Doctor of Philosophy - Comparative Literature

A PhD in Comparative Literature enables students to undertake a substantial piece of supervised research on a topic that makes an original contribution to knowledge and is worthy of publication.

A PhD, also known as a doctorate, is a requirement for a career as an academic or as a researcher. In addition, it has become a qualification valued by many employers who recognise the skills and commitment a PhD requires. Employers also recognise that a PhD indicates excellent research and critical thinking capabilities, discipline and outstanding writing skills.

Over the duration of the PhD, students produce an original piece of research of up to 100,000 words. Previous doctoral theses have included ‘Logos, Bios and Madness in Nietzsche, Bataille, Foucault and Derrida’, ‘Representation and Depiction of Intimate Suffering in the Narratives of Esther Tusquets, Elsa Morante and Alberto Asor Rosa’, ‘Poetics of the Face: Textual Portraiture in Modern English, Polish and Russian Literature’, ‘Samuel Beckett and the Writers of Port-Royal’, and ‘The Monster and the Maiden: Literary Affinities in the Writings of Iris Murdoch and Elias Canetti’.

The Department of Comparative Literature offers supervision from world-class academics with expertise in a wide range of disciplines, able to support and guide students through their research. Students' progress is carefully monitored to ensure that they are on track to produce a thesis to be valued by the academic community. Throughout the programme, students are able to attend and contribute to research seminars, workshops, and research and transferable skills training courses.