Program Overview

Comparative Literatures and Cultures

Overview

Research in Comparative Literatures and Cultures sits within the School of Modern Languages and builds on two areas of strength within the school: transnational studies and intermediality. By exploring new objects of study and innovative methodologies, we have forged interdisciplinary connections in and beyond the arts and social sciences via themes of global concern, from mental health to climate change.

Transnational studies emphasise cultural difference and diversity yet also interconnectedness and mutual influence. We explore cultural contact, migration and transfer within and beyond Europe in uneven colonial, pre-colonial, and postcolonial contexts, both vertically and transversally, while questioning persistent narratives of 'West' and 'East', or 'North' and 'South'.

Intermedial studies build on our excellence in word and image studies, film and theatre, auditory culture, and the study of such cultural artefacts as video games, graphic novels, manga, the media, landscape design, and artwork from video installation to graffiti. We also explore the materiality of discursive genres (poetic form, the novel, ego documents and political rhetoric), and how literary and discursive practices interact with social, political and professional contexts.

Comparative Literatures and Cultures draws on the extensive research specialisms of our staff. Each research student is assigned a supervisor who works in their proposed area of research or related field, and benefits from the input of a second supervisor who will likely come from another department, depending on the nature of the project. Supervisory teams may include staff from other schools and departments within the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences and beyond, for example in Classics, English, Drama, History or Philosophy.

Our postgraduates are fully integrated in a professionally and personally supportive departmental and school community. We encourage you to attend and give papers at school and University research events, as well as academic conferences. Funding is available to support field work and participation in external events. We support you in developing a full range of academic skills.

Key Information

• Programme duration: MPhil: one year full-time; two years part-time. PhD: up to four years full-time; up to eight years part-time.
• Start date: January 2025, September 2025, January 2026.
• Application deadline:
  • January 2025 start: 1 December 2024.
  • September 2025 start: Overseas applicants: 25 July 2025. Home applicants: 1 August 2025.
  • January 2026 start: 1 December 2025.
• Delivery method: Distance Learning, On-Campus
• Location: Clifton
• Awards available: PhD, MPhil

Programme Structure

• MPhil: a standalone, one-year (full-time) research degree. Students will undertake their own research project, concluding in a 25,000-word dissertation. Students may have the option to audit units from our taught master's programmes if relevant.
• PhD: a research project undertaken across four years (full-time, minimum period of study three years), culminating in an 80,000-word thesis. As well as having the option to audit taught units, there may be the potential for PhD students to teach units themselves from their second year of study.

World-Leading Research

• The University of Bristol is ranked fifth for research in the UK (Times Higher Education).
• 94% of our research assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Entry Requirements

• MPhil: An upper second-class degree or international equivalent. Please note, acceptance will also depend on evidence of your readiness to pursue a research degree.
• PhD: A master's qualification, or be working towards a master's qualification, or international equivalent. Applicants without a master's qualification may be considered on an exceptional basis, provided they hold a first-class undergraduate degree (or international equivalent). Applicants with a non-traditional background may be considered provided they can demonstrate substantial equivalent and relevant experience that has prepared them to undertake their proposed course of study.

Fees and Funding

• Home: full-time: £4,850 per year
• Home: part-time: £2,425 per year
• Overseas: full-time: £21,300 per year

Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.

Alumni Discount

University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study.

Funding and Scholarships

The University of Bristol is part of the South, West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership (SWW DTP), which will be offering studentships for September 2025. For information on other funding opportunities, including University-funded studentships, please see the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences funding pages.

Career Prospects

Graduates from our department have gone on to work in diverse professional contexts, including higher education and research, government, public and private sector organisations, international development, NGOs, and policy-making organisations.

Meet Our Supervisors

• Professor Ruth Bush
• Dr Ruth Coates
• Dr Rhiannon Daniels
• Dr Steffan Davies
• Dr Connor Doak
• Dr Paul Earlie
• Professor Natalie Edwards
• Dr Charlotte Faucher
• Dr Albertine Fox
• Professor Ruth Glynn
• Professor Susan Harrow
• Dr Anna Havinga
• Dr James Hawkey
• Professor Martin Hurcombe
• Dr Tristan Kay
• Professor Edward King
• Dr Claire Knight
• Dr Rebecca Kosick
• Dr Shuangyi Li
• Dr Paul Merchant
• Professor Catherine O'Rawe
• Dr Carol O'Sullivan
• Dr Alexandra Reza
• Dr Benedict Schofield
• Professor Andreas Schonle
• Professor Siobhan Shilton
• Dr Clare Siviter
• Professor Bradley Stephens
• Dr Erika Teichert
• Dr Rowan Tomlinson
• Dr Caragh Wells

How to Apply

Apply via our online application system. For further information, please see the guidance for how to apply on our webpages.

• Application deadline:
  • January 2025 start: 1 December 2024.
  • September 2025 start: Overseas applicants: 25 July 2025. Home applicants: 1 August 2025.
  • January 2026 start: 1 December 2025.

The deadlines for funding applications fall well in advance of these dates. Preliminary contact with staff from the department is welcome at any time of the year. We strongly encourage prospective applicants to contact us early, before submitting an application.