Disability Studies is a relatively new but rapidly growing academic discipline, as illustrated by the international proliferation of courses, events, networks, journals, book series, monographs, edited collections, and so on.

Though drawing on this progress substantially, the Disability Studies MA differs from similar programs insofar as it places particular emphasis on cultural issues. Liverpool Hope University is not only interested in the policies, prejudices, and professions around disability but also its representation in literature, media, film, art and so on. The university is particularly well suited as a host for this program on many counts. Most obviously, and indeed most importantly, the university has a wealth of specialist staff and resources. Liverpool Hope University has a number of experts in Disability Studies, award winning tutors, and internationally recognized scholars and researchers. The regional, national, and international profile of the program is enhanced greatly by the Centre for Culture & Disability Studies–and, by extension, the Journal of Literary & Cultural Disability Studies, the Literary Disability Studies book series, the on-going seminar series, and the International Network of Literary & Cultural Disability Scholars–that is housed at the Graduate School in the Faculty of Education, Liverpool Hope University.