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Taking Comparative Literature alongside English, American and Postcolonial Literature enables you to gain strong insight into literary cultures across the world, benefitting from expertise in both the School of European Culture and Languages and the School of English.
Overview
In Comparative Literature, you study texts ranging from Classical Antiquity to the present day in English translation, including works by such famous authors as Homer, Ovid, Dante, Goethe, Dostoevsky, Balzac, Flaubert, Proust and Kafka, as well as British classics such as Shakespeare, Dickens and Woolf.
For the modules offered by the School of English, in addition to English and American literature from predominantly the 19th and 20th centuries, you engage with a range of postcolonial literatures in English, reading texts that address the phenomenon of empire and its contemporary consequences, for example, nationhood, diaspora and migration.
We also offer programmes with the opportunity to spend a year studying abroad in either America or Europe, where you can experience different cultures as well as different approaches to the study of literature first hand.
This degree programme enables you to tackle literature from a global perspective, gaining cultural insight into what shapes the world today.
Independent rankings
In the National Student Survey 2015, Comparative Literature at Kent was ranked 4th in the UK for student satisfaction and 96% of our students were satisfied with the quality of teaching on their course.
95% of English and Creative Writing students at Kent were satisfied with the quality of teaching according to The Guardian University Guide 2017.
American Studies is ranked 10th in The Complete University Guide 2016 and in the National Student Survey 2015, American Studies was ranked 8th in the UK for student satisfaction.
Course structure
The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.
Year abroad
Comparative Literature students currently have the opportunity to choose year-abroad destinations in the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and the USA; more options will hopefully be added in the near future. See the Go Abroad site for the up to date list.
Teaching and assessment
Comparative Literature
For most modules, you have one two-hour seminar per week. The Final-Year Dissertation is based entirely on your private research but is supervised by a tutor and includes workshops and the chance to participate in an undergraduate conference. Assessment varies from 100% coursework to a combination of examination and coursework.
English, American and Postcolonial Literature
Modules are taught by weekly seminars. Core modules include a weekly lecture, plus individual supervision is offered for the Long Essay. Assessment at Stage 1 is by a mixture of coursework and examination. Some modules may include an optional practical element.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- promote the study of literature within a multidisciplinary and modular context
- widen participation in higher education by offering a wide variety of study routes
- impart knowledge of a comprehensive range of important and seminal literary works from across Europe and beyond, from the Classics to the present day
- teach the comparatist approach to literary studies
- produce graduates with the ability to approach any text in a critical and analytical manner, who are self-motivating and intellectually independent
- provide students with the skills and abilities generic to study in the humanities
- offer students the opportunity to develop more general skills and competences so they can respond positively to the challenges of the workplace or of postgraduate education.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- a wide range of authors and texts from different periods and cultures, from Ancient Greece to the present day
- the cultural and historical contexts in which literature is written, transmitted and read
- concepts such as genre, theme or literary movement
- the problems inherent in interpreting 'the translated text'
- traditions in literary criticism
- critical theory and its applications, understood within its historical contexts
- the study of literature in its relation to other disciplines.
Intellectual skills
You gain the following intellectual abilities:
- listen to and absorb the oral transmission of complicated data
- carefully read literary works and theoretical material
- reflect clearly and critically on oral and written sources, using the power of analysis and imagination
- retain and put in order a complex body of information
- remember relevant material and recall it when needed
- construct cogent arguments
- formulate independent ideas and defend them in a plausible manner
- present arguments in written form in a time-limited context, such as examinations.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in the following:
- the close critical analysis of literary texts
- informed understanding of the variety of critical and theoretical approaches to the study of literature
- the ability to articulate knowledge and understanding of texts, concepts and theories relating to literary studies
- sensitivity to generic conventions in the study of literature, the problems of translation and cultural differences
- well-developed language use and awareness, including a grasp of standard critical terminology
- the ability to articulate responsiveness to literary language
- scholarly practice in the presentation of formal written work, in particular bibliographic and annotational practices
- understanding how cultural norms, assumptions and practices influence questions of judgement
- an appreciation of the value of collaborative intellectual work in developing critical judgement.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in the following:
- effective communication: the ability to produce focused, cogent written presentations, summarise information and assess arguments, give oral presentations using visual aids where appropriate
- problem-solving and identifying problems, assess the strengths and weaknesses of different solutions, defend the preferred solutions with cogent argument
- improve your learning, identify your own strengths and weaknesses, the ability to assess the quality of your own work, manage your time, meet deadlines and work independently
- work with others, participate in seminar discussions, respond to the views of others and to criticism of your own views without giving or taking offence, engage in independent group work
- IT skills including: word-processing essays, using online information sources and communicating by email.
Careers
Comparative Literature
Studying Comparative Literature and English and American Literature, you learn to think critically, develop the skills of close reading and effective communication, and gain confidence and experience in expressing your ideas. These key transferable skills are essential for graduates as they move into the job market.
Comparative Literature students can also choose to take a module that is linked to our SWIPE (Student Work in Progress Exposition) conference. SWIPE is an annual one-day conference organised by Comparative Literature students: it is a platform for our third-year students who give 15-minute presentations on their final-year dissertation projects. SWIPE is a fantastic experience for students, as they learn everything about planning, organising and running a conference, as well as about the art of preparing and giving professional conference presentations. For more information on SWIPE, please consult our website: www.kent.ac.uk/secl/complit/swipe.html
We also offer a module designed specifically for students who are planning to embark on a career in teaching: Comparative Literature and English & Linguistics in the Classroom.
English and American Literature
Our graduates have found jobs in diverse areas including journalism, broadcasting and media, publishing, writing and teaching, as well as in banking, marketing analysis and project management. A significant percentage of our students pursue further study for postgraduate qualifications.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | ABB at A Level including English Literature or English Language and Literature at grade B |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above. |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | The university will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) on a case by case basis please contact us via the enquiries tab for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 16 at HL including HL English A1/A2/B at 5/6/6 OR HL English Literature A/English Language and Literature A (or Literature A/Language and Literature A of another country) at HL 5 or SL 6 |
International students
The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.
Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2016/17 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | ||
| Part-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
The University of Kent is currently considering whether to increase its regulated full-time tuition fees for all returning Home and EU undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250 in September 2017. This would be subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses might also rise by 2.8%.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk
UK/EU/International students on an approved Year Abroad for the full 2016/17 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Those on an approved Year in Industry pay an annual fee of £865 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Details of our proposed funding opportunities for 2016 entry can be found on our funding page.
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. For 2016 entry, the scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our scholarships pages. Please review the eligibility criteria on that page.