32nd in the world for English Language and Literature
QS World University Rankings by subject 2020

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- Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures
- School of Languages, Cultures and Societies
- Undergraduate
- Comparative Literature
Comparative Literature
Comparative Literature at Leeds
Our comparative literature course combines the study of English literature with different literatures from around the world.
You'll be introduced to issues such as genre, narratology and reception, and will study themes such as myth, fable, borders, ethics, dystopias and different postcolonialisms, drawing on examples from a range of different cultures and periods, such as the reception of The Odyssey or the ways in which contemporary literature is adapted and translated for the global market.
From the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies you’ll study texts (from translations) taught by literature specialists in: Ancient Greek, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
From the School of English you can choose modules from the whole range of options, including writers from Africa, Asia, Australasia, Canada, and the Caribbean.
If you're interested in independent language learning, you'll have access to resources, workshops, language exchanges and language groups provided by the University's Language Zone.
Undergraduate degree
Enrichment opportunities
Our tutors' diverse expertise will help you gain a deeper understanding of literature from around the world – and develop your analytical skills that will be valuable to employers.
5th
most targeted by graduate recruiters
(The Graduate Market in 2021)
Discover our research
You'll benefit from learning in a research-intensive environment.
Specialist facilities
The world class Brotherton Library holds a wide variety of manuscript, archive and early printed material in its Special Collections – valuable assets for your independent research. Our additional library resources are also excellent, and the University Library offers a comprehensive training programme to help you make the most of them.
More on Specialist facilitiesCentre for World Literatures
The Centre for World Literatures promotes the study of literature from around the world, exploring the intersections between literature and cultural studies, history, sociology, performance, politics, translation studies and other art forms, such as music and the visual arts.
More on Centre for World Literatures