From Taylor Swift and literature at Queen Mary University to contemporary circus at Bath Spa, we’ve had a couple of unusual degree classes blooming in the UK over the years. And now there’s another odd one to add to the list: one uni is offering an entire master’s degree in magic.
The degree in question is a taught postgraduate degree in magic and the occult at the University of Exeter. While you might think it requires wands and spells, the course actually explores the history of witchcraft and ritual magic literature around the world, as well as examining its impact on society. Topics include Greek and Roman magic, occult texts in Judaism, Christianity and Islam and explorations of alternative epistemologies, to name just a few.
Course leader Professor Emily Selove said about the programme: ‘A recent surge in interest in magic and the occult inside and outside academia lies at the heart of the most urgent questions of our society. The MA will reexamine the assumption that the West is the place of rationalism and science, while the rest of the world is a place of magic and superstition.’
Everyone can apply (even Muggles), but you do need a minimum of a 2:1 honours degree (or international equivalent) in a social sciences or humanities discipline to qualify.
The first cohort of the postgraduate degree starts in September 2024. If you’re interested in applying, check out the official course webpage here.
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