MLitt in Comparative Literature
Saint Andrews, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
07 Aug 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 25,880 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* overseas / home: ยฃ11,680
Key Summary
Introduction
The MLitt in Comparative Literature explores the transnational understanding of literature and culture, providing students with a critical evaluation of classical and contemporary theoretical approaches combined with the intensive study of a broad range of texts across national, cultural, and linguistic borders, and the relations between them.
Course details
The MLitt in Comparative Literature is a one-year taught program run by the School of Modern Languages. The program explores the transnational understanding of literature and culture. It aims to provide training in traditional and new research techniques.
Highlights
- Students engage with traditional and new approaches to comparative literature, deepening their understanding of the field, and working with texts both in their original languages and in English translation
- Small class sizes provide a close-knit postgraduate community and friendly environment
- Innovative core and optional modules allow students to explore new approaches to reading texts and reflecting on their critical practices
- A wide range of optional modules provides the opportunity to take modules from other disciplines
- One-on-one specialist dissertation supervision is available from across the broad range of research interests within the School of Modern Languages.
Admissions
Curriculum
The modules published below are examples of what has been taught in previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your program.
Each module typically comprises:
- Two hours per week of lectures, seminars, or practical classes
- Coursework assessment 100%
Compulsory
- Comparative Methodologies and Research Skills 1 - You will problematize established approaches and explore new and emerging directions to conceptualize how you think texts might best be analyzed and compared. The module's methodologies will underpin your acquisition of a range of transferable skills essential in academic research and non-academic roles
- Comparative Methodologies and Research Skills 2 - furthers and strengthens your engagement with comparative methodologies. your analytic and critical skills, including writing abstracts and research proposals, presenting a conference paper, disseminating research for diverse audiences, planning a conference, and IT/web research skills.
Optional
- Literary and Cultural Introspection* - invites you to look inward and consider areas of critical importance such as sex, gender, race, psychoanalysis, and the medical humanities about the self. You will engage with case studies in translation from experts across the School of Modern Languages to encourage a breadth of scholarship
- Literary and Cultural Extrospection* - invites you to look outward and consider areas of critical importance such as the postcolonial, de-colonial, transnational, and memory studies concerning society. You will engage with case studies in translation from experts across the School of Modern Languages to encourage a breadth of scholarship.
*One of these is compulsory. One or both may be taken or one may be replaced with an agreed alternative module.
Dissertation
You will spend the summer months focusing on researching and writing a final dissertation of no more than 15,000 words. Student dissertations will be supervised by members of the teaching staff who will advise on an agreed topic covering at least two different inter- or intracultural areas and provide guidance throughout the research process. The completed dissertation must be submitted by a date specified in August.
If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MLitt, there are exit awards available that allow suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MLitt.
Teaching
Teaching format
The taught portion of the course consists of two compulsory modules and a range of optional modules held over two semesters, plus a 15,000-word dissertation.
Classes are delivered primarily via small group seminars and occasionally through lectures.
Assessment
Modules are assessed through coursework; there are no final exams for this program.
Scholarships and Funding
The University of St Andrews is committed to attracting the very best students, regardless of financial circumstances.
The University of St Andrews offers postgraduate scholarships and other financial awards. These may be held in addition to external funding or awards from a government body. These may also cover (fully or partially) tuition fees, maintenance (living costs including accommodation), or both.
Scholarships are available based on academic merit and financial need. There are scholarships available for both home and overseas fee status. The scholarship team recommends reading the terms of each award carefully and applying to a range of funding sources.
Postgraduate scholarships
Postgraduate study is an investment in your intellectual development and career potential. The University of St Andrews provides scholarships to help as many students as possible continue in higher education.
Scholarship availability may depend on your area of study or fee status (for example, whether you are a 'Home' or 'Overseas' student).
Career Opportunities
Alongside your academic learning, you will develop your broader capabilities and employability. All Masters students have access to the Saints Skills Awards, two flexible awards programs undertaking skills analysis, reflective activities, and mock recruitment opportunities to help develop their personal and professional skills.
Graduates have gone on to careers in fields including:
- Consulting
- Energy resource management
- International development
- Journalism
- UN interpreting
- Public policy
- Publishing
- The civil and diplomatic services
- University academics and administrators.
Further study
The MLitt provides academic learning and research skills training for students intending to continue to a doctoral or other research degree.
As well as the Ph.D. degree, the School of Modern Languages offers supervision for two research-based master's degrees โ the Master of Studies by Research (MStโฏ(Res)) and the Master of Philosophy (MPhil).