Neil Cocks, CIRCL MA graduate 1994-1995, CIRCL PhD graduate 2000
‘Studying on the MA in Children’s Literature was a genuinely life changing move, and a wholly positive one at that. Prior to the course I had been interested in Literature and Philosophy, having taken a BA in the subjects. It was only with the MA that I became committed to study and research in these areas through the extended study of Children’s Literature. As well as gaining a secure grasp of critical theory and literary history, the course gave me the confidence to study for a PhD. I am now a published academic and [was] Head of English at a large FE College [before becoming Associate Professor at CIRCL]. This simply would not have been possible without the course. The approach to the subject is rigorous, the readings I engaged in constantly surprised me, and the atmosphere was exciting, friendly and encouraging. I cannot recommend it enough!’