Overview

This degree is designed to give you an exciting exploration of literary and cultural products and critical issues that span national and linguistic borders as well as time periods.

You will become acquainted with the theory and practice of comparative literary and cultural studies, consider how concepts of national cultures cross borders and media forms, and interact with ideas of the transnational and intermedial. You will gain a thorough grounding in literary, cultural and intermedial theories; critical reading and research skills; and put this theoretical knowledge into practice by studying topics and themes that span disciplines, national contexts and time periods. You could choose to follow a 'literature', 'visual culture', or 'history' pathway according to your interest, by selecting from different optional units taught by internationally recognised scholars in a wide range of disciplines covered by the School of Modern Languages and other schools and departments within the faculty.

While knowledge of a foreign language is not a requirement for this programme, you will have the opportunity to learn a language at a variety of levels, from beginner to advanced, and to engage directly with material in foreign languages throughout the MA. The programme culminates in a dissertation – an extended piece of original academic research.

As a postgraduate, you will be considered a full member of the academic community, with the opportunity to participate in the many research seminars and conferences taking place within the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences.

Programme structure

There are three core units, and you will take three additional optional units from the wide range available in the School of Modern Languages, or more broadly across the faculty. Following successful completion of the taught element of the programme, you will be required to complete a dissertation of approximately 12,000 words.

Visit our programme catalogue for full details of the structure and unit content for our MA in Comparative Literatures and Cultures.

Entry requirements

You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent in an arts or humanities discipline, such as:

  • Anthropology
  • Comparative Literature
  • Cultural Geography
  • English
  • Film
  • History
  • Linguistics
  • Modern Languages
  • Philosophy
  • Theatre
  • Visual Art

Applicants should have studied one literature module, and have achieved 60% or international equivalent in this.

Non-traditional qualifications/routes may also be considered.

If you are currently completing a degree, we understand that your final grade may be higher than the interim grades or module/unit grades you have achieved during your studies to date. We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree. Specific module requirements would still apply.

We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement. If you have at least one of the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing details of your relevant qualifications:

  • a relevant postgraduate qualification.

Specific module requirements would still apply.

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.

Go to admissions statement

If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level B.

Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.

Fees and funding

Home: full-time
£13,200 per year
Home: part-time (two years)
£6,600 per year
Overseas: full-time
£32,500 per year

Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.

More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.

Alumni discount

University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.

Funding and scholarships

Funding and studentship opportunities are listed on the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences funding pages.

Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.

Career prospects

Studying comparative literatures and cultures allows you to develop a range of analytical skills and a multicultural and interdisciplinary awareness that will allow you to excel in many different professions. Graduates of this programme will be well prepared for doctoral studies in the humanities and arts, as well as careers in business, publishing, law, civil service, teaching, journalism, and museum and cultural heritage.