Comparative Literature with a Year Abroad BA
London, Bloomsbury
Comparative Literature with a Year Abroad BA (2024)
This four-year degree offers the same advantages as the Comparative Literature BA, with the added attraction of a year spent overseas at one of our partner universities in Europe or the Americas. It combines comparative critical enquiry with a more in-depth study of one modern European language, its literature and culture.
Study mode
Duration
UK tuition fees (2023/24)
Overseas tuition fees (2023/24)
Programme starts
September 2023Application deadline
25 Jan 2023UCAS course code
Entry requirements
- Grades
- AAA
- Subjects
- A humanities subject required. French or Spanish required at grade A if one of these is to be studied as major language pathway.
- GCSEs
- English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 5.
Contextual offer information
- Grades
- ABB more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- A humanities subject required. French or Spanish required at grade A if one of these is to be studied as major language pathway.
- GCSEs
- English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 5.
- Points
- 38
- Subjects
- A total of 18 points in three higher level subjects with no score below 5. French or Spanish required at higher level grade 6 if one of these is to be studied as major language pathway
Contextual offer
- Points
- 34 more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects with no score below 5. French or Spanish required at higher level grade 6 if one of these is to be studied as major language pathway.
UK applicants qualifications
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
Equivalent qualification
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Pass in Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 33 credits at Distinction and 12 credits at Merit, all from Level 3 units. Please note, where subject specific requirements are stipulated at A level we may review your Access to HE syllabus to ensure you meet the subject specific requirements prior to a final decision being communicated.
Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A levels at grades AAA. A humanities subject required. French or Spanish required at grade A if one of these is to be studied as major language pathway.
A,A,A at Advanced Highers (or A,A at Advanced Higher and A,A,A at Higher). French or Spanish required at grade A if one of these is to be studied as major language pathway.
D3,D3,D3 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects. French or Spanish required at grade D3 if one of these is to be studied as major language pathway
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
International applications
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
Access and widening participation
UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. If you are eligible for Access UCL you do not need to do anything in addition to the standard UCAS application. Your application will be automatically flagged when we receive it.Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates
The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.
Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.
For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.
English language requirements
The English language level for this programme is: Level 4
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Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.
Course overview
In Years 1 and 2 you will take culture-specific compulsory modules in the School of European Language, Culture and Society or in the School of Slavonic and East European Studies. You will also study language and literature modules in one foreign language - selected prior to enrolment - either at beginner's level or at more advanced post-A level alongside students taking modern languages degrees.
You will also take modules in comparative literature and select from a wide range of options across different specialisms.
The third year is spent abroad where your foreign language of choice is spoken. At least 50% of the subjects studied abroad must be in the area of literary and cultural studies. You may also study a second language subject with the host university's permission.
In your final year, you will continue studying either your first foreign language or a different foreign language (which may be the one you began studying abroad) at an advanced level, together with elective modules in comparative literature. You will also take a dissertation module allowing you to focus on an area of your interest from your studies.
What this course will give you
UCL, being London's Global University, provides the ideal environment in which to undertake a Comparative Literature degree. You will work with both academics and fellow students from all over the world. This dynamic programme examines world literature from diverse geographical and cultural perspectives and equips students for a career in today's global society.
This programme offers the opportunity to study one or two modern languages to an advanced level, and incorporates an engagement with literature written in different cultural contexts.
The Year Abroad will give you a deeper understanding of a modern foreign language and its variants, as well as giving you the experience of living and studying in another country.
Comparative literature modules in Years 1 and 2 and in your final year will explore the reception, circulation and translation of texts across different periods and cultures.
Teaching and learning
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Upon successful completion of 360 credits, you will be awarded a BA (Hons) in Comparative Literature with a Year Abroad.
Modules
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.
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Please click here for a current list of undergraduate modules in SELCS.
Optional modules
Optional modules
Your learning
You will experience a wide range of learning opportunities, including lectures, seminars, tutorials, interactive groups and multimedia projects. Core modules will be taken together with all Comparative Literature students in your year. Optional modules will be taught by specialist staff from across UCL and will provide you with an opportunity to learn alongside students on other programmes.
During Terms 1 and 2, approximately 35% of a student's time is spent in lectures, seminars or tutorials and the remainder in independent study. There is minimal teaching during Term 3, which focusses on examinations and assessment.
Assessment
You will be assessed by written examination and essay. Project work and a dissertation will contribute to your overall assessment. You will be required to give presentations, work on group projects and multimedia projects and actively participate in class discussion. Languages are also assessed by oral examination.
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.
The foundation of your career
The programme will equip you with a comprehensive understanding and skillset for a range of careers across an array of industries. Recent graduates have gone on to work in sectors such as publishing, journalism, translation, teaching and other educational organisations, accountancy and financial services, and public sector roles, as well as pursuing further study at postgraduate level.
Employability
Upon graduation you will have gained breadth of knowledge, cultural awareness, writing skills, and familiarity with advanced textual analysis. You will have a detailed and effective understanding of at least one language other than English and will be able to work flexibly and creatively across cultures and in a range of fields.
Fees and funding
Fees for this course
| Fee description | Full-time |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees (2023/24) | £9,250 |
| Tuition fees (2023/24) | £26,200 |
The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2023/24 academic year. The UK fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2023/24 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate/funding-your-studies.
Additional costs
The Study Abroad year will incur additional travel and living costs which vary depending on destination and what you choose to do during the year.
Additional funding may be available via the Turing Scheme, although please note that this is an external scheme so cannot be guaranteed.
In addition, please note that if you wish to study abroad during your programme at UCL, this is likely to incur additional costs. Studying abroad may cost between £200–£1,000 per month depending on where you choose to study. The cost of studying abroad can be difficult to predict as it will depend on your priorities and choices. There is more information available on the UCL Study Abroad website.
A guide including rough estimates for these and other living expenses is included on the UCL Fees and funding pages. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).
Funding your studies
Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.
Scholarships
The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.
Next steps
How to apply
Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
Selection
For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.
We may interview candidates in person or by telephone to assess linguistic ability (if stated), cultural awareness and intellectual potential. If you meet our entry criteria and show the required level of motivation, we will invite you to a Post Offer Open Day
Got questions? Get in touch
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