Comparative Literature
Comparative Literature
Comparative literature reads literature in at least two languages and studies how genres and texts travel across languages, borders and periods. Literature's links with history, philosophy, politics and other art forms are also part of the programme.
Education and languagesWhat do graduates do?
- Publishing and editing
- Translation
- Journalism
- Teaching and academia
- Cultural institutions
First year and core courses
Examples from the first year and core course lists of different schools.
Before you apply
At Boston University students need advanced level skills in a language other than English. The sources do not list careers separately, so the fields above are general paths for literature and language graduates.
Examples of schools where you can study this subject
5 schools in 3 countries. Programmes were checked on the schools’ own websites. These are only examples; every country has many more options. We choose the schools that fit your budget, documents and goals together.
USA
Boston UniversityComparative Literature · BostonBoston UniversityComparative Literature BA · BostonPenn State UniversityComparative Literature
United Kingdom
King's College LondonComparative Literature · LondonUniversity of GlasgowComparative Literature · Glasgow
Switzerland
Franklin University SwitzerlandComparative Literary and Cultural Studies · LuganoWhat to know, country by country
For each country where you can study this subject: an example tuition fee and the next step in the timeline. You can find the details in our country guides.
- 7 November 2026
SAT exam (next date 5 December 2026). Whether a school asks for a test varies by school
- 26 October to 21 December 2026
Booking period for the January 2027 session of the ESAT, TMUA and TARA exams (for universities other than Oxford and Cambridge).
- November to December 2026
Prepare for a language certificate. At ETH the main language of the bachelor's is German, and a German certificate may be asked
Let’s build your school list for Comparative Literature together
- We choose schools from 26 countries that fit your grades, budget and documents.
- We gather every school’s application timeline, required documents and exam scores in one list.
- We put tuition fees and living costs side by side.
- We prepare your application file and personal statement together.
Other fields of study in this category
Last checked: November 2026.
Is Comparative Literature right for you?
Let's talk about interests, strong subjects and target countries, and narrow down the subject and school options together.