Best Comparative Literature Department in London for Postgraduate study

Hello there, I finished a PhD in European Comp Lit at UCL. If you'd like to do European Comp Lit, I'd say UCL is the place to be since it has the most comprehensive European languages courses in the UK. It also collaborates with SOAS to cover Asian and African studies if you'd like to work on the fields outside European studies. Moreover, it's located in Bloomsbury (the very intellectual heart of London), surrounded by the U of London central lib, the British lib, and the British Museum. That being said, though, finding a suitable supervisor would be the most important issue when it comes to PhD studies. Best of luck!

Reply 3

OP

Thanks for the replies. My topic will be use 20th century European Literature with a chapter maybe on transcultural aspects. It will include several European languages. I will use texts from portugal, Ireland, Netherlands and France.
I met with professors from King and they said there is no one to supervise my topic in their department. So I think it is now between Goldsmiths (who actually offered me a place) and UCL who accepted my proposal but are still trying to find me supervision. Any other options in case i don't get to UCL?

I would appreciate any advice

Reply 4

Catsmeat

13

Original post by Litlover

Thanks for the replies. My topic will be use 20th century European Literature with a chapter maybe on transcultural aspects. It will include several European languages. I will use texts from portugal, Ireland, Netherlands and France.
I met with professors from King and they said there is no one to supervise my topic in their department. So I think it is now between Goldsmiths (who actually offered me a place) and UCL who accepted my proposal but are still trying to find me supervision. Any other options in case i don't get to UCL?

I would appreciate any advice

When you mentioned comparative literature, Goldsmiths sprang to my mind, but you already have an offer ... seeing as most departments will accept proposals on comparative/cross cultural studies, you could simply try the other central London departments -Birkbeck, for example.

Reply 5

OP

Thanks for the reply. Is Goldsmiths famous for its Comp. Lit. Department?

Original post by Catsmeat

When you mentioned comparative literature, Goldsmiths sprang to my mind, but you already have an offer ... seeing as most departments will accept proposals on comparative/cross cultural studies, you could simply try the other central London departments -Birkbeck, for example.

Reply 6

evantej

18

Original post by Litlover

Thanks for the reply. Is Goldsmiths famous for its Comp. Lit. Department?

You are missing Catsmeat's point. Because you are a potential doctoral student, you do not need to look for the best comparative literature department in London; you simply have to find the best supervisor, and a university which has the capability to supervise your interests. For example, I am not aware of any departments that specialise in Dutch literature so that would mean looking for a member of staff in a German department who specialises on it; you might even check the history or linguistics department depending on your topic (i.e. if you were writing about the Dutch Enlightenment then there is a strong chance that there is someone in the history department who will be able to help you). Likewise, a person who specialises in Irish literature is likely to be in an English department rather than a modern languages department.

Your topic sounds too diverse to be honest, and I am not surprised that Kings did not feel like they could supervise you. Having said that, and thought a little more about your request, you might want to consider looking at the School of Advanced Studies (part of the university of London); they offer supervision in French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese, and are willing to collaborate with other universities. For example, one of their recent students was supervised by them and the Department of English in Birkbeck and the Department of Portuguese and Brazilian Studies in KCL too.

Reply 7

OP

Thanks for your reply and advice. My topic is not too "diverse to be honest." I have a very specific and detailed proposal that I am not discussing on a public forum.

Original post by evantej

You are missing Catsmeat's point. Because you are a potential doctoral student, you do not need to look for the best comparative literature department in London; you simply have to find the best supervisor, and a university which has the capability to supervise your interests. For example, I am not aware of any departments that specialise in Dutch literature so that would mean looking for a member of staff in a German department who specialises on it; you might even check the history or linguistics department depending on your topic (i.e. if you were writing about the Dutch Enlightenment then there is a strong chance that there is someone in the history department who will be able to help you). Likewise, a person who specialises in Irish literature is likely to be in an English department rather than a modern languages department.

Your topic sounds too diverse to be honest, and I am not surprised that Kings did not feel like they could supervise you. Having said that, and thought a little more about your request, you might want to consider looking at the School of Advanced Studies (part of the university of London); they offer supervision in French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese, and are willing to collaborate with other universities. For example, one of their recent students was supervised by them and the Department of English in Birkbeck and the Department of Portuguese and Brazilian Studies in KCL too.

Reply 8

Royal Holloway recently established a comp lit programme within the department of european languages, so you might want to check it out as well.

Reply 9

OP

Hello Pharmakos,
I sent u a direct message in your student room inbox. If you can take a moment to look at it, I would be really grateful.

Original post by pharmakos

Royal Holloway recently established a comp lit programme within the department of european languages, so you might want to check it out as well.

Reply 10

Original post by Litlover

Hello Pharmakos,
I sent u a direct message in your student room inbox. If you can take a moment to look at it, I would be really grateful.

Hi there, I didn't get your message for some reason. could you send it again? cheers

Reply 11

OP

Hello Pharmakos,
Thanks for the reply. I resent you the message. Just click on your username and go to my stats, scroll down to visitor messages and you will find it.

Thanks a million
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Original post by pharmakos

Hi there, I didn't get your message for some reason. could you send it again? cheers

Reply 12