MA Comparative Literature and Intensive Language

Program Overview

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Key Information

Duration

• 2-years (full-time)
• 4-years (part-time, daytime only)

Start of Programme

• September

Attendance Mode

• Full-time or part-time

Location

• On campus

Fees

• Home: £12,220
• International: £25,320

Entry Requirements

• We will consider all applications with 2:2 (or international equivalent) or higher.
• In addition to degree classification, we take into account other elements of the application such as supporting statement.
• References are optional, but can help build a stronger application if you fall below the 2:2 requirement or have non-traditional qualifications.

International Entry Requirements

• Afghanistan: Master's degree, 80% or 3.3/4.0
• Argentina: Titulo / Grado de Licenciado, 7/10
• Australia: Bachelor degree, 2:2 or Credit or 65%
• Austria: Bachelor degree, 2.5/5.0 and overall Pass (Bestanden)
• Bahrain: Bachelor degree, 75% or GPA 3.0/4.0
• Bangladesh: Bachelor’s from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology or Master's degree, 60% or GPA 3.0/4.0
• Belgium: Licentiaat or Licencié, 13/20 or 65%
• Botswana: Bachelor degree (5-year) or Master's from University of Botswana, GPA 3.5/5.0 or 65% or B- or Good
• Brazil: Título de Bacharel / Título de Licenciado (4-year), 7/10 or 70%
• Brunei: Bachelor degree, Lower Second Class Honours with 50% overall
• Bulgaria: Bachelor degree, 4.3/6
• Cameroon: Diplôme d'Ingénieur/ Diplôme d'Études Supérieures de Commerce (5-year), 12-13 assez bien (fair); 70-74; or B+
• Canada: Bachelor degree, GPA 3.0/4.0 or 74-77% or overall B
• China: Bachelor degree (4-year), 73% or 2.6/4.0 (C9 unis), 75% or 2.8/4.0 (Double First unis), 80% or 3.25/4.0 (all other unis)
• Colombia: Licenciado / Titulo (4-year), 3.5/5.0
• Croatia: Baccalaureus / Baccalaurea (Bachelor degree), Overall score 3/5
• Cyprus: Bachelor degree, 6.5/10
• Czech Republic: Bachelor degree (180 ECTS), 1.75/4.0 or High C 'dobre’ (good)
• Denmark: Bachelor degree, 7/12 or 8/13 or grade C
• Egypt: Bachelor degree, 70% or 3.0/4.0
• Estonia: Bakalaurusekraad / University Specialist's Diploma / Professional Higher Education Diploma, 4.0/5.0
• Finland: Bachelor / Kandidaatti / Kandidat (180 ECTS credits), 3/5 or 2/3
• France: Licence or Diplôme from a grande école, 11.5 out 20
• Gambia: Master's degree (2-year), GPA 3.0/4.3 or 64% or B
• Germany: Bachelor degree (180 ECTS), 2.6/5
• Ghana: Bachelor degree, 2:2 (Second Class Lower Division) or GPA 3.25/5.0 or 60%
• Greece: Bachelor degree, 6.50/10
• Hong Kong: Bachelor degree, Upper second class or GPA 2.7/4.0 or 75% or B Minus
• Hungary: Bachelor (Alapfokozat) or Diploma (Egyetemi Oklevél), 3.5/5.0
• Iceland: Bachelor degree (Baccalaureus or Bakkalarprof), 7.0 out of 10
• India: Bachelor degree, CGPA: 55-60% or 5.5/10 - 6.0/10
• Iraq: Bachelor degree (Licence/Karshani), 0.7
• Israel: Bachelor degree, 70% or C+
• Italy: Laurea (180 ECTS), 100/110
• Japan: Bachelor degree, 70% or C+ or 3.0
• Jordan: Bachelor degree, 3.0/4.0 or 70%
• Kazakhstan: Bachelors (Bakalavr Diplomi) or Specialist Diploma, GPA 3.0/4.0 or GPA 4.0/5.0 or B
• Kenya: Bachelor degree, 2:2 or 60%
• Kuwait: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, GPA 2.67/4.0
• Kyrgyzstan: Bachelor's degree or specialist diploma (min 4 years) from a recognised institution, 3.5/5.0 or 2.67/4.0
• Latvia: Bakalaura Diploms (Bachelor's) or Profesionālā Bakalaura Diploms (Professional Bachelor's) from a recognised institution, 6/10
• Lebanon: Bachelor's degree / Licence from a recognised institution, 70% or C or 2.7/4.0 or 12/20
• Liberia: Master's degree from a recognised institution, 75% or 2.8/4.0
• Libya: Bachelor's degree from selected institution, 65% or 2.8/4.0
• Lithuania: Bachelors/Bakalauro (180 ECTS) from a recognised institution, 7/10
• Luxembourg: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 12/20
• Macedonia: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 7 / Good
• Malawi: Master's degree from a recognised institution, 60% or 2.4/4.0
• Malaysia: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 2.6/4.0 or B- (Class 2 Division 2)
• Maldives: Bachelor's degree from the Maldives National University (MNU), 50%
• Malta: Bachelor degree from a recognised institution, Lower Second Class / 60% / Category IIB
• Mexico: Titulo de Licenciado from a recognised institution, 7.5/10
• Morocco: Licence/Licence d'Etudes Fondamentales/Licence Professionnelle from a recognised institution, 11/20
• Namibia: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 60% or 2.5/4.0
• Nepal: Master's degree / Bachelor's (4-year) from select institutions, 55% or 2.4/4.0
• Netherlands: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 6/10 or 2.7/4.0
• New Zealand: Bachelor's degree (3 or 4 years) from a recognised institution, Lower Second Class Hons
• Nigeria: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, Lower Second Class Hons
• Norway: Bachelors/Bachelorgrad (180 ECTS) or Candidatus/a magisterii from a recognised institution, Overall C
• Oman: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 2.7/4.0
• Pakistan: Bachelor's degree (4-year) from HEC recognised institution or 2 year BA + 2 year MA from HEC recognised institution, CGPA 2.7 or 55%
• Palestine (State of): Bachelor degree (4-year) from a recognised institution, 75% or or 2.7/4.0
• Papua New Guinea: Bachelor's (Honours) degree from a recognised institution, Class II Division B
• Peru: Licenciado or Professional Title from a recognised institution, 12/20
• Philippines: Master’s from recognised institution or Centre of Excellence; or Bachelor's from prestigious institution or Centre of Excellence, 2.5/4.0 or 80% or 2.5/5.0 or Cum Laude
• Poland: Licencjat or Inżynier from a recognised institution, 3.8/5.0
• Portugal: Licenciado (180 ECTS) from a recognised institution, 12/20
• Qatar: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 2.7/4.0 or 3.3/5.0
• Romania: Diplomă de Licenţă/Diplomă de Inginer/Diplomă de Urbanist Diplomat from a recognised university, 7/10
• Russia: Diplom Bakalavra or Specialist Diploma from a recognised institution, 3.5/5.0
• Rwanda: Bachelor's degree (4-year) from a recognised institution, Lower Second Class Hons; 60%; or 13/20
• Saudi Arabia: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 3.5/5.0 or 2.7/4.0 or 70%
• Serbia and Montenegro: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 7 / Good
• Sierra Leone: Bachelor's Honours degree from a recognised institution, Lower Second Class Hons; 55%; 3.4/5.0; 2.75/4.0
• Singapore: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 3.3/5.0 or 2.8/4.0
• Slovakia: Bachelor's degree (Bakalár) from a recognised institution, 70%; or 2.0 overall; or C
• Slovenia: Diploma o pridobljeni univerzitetni izobrazbi (University Degree) or Diploma o pridobljeni visoki strokovni izobrazbi / Diplomirani (Diploma of Professional Higher Education) or Diplomant or Univerzitetni diplomant (first degree), 7 out of 10
• Solomon Islands: Bachelor's degree (4-year) from the University of the South Pacific, B/3.0
• Somalia: Do not accept national qualifications for direct entry, N/A
• South Africa: Bachelor's degree (4-year) from a recognised institution, 60%
• South Korea: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, GPA 2.5/4.0; or 2.8/4.3; or 3.0/4.5
• Spain: Título de Grado / Título de Licenciado / Título de Ingeniero / Titulo de Arquitecto from a recognised institution, 6/10 or 1.5/4.0
• Sri Lanka: Bachelor Special Degree or Professional Degree (4-year) from a recognised institution, 55% or 2:2 or 3.0/4.0
• Saint Kitts and Nevis: Bachelor's degree from the University of the West Indies, 2.7/4, B-, 60% or Lower Second Class Hons
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Bachelor's degree from the University of the West Indies, 2.7/4, B-, 60% or Lower Second Class Hons
• Sudan: Bachelor's degree (5-year) from a recognised institution, 60% or B
• Sweden: Bachelor's Degree/Kandidatexamen/Yrkesexamen from a recognised institution, Pass OR Godkänd (with a minimum of 90 credits at Good - C)
• Switzerland: Diplom/Diplôme;Lizentiat;Staatsdiplom/Diplôme d’Etat from a recognised institution, 4/6; or 6/10: or 3/5
• Syria: Bachelor's degree (Licence/ al-ijaza-fi) from a recognised institution, 65%+ or 'Good' from a public university
• Taiwan: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 65-70% or GPA 2.6/4.0 - 2.8/4.0
• Tanzania: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 2:2; or Lower Second; or GPA 2.7/5.0
• Thailand: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 2.6/4.0
• Trinidad and Tobago: Bachelor's Degree from UWI, B-, 60% or 2.5; or Lower Second Class Hons
• Trinidad and Tobago: Diplôme National d'Ingénieur/ Diplôme National d'Architecture/ Docteur en Médecine / Vétérinaire/ Licence/ Maîtrise from recognised institution, 11 out of 20
• Turkey: Lisans Diplomasi from a recognised institution, Top Unis: 2.5/4.0 All others: 2.8/4.0
• UAE: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, GPA 2.6/4.0 or 75% or C+
• Uganda: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 2:2 (Lower Second) or 3.0/5.0 or B
• Ukraine: Bachelor's degree or specialist diploma from a recognised institution, 7 out of 12; or 3.5 out of 5
• USA: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, GPA 2.7/4.0
• Vietnam: Bachelor's degree (4-year) from a recognised institution, 6.0/10 or 2.5/4.0
• Yemen: Master's degree from a recognised institution, 70% or 2.7/4.0
• Zambia: Master's degree from a recognised institution, 65%; B; Credit; 1.7/2.5; or 2.7/4.0; or 3.3/5.0
• Zimbabwe: Bachelor's degree (3 or 4 years) from a recognised institution, 2:2 (60%)

Course Overview

A radical rethinking of the literature of the world and their relationships to each other.

Go beyond Euro-American literary canons and redefine ‘the classics’. The MA Comparative Literature is an opportunity to study literature from the regions of Africa and Asia. Covering universal themes but in a unique, multi-cultural domain, you will explore a wide range of literature and its place in culture and society.

Combined Courses

You can view all the intensive language options available in the combined courses tool below.

Why study Comparative Literature and Intensive Language at SOAS?

• SOAS is ranked 7th in the UK for African and Middle Eastern Studies (Complete University Guide 2025)
• SOAS is ranked 6th in the UK for Asian Studies (Complete University Guide 2025)
• SOAS is ranked top 30 in the UK for Arts and Humanities (QS World University Rankings 2025)
• 11th in the UK for Linguistics (QS World University Rankings 2025)
• 13th in the UK for Modern Languages (QS World University Rankings 2025)
• Modern Languages and Linguistics at SOAS has been ranked 10th in the UK in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
• We are ranked 4th for research environment - with 100% of our research ranked as 'internationally excellent' and 85% as 'world-leading' - and 8th for research outputs in the REF 2021

Research

Leverhulme Research Leadership Award: Mapping Sumatra’s manuscript cultures

This project’s interdisciplinary team investigates manuscript libraries from the Indonesian island of Sumatra, the first landing point, geographically and historically, of Islam in South East Asia, to better understand the intellectual and writing traditions of the region.

British Academy writing workshop: Amplifying women's voices in Hausa cultural studies

This 4-day British Academy Writing Workshop and 6-months of mentorship sought to amplify the voices of academic women writing about Hausa cultural studies in Northern Nigeria by providing support in revising research in preparation for publication.

British Academy Writing Workshop ‘De-centering knowledge and training opportunities: Supporting the development of the next generation of researchers in African linguistics’

As part of this project we will run two writing workshops in Kenya for Early Career Researchers in linguistics to work with experienced editors, improve writing skills and strengthen scholarly networks.

Variation in Swahili: contact, change and identity

Variation in Swahili: contact, change and identity investigates different ways in which Swahili is spoken, how its varieties are influenced by other languages, and what this means for speakers and their identities.

RISE UP: Revitalising Languages and Safeguarding Cultural Diversity

Transnational Practices: Film Culture and Politics in China (1949–1989)

Examining transnational film practices in China against the backdrop of the shifting global order from 1949 to 1989.

Chemical Capital: The life and times of a North Korean industrial town from colonial fiefdom to socialist icon

A biography a town and the diverse people that made it, from Korean workers to Russian engineers and Japanese scientists.

Re/presenting Islam on Campus

Exploring how Islam and Muslims are represented and perceived on UK university campuses.

Creative Multilingualism in World Literatures

Exploring multilingualism’s revolutionary potential and creative force in language, literature, thought and the visual arts.

Multilingual Locals and Significant Geographies

Countering the identification of world literature with English by highlighting the multilingualism and the many factors that contribute to regional and transnational literary fields.

The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to World Literature

A far-reaching and sustained study of key authors, texts, and topics from around the world and throughout history.

Prominent Possessors

Investigating the phenomenon of "prominent internal possessors" from a theoretical and cross-linguistic perspective.

Events

BARAZA - Swahili Studies Conference

The BARAZA Annual Swahili Studies Conference is a 1-day gathering addresses the language, literature, translation, culture, philosophy, and diaspora of the Swahili-speaking peoples of the world.

Related Content

SOAS-Alphawood Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art

Object-based study of the arts of Asia, run in association with the British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum. Available in-person and online.

MA Anthropology of Global Futures and Sustainability

MA Anthropology of Global Futures and Sustainability at SOAS University of London

BA Japanese

BA Japanese at SOAS University of London

Program Outline

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MA Comparative Literature and Intensive Language

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Degree Overview

The MA Comparative Literature and Intensive Language is a 2-year, full-time program at the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics at SOAS that provides a radical rethinking of the world's literature and their interrelationships. This program transcends Euro-American literary canons, redefines "the classics," and offers a unique, multicultural approach to exploring literature from diverse regions like Africa and Asia. Students will engage with a wide range of literary works, investigating their cultural and societal significance. The program aims to equip students with:

• A critical understanding of the concept of "comparative literature" within a global context.
• The ability to analyze literary texts from different cultures, recognizing their historical, social, and political contexts.
• Proficiency in reading and interpreting literary works in their original language and in English translation.
• Strong research and analytical skills, enabling them to conduct independent research on comparative literary topics.

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Outline

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Year 1:

• Comparative Literature: This core module delves into the theoretical and methodological aspects of comparative literature, helping students develop critical tools for analyzing literary texts from different cultural backgrounds.
• Intensive Language Acquisition: Students choose an Indian or East/Southeast Asian language to study rigorously, focusing on developing proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
• Literature Units: Students choose two units from a range of options exploring diverse literary traditions, including African literature, Chinese literature, and Japanese literature.

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Year 2:

• Dissertation: Students conduct independent research on a chosen topic within comparative literature, culminating in a 15,000-word dissertation.
• Advanced Language Units: Students continue developing their chosen language skills through advanced-level units.
• Comparative Literature Electives: Students select two additional units from a variety of options, further tailoring their studies to specific areas of interest within comparative literature.

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Example Course Modules:

• Comparative Literature and Theory
• Modern African Literature
• Modern Chinese Literature
• Modern Japanese Literature
• Postcolonial Literature
• World Cinema and Literature
• Arabic Literature in Translation
• Bengali Literature in Translation
• Translation Studies

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Structure:

The program consists of a combination of lectures, seminars, language classes, and individual research supervision. Students will actively participate in discussions, presentations, and written assignments, fostering critical thinking and independent research skills.

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Assessment

Students are assessed through a variety of methods, including:

• Essays: Critical essays analyzing specific literary works and broader theoretical concepts.
• Presentations: Presenting research findings and engaging in class discussions.
• Language Examinations: Testing proficiency in the chosen language, both written and oral.
• Dissertation: An independent research project demonstrating in-depth knowledge and analytical skills in the chosen area of study.

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Teaching

The program boasts an expert faculty of renowned scholars and writers specializing in various fields of comparative literature and language studies. Students benefit from small group teaching and personalized supervision, ensuring individual attention and guidance throughout their academic journey. The program also emphasizes innovative approaches to teaching and learning, including:

• Collaborative learning: Encouraging students to engage with each other and share diverse perspectives on literary texts and critical theories.
• Technology-driven learning: Utilizing digital resources and tools to enhance research and analysis of literary materials.
• Interdisciplinary engagement: Encouraging students to explore connections between literature and other disciplines, such as history, philosophy, and cultural studies.

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Careers

Graduates of the MA Comparative Literature and Intensive Language program are equipped with a diverse skill set and critical thinking abilities, opening up a range of career paths in various fields, including:

• Academia: Pursuing further research in comparative literature or related disciplines, leading to careers as researchers, professors, or lecturers.
• Publishing: Working as editors, translators, or literary agents in publishing houses or literary journals.
• Cultural and Creative Industries: Contributing to cultural institutions like museums, galleries, or theaters, or pursuing careers in journalism, media, or film production.
• International Relations and Diplomacy: Utilizing language skills and cultural understanding to work in government or international organizations.
• Education: Working as teachers or curriculum developers in language or literature-related fields.
Further career opportunities may arise within the specific chosen language of study, such as translation, interpreting, or research focused on that particular language and its literature.

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Other

The program also provides opportunities for students to:

• Attend guest lectures and seminars by leading experts in the field of comparative literature.
• Participate in international conferences and workshops, presenting their research and engaging with scholars from around the world.
• Benefit from the vibrant and diverse student community at SOAS, interacting with students from different backgrounds and academic interests.