What will I learn?
About the course: The MSt in Comparative Literature and Critical Translation is a nine-month, interdisciplinary course designed to give you critical, theoretical and research expertise in the intersecting fields of comparative and world literature and translation studies. To take the course, you must be able to work with two languages and literatures, out of Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, modern Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish. The MSt is attached to Oxford’s research centre in Comparative Criticism and Translation (OCCT) and builds on the recent growth in scholarly awareness of the importance of translation to comparative and world literary study. This is what is meant by ‘critical translation’. not translator training, but rather an interest in the role played by translation and re-writing in literary history, and an alertness to the uses of translation in critical practice. Assessment: In addition to the dissertation, you will be assessed on the core course by a 4,000 word essay written at the end of Hilary term and by written work of up to 7,000 words for each of the two option courses, to be submitted after the end of the term in which the option has been taught. If you wish, you may also choose to study another language at the Oxford University Language Centre. This opportunity is free of charge for students taking the MSt in Comparative Literature and Critical Translation, though it is not an assessed part of your MSt course. Graduate destinations: It is anticipated that those who have successfully completed the course may proceed to doctoral work at Oxford or other institutions. Alternative career destinations may include publishing, journalism, teaching, or various kinds of international cultural work.
