Comparative Literature

This research degree is ideal if you wish to engage critically with the study of comparative literature - or other cultural forms, especially in the area of visual studies - across two or more linguistic, regional or national contexts. The research focus of our academic staff is on French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish-speaking cultures in a transnational context, and we welcome research proposals that focus comparatively on or across these areas. We have great expertise in a wide variety of themes both historically and geographically (in Europe, Japan and the Americas).

An MPhil/PhD is an advanced postgraduate research degree that requires original research and the submission of a substantial dissertation of 60,000 to 100,000 words. At Birkbeck, you are initially registered on an MPhil and you upgrade to a PhD after satisfactory progress in the first year or two. You need to find a suitable academic supervisor at Birkbeck, who can offer the requisite expertise to guide and support you through your research. Find out more about undertaking a research degree at Birkbeck.

Our indicative areas of research are:

• Canon formation
• French language literature and culture
• German language literature and culture
• Japanese language literature and culture
• Literary and film history
• Intermediality, intertextuality and translation across genres and media
• Portuguese language literature and culture
• Spanish language literature and culture
• Transnational cultural theory and criticism in all the above languages
• Visual culture.