A student of Comparative Literature gets to read and learn about literary works from different regions, nations, cultures and languages. Understanding cross-cultural perspectives through various socio-political lenses is a unique part of this course. Comparative Literature is really a window to world literature.
Studying Comparative Literature
- Complete Class XII board exams in any stream.
- Pursue a bachelor’s degree (BA) in Comparative Literature or any of the language literature courses with at least 50% aggregate.
- Pursue a postgraduate degree (MA) in Comparative Literature.
- Apply for higher degree courses like MPhil or PhD in this discipline. You need to have at least 50% marks in your master’s.
Leading institutes offering Comparative Literature courses
Jadavpur University, Kolkata
BA in Comparative Literature (3 years)
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Eligibility: 60% aggregate in Class XII board exam in any stream.
- Admission: The Comparative Literature department used to take an offline written admission test, which was stopped due to the pandemic. Admission was based on Class XII board marks in 2020 and 2021.
MA in Comparative Literature (2 years)
- Eligibility: Three-year undergraduate degree in Comparative Literature or in any discipline with 50% aggregate marks.
- Admission: The offline written admission test was scrapped due to the pandemic. Admission was based on Class XII board marks in 2020 and 2021.
English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad
MA in Comparative Literature (2 years)
- Eligibility: Three-year undergraduate degree in Comparative Literature or in any discipline with 50% aggregate marks.
- Admission: You need to appear for an offline admission test.
University of Calcutta
MA in Comparative Indian Language and Literature (2 years)
- Eligibility: At least 50% marks or an equivalent grade in a bachelor’s degree in any stream, with 50% in English as a compulsory or optional subject.
- Admission: Merit-based.
University of Hyderabad
MA in Comparative Literature (3 years)
- Eligibility: At least 50% or an equivalent grade in any bachelor’s degree, with 50% in English as a compulsory or optional subject.
- Admission: Through a written test conducted by the University of Hyderabad.
Assam University
MA in Comparative Literature (2 years)
- Eligibility: At least 50% or an equivalent grade in any bachelor’s degree, with 50% in English as a compulsory or optional subject.
- Admission: Merit-based.
University of Mysore, Karnataka
MA in Comparative Literature and Translation Studies (2 years)
- Eligibility: At least 50% or an equivalent grade in any bachelor’s degree, with 50% in English as a compulsory or optional subject.
- Admission: Merit-based.
University of Calicut, Kerala
MA in Comparative Literature (2 years)
- Eligibility: At least 50% or an equivalent grade in any bachelor’s degree, with 50% in English as a compulsory or optional subject.
- Admission: Merit-based.
Foreign universities offering Comparative Literature courses
- King’s College London, UK
- University of Essex, UK
- Queen Mary University of London, UK
- University of Westminster, UK
- University of California, Berkeley, USA
- Yale University, USA
- Harvard University, USA
- Sorbonne University, France
Career prospects after studying Comparative Literature
In some Comparative Literature courses, students have to study a regional or foreign language as part of the curriculum. And since studying literature in translation is a big part of the course, students have a better chance of learning the nuances of writing, which gives them an advantage if they are pursuing a career in translation.
Exposure to different writing styles and an ability to convey their ideas also equips a student for a career in publishing, content writing, journalism, script writing, communication, branding and public relations.