A degree in Comparative Literature and Culture (CLC) gives you the opportunity to explore literature, film, visual arts, and critical theory from the Ancient world to the twenty-first century, taking a cross-cultural perspective that explores similarities and differences between languages and cultures.
The Comparative Literature and Culture BA is a flexible, modular, and interdisciplinary course that allows you to shape your studies around your interests and follow your passions. An exciting range of modules cover literature, film, and visual arts from the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe from the Ancient world to the twenty-first century, all taught in English translation.
You will explore and compare a wide range of literature, film and visual arts and learn how they shape the world around us. You will gain critical understanding of the social, historical, and political contexts that influence how they move from one language and culture to another. And you will learn how to analyse texts and visual cultures, interpret arguments, critique established ideas, and debate pressing contemporary issues.
The Comparative Literature and Culture BA at Royal Holloway enables you to develop the important analytical and communication skills, intercultural fluency, and international outlook that are highly sought after in today's global and interconnected society.
Comparative Literature and Culture may appeal if you have studied English, Film or Media Studies, History, Philosophy, History of Art, Theatre Studies, or Modern Languages but wish to develop your understanding of these subjects by taking a more international and comparative perspective.
Why choose CLC at Royal Holloway?
A flexible programme with a wide range of modules
Comparative Literature and Culture can be taken as a Single Honours degree, as a Joint Honours degree with English, or with a Minor in History of Art and Visual Culture; you can also study Modern Languages with a Minor in History of Arts and Visual Culture, and Comparative Literature and Culture with an Integrated Foundation Year.
This is flexible, modular degree programme designed to allow you to develop your own interests and follow your passions. Our expertise spans literature, drama, cinema, poetry, philosophy, painting and sculpture from across the world. In your final year, you can research and write a dissertation that develops your own critical perspective on one of the topics you’re studying. Whether you study Single or Joint Honours, it is often possible to take options from outside the department, in History, Classics, and English.
All modules are taught by staff from the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures who share a passion for interdisciplinary research that is multilingual and global in outlook. They are leading experts in their fields and have published widely on aspects of European and World literature and film, visual arts, cultural history, critical theory and philosophy. The optional modules you can take reflect this research and their passions!
A critical edge in the global marketplace
Studying Comparative Literature and Culture develops your ability to think broadly and critically beyond conventional geographical and conceptual boundaries in ways which are particularly relevant in a globalised world. You will obtain a sophisticated and critical appreciation of cultural life and diversity, drawing on a very broad range of international literary, film and artistic references as well as major theoretical perspectives.
The course is designed to develop the kinds of critical, communication and leadership skills and cross-cultural awareness that are particularly valuable in meeting the challenges of today’s workplaces.
A degree for high flyers
A degree in Comparative Literature and Culture gives you the skills necessary for a wide range of careers, including (but not limited to!) publishing, management, marketing, media, arts administration, broadcasting, fashion, international management, the civil service, accountancy and teaching.
Recent graduates have launched careers in Content Writing, Photographic Editorial, Journalism, Marketing, Sales, Publishing, Film and Retail Buying. Others have gone on to do Postgraduate degrees, such as our MA by Research in Comparative Literature and Culture, MA in Creative Writing, MA Cultural Criticism (Amsterdam), MA Fine Art (Courtauld Institute).
