Faculty: Faculty of Humanities, Department of Literature, Film and Theatre Studies. This Master of Arts (MA) program offers a unique focus on writing about landscape, place, and the environment. It allows students to explore the complex relationship between humans and the environment through the lens of literary studies, cultural geography, and scientific understanding. The curriculum covers creative non-fiction (e.g., Robert Macfarlane, Kathleen Jamie, Helen Macdonald), 19th-21st century environmental poetry and prose, contemporary ecocriticism, and psychogeography. It's a collaborative program between the departments of Literature, Film and Theatre Studies and Biological Sciences, offering opportunities to gain scientific depth. Learning extends beyond the classroom with field trips to wild spaces in Essex and East Anglia (e.g., Mersea Island, Orford Ness, Tilbury, Norfolk Fens). The program caters to those wishing to develop scholarly abilities in ecocriticism, creative writing about the natural world, or both. It is one of only five universities in the UK to offer a taught postgraduate course on literature and the environment.

Graduates pursue diverse careers in writing, publishing, environmental organizations, and further academic study. Career options include: Writer (non-fiction, fiction, poetry), Environmental Journalist, Editor, Publisher, Copywriter, Communications Officer for environmental or conservation bodies, Research Assistant in environmental studies, Educator, Conservation Officer, Environmental Policy Analyst, or roles in cultural heritage and arts administration. Alumni have gone on to work on climate change, as "wild practitioners" (nature and mental health), and for natural resource departments. The program equips students with advanced critical, analytical, research, and creative writing skills valued across many sectors.

The University of Essex offers a forward-thinking environment and diverse international community, fostering a global perspective. Essex is a centre of world-leading research excellence for the social sciences, providing a strong academic foundation. It offers a location close to beautiful countryside that's only an hour away from London by train, combining access to natural spaces with urban connections for cultural and professional opportunities. The program's unique blend of literature, science, and fieldwork, along with its focus on contemporary nature writing and ecocriticism, makes it distinctive.