Our BA Comparative Literatures and Cultures and German degree offer an unmatched opportunity to study international cultural production in depth and breadth, while also studying German, the second most important language for European business besides English.

You will study the literatures and cultures of the world in comparative frameworks that draw on methodologies from textual, cultural, and visual studies, as well as from translation, philosophy, history, social science, and critical theory. Texts will be read in English translation.

Core units in years one and two currently include What is Comparative Literature and How Do We Practise It?; Introduction to Visual Cultures; Popular Representation and Institutions of Culture; Migrations of Culture. Additionally, you will have a wide choice of optional units based in the culture of a single language or a combination of cultures. Teaching is informed by staff research interests, and you will be taught by experts in their fields.

Furthermore, you will follow a structured language course in German, as well as explore the rich culture and history of German-speaking countries and communities, choosing from a wide range of units in literature, film, history, thought, politics, linguistics, and visual culture. You will spend your third year abroad in a German-speaking country, extending your language skills and cultural knowledge. To find out more about studying abroad, visit Global Opportunities.

In year four you will complete an innovative supervised independent project, consisting of an extended essay on a topic of your choice and a public-facing element presented to the entire cohort.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, and one-to-one project supervision. Assessments may include presentations, essays, commentaries, exams, collaborative projects, debates, podcasts, video essays, and dissertations.

This programme encourages attributes highly valued by employers, including intercultural understanding, analytical and critical thinking, clarity and self confidence in communication, an aptitude for collaborative work and creativity. It will instil habits of curiosity, openness, rigour, self-reflection, and evidence-based thinking, preparing you for careers in a variety of sectors.

All modern languages students have access to our state-of-the-art Multimedia Centre, with a collection of movies, a student cinema suite, an audio recording and video editing studio, a language lab, and study areas. You can access extracurricular activities such as talks by visiting speakers, societies, language cafés, student newspapers, and talent shows.