literature involves rigorous critical theory, research methods, cultural analysis, and scholarly writing, contributing significantly to humanities and social sciences.
There is no demand for literature graduates in Kenya.
Kenya's growing creative economy, publishing industry, media sector, and cultural institutions create demand for qualified literary professionals.
Creative writing cannot be taught.
Creative writing programmes provide structured training, feedback, mentorship, and craft development that significantly improve writing quality and output.
African literature is limited to oral traditions.
African literature encompasses oral traditions, written literature, contemporary novels, poetry, drama, diaspora literature, and global African literary production.
A master's in literature is redundant after a BA.
The master's provides advanced critical skills, research capability, specialisation, and career progression to senior academic and literary positions.