Oxford University's English department is the largest in Britain. The university offers seven options for Masters in English programs. Each program is divided by time period, ranging from 650 AD to the present. There is also a strand devoted to English and American Studies. Most programs take one year to complete, with only the Master of Philosophy in Medieval Studies (Medieval English intensive) taking two years. After students complete any of these degrees or complete a Masters in English at another institution, they may apply for M.Litt or D.Phil research degrees in any area of English they want to explore.
Located in lively New York City, the Master of Arts or Master of Philosophy in English at Columbia University is the top rated free-standing Masters program in English in the United States according to the U.S. News and World Report. This means that applicants are only required to have an undergraduate degree with high standing to apply, as well as relevant test scores depending on their home country. The program usually takes one year on a full-time basis and requires a 23-30 page essay to complete the program. Students must also demonstrate knowledge of a second language relevant to their work, by the end of their studies.
The University of Toronto is the largest university in Canada and has the best reputation with employers in-country and abroad. The Master of Arts in English program has a creative writing option. Both tracks provide a wide variety of courses from differing time periods and study areas. They can also be combined with collaborative programs in Book History, Gender Studies, Editing Medieval Texts, Jewish Studies, and many others.
The University of Sydney's Master of English Language program is unique because it focuses on practical uses and professional research areas in English. Some sample course titles include "Media Discourse," "Bilingualism," "Communication in Professional Contexts," and "Structure of English." Furthermore, two of the four required courses are about Sydney and Australia specifically.