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Offered by the Department of Comparative Literature, World Literature takes the same approaches to compare and contrast international texts and cultures, but broadens the scope to include non-Western literary sources, such as Asian, African, Arabic and Latin American texts.
Overview
The programme includes a wide range of modules on which you can study literature from Ancient Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome, and Ancient and Imperial China, as well as works from English and American, Arabic, African, Asian, Latin American, and European literary traditions.
You develop an understanding of historical and cross-cultural literary traditions and the ways in which they interact, while broadening your critical knowledge of literature and your appreciation of questions of translation and transmission. You also have the opportunity to explore concepts such as ‘genre’, ‘theme’, ‘fictionality’, ‘literariness’, ‘canon’, ‘reception’, and ‘literary movement’. As a result of encountering writers and texts from all over the world, you gain a truly global perspective on literature and its cultural contexts.
You do not need to be able to read a foreign language to take this programme as we study translations into English of a great range of major literature from other countries alongside literature originally written in English.
Year Abroad
You may opt to take a Year Abroad during stage three of this programme. You gain the opportunity to spend a year studying (in English) in continental Europe, the USA or Hong Kong.
Independent rankings
In the National Student Survey 2015, Comparative Literature, which includes World Literature, at Kent was ranked 4th in the UK for student satisfaction and 96% of our students were satisfied with the quality of teaching on their course.
Course structure
The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.
Year abroad
You spend a year studying in one of our partner universities in continental Europe, the USA or Hong Kong. Partner university locations include Berlin, Venice, Istanbul, Prague, Madrid and San Fransico. Module content will vary across institutions and you will be required to take modules relevant to your degree.
Modules will generally be taught in English, but if you have the necessary linguistic background you are also encouraged to attend modules taught in the language of the respective host country. Language tuition is provided at host European universities.
Teaching and assessment
For most modules, you have one two-hour seminar per week. Your Final-Year Dissertation is based entirely on your private research but is supervised by a tutor and includes workshops and the chance to participate in an undergraduate conference.
Assessment varies from 100% coursework to a combination of examination and coursework; for details click the 'read more' link within each module listed in the Course Structure.
Programme aims
- promote the study of world literature, ranging from that of ancient Mesopotamia, Asia and Classical Antiquity (Greece and Rome) to present-day English and American, Latin American, Arabic, African, Asian, Western and Eastern European literature
- enable students to develop a systematic historical and cross-cultural understanding of a wide range of different national literary traditions and the ways in which they interact
- develop students’ abilities to evaluate critically the mechanisms involved in the international circulation and reception of literature
- encourage students to identify and develop their own interests and expertise in fields of literary study
- encourage students to engage critically and systematically with cross-cultural approaches to literary studies
- develop students’ understanding and critical appreciation of questions pertaining to translation
- offer generous scope for the study of literature and its aesthetic specificities within an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural context
- develop students’ abilities to argue a point of view with clarity and cogency, both orally and in written form
- develop further students’ intercultural competencies
- offer students the experience of a variety of teaching styles and approaches to the study of literature
- develop students’ independent critical thinking and judgement
- provide a basis for the study of literature at a higher level
- provide a basis in knowledge and skills for those intending to teach literature, including a broad frame of cultural reference
- provide students with the opportunity to develop more general skills and competences so that they can respond positively to the challenges of the workplace or of postgraduate education.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
- a wide range of authors and texts from different periods and different cultures, from the beginnings of literature to the present day, including texts from Arabic, Asian, African, American, European and Russian writers
- the cultural, national and historical contexts in which literature is written, transmitted and read
- concepts such as ‘world literature’, ‘genre’, ‘theme’, ‘fictionality’, ‘literariness’, ‘canon’, ‘reception’, and ‘literary movement’
- the problems inherent in interpreting ‘the translated text’
- traditions in literary criticism
- literary history
- the transnational mechanisms of circulation and reception of literary texts
- critical theory and its applications, understood within its historical contexts
- the study of literature in its relation to other disciplines.
Intellectual skills
- listening to, and absorbing of, the oral transmission of complicated data
- careful reading of literary works and theoretical material
- reflecting clearly and critically on oral and written sources, using power of analysis and imagination
- marshalling a complex body of information
- remembering relevant material and bringing it to mind when needed
- constructing cogent arguments
- formulating independent ideas and defending them in a plausible manner
- presenting arguments in written form in a time-limited context.
Subject-specific skills
- enhanced skills in the close critical analysis of literary texts
- a critical understanding of transcultural modes of reception and circulation
- improved intercultural competencies
- informed critical understanding of the variety of critical and theoretical approaches to the study of literature
- ability to articulate knowledge and understanding of texts, concepts and theories relating to literary studies
- sensitivity to generic conventions in the study of literature
- sensitivity to the problems of translation and cultural difference
- well-developed language use and awareness, including a grasp of standard critical terminology
- articulate responsiveness to literary language
- appropriate scholarly practice in the presentation of formal written work, in particular in bibliographic and annotational practices
- understanding of how cultural norms, assumptions and practices influence questions of judgement
- appreciation of the value of collaborative intellectual work in developing critical judgement.
Transferable skills
- developed powers of communication and the capacity to argue a point of view, orally and in written form, with clarity, organisation and cogency
- enhanced confidence in the efficient presentation of ideas designed to stimulate critical debate
- developed critical acumen
- the ability to assimilate and organise substantial quantities of complex information of diverse kinds
- competence in the planning and execution of essays and project work
- enhanced skills in critical analyses
- enhanced capacity for independent thought, intellectual focus, reasoned judgement and self-criticism
- enhanced skills in collaborative intellectual work, including more finely tuned listening skills
- the ability to understand, interrogate and apply a variety of theoretical positions and weigh the importance of alternative perspectives
- research skills, including scholarly information retrieval skills
- IT skills: word-processing, PowerPoint, email communication, the ability to access electronic data.
Careers
Studying World Literature, you learn to think critically about literature and culture in a global context. You also develop the skills of close reading and effective communication, and gain confidence and experience in expressing your ideas in written and in spoken language. These key transferable skills are essential tools for graduates as they move into the job market.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | ABB |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above. |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | The university will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) on a case by case basis please contact us via the enquiries tab for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 16 at HL
|
International students
The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.
Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2016/17 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
The University of Kent is currently considering whether to increase its regulated full-time tuition fees for all returning Home and EU undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250 in September 2017. This would be subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses might also rise by 2.8%.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk
UK/EU/International students on an approved Year Abroad for the full 2016/17 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Those on an approved Year in Industry pay an annual fee of £865 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Details of our proposed funding opportunities for 2016 entry can be found on our funding page.
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. For 2016 entry, the scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our scholarships pages. Please review the eligibility criteria on that page.