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For MA enquiries contact Els Braeken, the Administrator at e.braeken@ucl.ac.uk


For Research Degree enquiries contact Patrizia Oliver at patrizia.oliver@ucl.ac.uk

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MA Comparative Literature

The UCL Arts and Humanities MA in Comparative Literature is a taught graduate degree programme.

Only 60 students are admitted into this programme each year, joining us from all over the world.

The programme aims to give students a thorough understanding of modern theories of literature, the contexts of literature and the interaction between literatures, and to provide practical experience in comparative literary studies.

Teaching and supervision are organised on an interdepartmental basis. Language and literature departments from across the Arts and Humanities Faculty contribute to the programme, including the School of European Languages, Culture and Society (SELCS) and the School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES). We have a cooperation agreement with the nearby School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) to ensure global coverage.

Due to very high levels of demand in this area, the programme has opened up a new innovative stream in anglophone literature and film, which started in autumn 2011; this can either be pursued as a specialist pathway or flexibly combined with courses on European and world literatures

Preliminary Reading Suggestions

Degree Structure

Core Modules

All students attend the two MA core courses:

These courses consist of:

- an introductory general session for all students on the MA

- two small-group seminars – to be chosen from a range of six seminars

- a concluding general session.

Some modules focus specifically on anglophone literature and film; others are thematic, comparative, or specialise in different areas of European and world literatures.

Optional Modules

All students can choose at least one of the following Comparative Literature MA core options. These courses are specifically aimed at students who wish to pursue the study of comparative literature at research level. Some core options focus primarily on anglophone literature and film in comparative context; others are thematic, inter-cultural, or specialise in different areas of European and world literatures.

This list is provisional and indicative; other core options may be available, and not all core options may run in any given year. A complete list of core options will be provided by the programme convenor at the start of each academic year.

Additional Information

All students on the taught pathway choose a further 30-credit option, or a combination of two 15-credit options. This may be one of the courses listed above or any other 30-credit MA option or two 15-credit options offered in UCL, subject to availability.

Students can choose between a taught pathway and a research pathway, each totalling 180 credits.

Admissions

Candidates for admission to the programme should normally have at least a good upper second-class Honours BA degree, or its EU or overseas equivalent, normally in a language and literature or in a related subject such as history, cultural studies or media studies. Applicants should be aware that many applicants accepted onto the course have a first class Honours BA degree or its EU or overseas equivalent.

Successful applicants will normally be proficient in at least two languages (including English). Candidates who do not have proficiency in a language other than English may be considered provided they have appropriate qualifications in a relevant field of study, and a strong interest in comparative approaches to literature and culture.

Please see the Admissions page for information on how to apply.