Comparative Literature MPhil/PhD

UK

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What will I learn?

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 focus of research in the Department of Languages, Cultures and Applied Linguistics is on French, German, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish-speaking cultures in a transnational context, and we welcome research proposals that focus comparatively on or across these areas. The department has great expertise in a wide variety of themes both historically and geographically (in Europe, Japan and the Americas).

An 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.

Which department am I in?

Birkbeck, University of London

Study options

Full Time (4 Years)

Tuition fees
£13,500.00 (14,70,909) per year
Living Cost - Books and Equipment: £20 per week.

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution

Start date

April 2025

Venue

Bloomsbury (Central London) Campus

Malet Street,

Bloomsbury,

Greater London,

WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom

Full Time (4 Years)

Tuition fees
£13,500.00 (14,70,909) per year
Living Cost - Books and Equipment: £20 per week.

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution

Start date

January 2026

Venue

Bloomsbury (Central London) Campus

Malet Street,

Bloomsbury,

Greater London,

WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom

Entry requirements

For international students

Usually a good first degree in an arts or humanities subject. Specific indication of research interests or outline of proposed research prior to interview. If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, the requirement for this programme is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 7.0, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. TOEFL: Higher requirement: 94 (reading: 19, writing: 24, listening: 20, speaking: 20).

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

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About Birkbeck

The university boasts one of the most diverse student bodies of any UK university, with over 1,000 international students from 150 countries.

  • More than 1,000 international students from 150 countries
  • Graduate salaries among the highest in the UK
  • Central London location
  • Part of the prestigious University of London