Overview
We’re committed to reading literature in ways that extend beyond single languages and cultures. When you study our Comparative Literature PhD, you’ll benefit from cross-departmental expertise and supervision that spans various language areas and methodologies.
Introduction
With specialists across the range of languages taught in the Department of Languages, Cultures and Film, we provide varied supervision in the areas of comparative and world literature so you can undertake groundbreaking research. Our postgraduate researchers have played a pioneering role in work on postcolonial and translingual writing and have contributed to major research programmes and projects, including Translating Cultures and Transnationalising Modern Languages.
Collaboration between schools means that postgraduate researchers from the Department of English make a full contribution to our comparative literature pathway, extending the range of comparison to literatures throughout the Anglophone world. This ensures that our students have full access to the Centre for New and International Writing.
Additionally, our researchers contribute to the wider field of translation studies and include practicing translators committed to researching multilingually, extending theoretical bases beyond conventional understandings of the field.
Research topics
Our Comparative Literature PhD covers a broad range of potential topics for investigation. We welcome research proposals in topics including:
- Translingual and exophonic writing
- Postcolonial literature
- Digital humanities
- Multilingualism
- Translation studies.
Research culture
Our staff have demonstrated international excellence in emerging areas such as digital media. We offer specialisms across a range of genres, including the novel, short story, travel writing and graphic fiction. Supervisors have an interest in canonical literatures and emerging voices and offer expertise across a range of theoretical approaches.
Additionally, our research groups provide a forum for the exchange of new concepts and knowledge produced by staff and postgraduate researchers. This gives you the opportunity to present your research, develop your research profile, and interact with other leading figures in your field of study.
Research groups include: