Triangle

Research overview

What if your personal exploration of cultural and linguistic expression aided international relations?

Understand nations from the inside through careful analysis of their culture, literature and media. Identify the intercultural social, political, historical and philosophical influences that shape nations and add to the knowledge of how we interact as a global society.

The Comparative Literature PhD offers research degree supervision in all areas of comparative literature and comparative cultural studies, from the Middle Ages to the present. We have particular strengths in the cultural contexts of:

  • French and Francophone studies
  • Hispanic and Lusophone studies
  • Slavonic studies
  • German studies
  • Chinese studies

We also welcome projects involving film, TV and media studies.

Explore our research in the School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies

Play video

Course content

Before you start your research degree you will have completed a research-preparation masters degree in a related discipline and have agreed your research topic with a main supervisor and co-supervisor. You will work with this team closely for the duration of your study and are welcome to consult any other member of the department whose research seems of relevance to your own work.

You are required to attend all departmental research seminars and special lectures and deliver at least one paper of your own each year, usually at the annual Postgraduate Forum or at a work-in-progress seminar.

At the end of three years’ full-time registration, plus one year optional writing-up, you will have written a thesis of between 80,000-100,000 words on a topic that makes a significant contribution to research in comparative literature.

Contact us to discuss a possible match between your research ideas and our supervisory expertise

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

QualificationPhD
Degree

A first degree with at least 2:1, or an equivalent qualification (BA in Literature, Languages, Cultural Studies or similar subject) and ideally some knowledge of a European language other than English. We would usually expect you to hold or be working towards a masters degree in a relevant subject.

QualificationPhD
Degree

A first degree with at least 2:1, or an equivalent qualification (BA in Literature, Languages, Cultural Studies or similar subject) and ideally some knowledge of a European language other than English. We would usually expect you to hold or be working towards a masters degree in a relevant subject.

International and EU equivalents

We accept a wide range of qualifications from all over the world.

For information on entry requirements from your country, see our country pages.

IELTS7.0 (6.5 in each element)
English language requirements

As well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other English language qualifications.

This includes TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB and O level English.

Meeting our English language requirements

If you need support to meet the required level, you may be able to attend a presessional English course. Presessional courses teach you academic skills in addition to English language. Our Centre for English Language Education is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK.

If you successfully complete your presessional course to the required level, you can then progress to your degree course. This means that you won't need to retake IELTS or equivalent.

For on-campus presessional English courses, you must take IELTS for UKVI to meet visa regulations. For online presessional courses, see our CELE webpages for guidance.

Visa restrictions

International students must have valid UK immigration permissions for any courses or study period where teaching takes place in the UK. Student route visas can be issued for eligible students studying full-time courses. The University of Nottingham does not sponsor a student visa for students studying part-time courses. The Standard Visitor visa route is not appropriate in all cases. Please contact the university’s Visa and Immigration team if you need advice about your visa options.

We recognise that applicants have a variety of experiences and follow different pathways to postgraduate study.

We treat all applicants with alternative qualifications on an individual basis. We may also consider relevant work experience.

If you are unsure whether your qualifications or work experience are relevant, contact us.

Applying

Our step-by-step guide contains everything you need to know about applying for postgraduate research.

How to apply

Fees

QualificationPhD
Home / UK£5,350
International£23,000

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA).

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

You'll be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to buy your own copies of core texts.

Funding

There are funding opportunities which are only open to students within the Faculty of Arts.

Postgraduate funding for Faculty of Arts students

There are many ways to fund your research degree, from scholarships to government loans.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

Postgraduate funding

Support

You will join a community of researchers from the UK and overseas, including the EU, the Middle and Far East, Latin America and the United States. The diversity of cultural and disciplinary backgrounds, provide a rich, rewarding and supportive postgraduate community.

Our energetic research culture also involves a programme of visiting speakers and regular symposia organised by staff and students.

As a comparative literature research student, you will fully participate in, and organise, events and activities such as:

  • seminar presentations
  • film cycles
  • discussion panels
  • an annual postgraduate forum
  • conventional research papers
  • collaborative research presentations
  • question-and-answer slots
  • organised discussions of pre-submitted papers
  • sessions on the various challenges facing research students

Teaching opportunities

During your doctoral studies, you can apply to work as a Postgraduate Teaching Assistant (PGTA) within the Faculty of Arts. We offer a limited number of part-time annualised hours contracts of employment. They provide invaluable teaching experience in delivering and supporting seminars, as well as marking, assessing and giving feedback on students’ work. We provide dedicated training and professional development. (Please note - applications for PGTA positions are competitive and are not guaranteed.)

Researcher training and development

The Researcher Academy is the network for researchers, and staff who support them. We work together to promote a healthy research culture, to cultivate researcher excellence, and develop creative partnerships that enable researchers to flourish.

Postgraduate researchers at Nottingham have access to our online Members’ area, which includes a wealth of resources, access to training courses and award-winning postgraduate placements.

Graduate centres

Our graduate centres are dedicated community spaces on campus for postgraduates.

Each space has areas for:

  • studying
  • socialising
  • computer work
  • seminars
  • kitchen facilities

Student support

You will have access to a range of support services, including:

  • academic and disability support
  • childcare services
  • counselling service
  • faith support
  • financial support
  • mental health and wellbeing support
  • visa and immigration advice
  • welfare support

Students' Union

Our Students' Union represents all students. You can join the Postgraduate Students’ Network or contact the dedicated Postgraduate Officer.

There are also a range of support networks, including groups for:

  • international students
  • black and minority ethnic students
  • students who identify as women
  • students with disabilities
  • LGBT+ students

SU Advice provides free, independent and confidential advice on issues such as accommodation, financial and academic difficulties.

Where you will learn

Research in the School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies

Research students come to Nottingham from the UK and overseas bringing with them diversity of cultural and disciplinary backgrounds which offers a rich, rewarding and supportive postgraduate community to be part of. 

As a modern languages research student, you will be involved a programme of visiting speakers and regular symposia organised by staff and students. This will cover areas such as; seminar presentations, film cycles, discussion panels and much more.

Careers

Whether you are considering a career in academia, industry or haven't yet decided, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Expert staff will work with you to explore PhD career options and apply for vacancies, develop your interview skills and meet employers. You can book a one-to-one appointment, take an online course or attend a workshop.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Many of our postgraduates have chosen academic careers and are currently in full-time posts in the UK. Others have moved into the civil service, the cultural industries, the media, publishing, teaching or translation.

The research training all our postgraduates follow equips them with a range of key transferable skills, such as analytical thinking, time management, and presentation and research skills.

75% of postgraduates from the School of Modern Languages and Cultures secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual salary for these graduates was £27,500.*

*HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022. The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on data from graduates who completed a full-time postgraduate degree with home fee status and are working full-time within the UK.

Dirk Goettsche
My research and teaching cover German literature and comparative literature from the 18th century to the present. I chaired an international research network on “Landscapes of Realism: Rethinking Literary Realism in Comparative Perspective”, funded by the Leverhulme Trust, which is now producing two substantial and exciting volumes for the “Comparative History of Literatures in European Languages”. I also work on small forms of prose that undercut traditional genre boundaries (Kleine Prosa) and postcolonial and intercultural themes, with a particular focus on developing comparative Postcolonial Studies and the synergies between literary studies and Memory Studies.”
Professor Dirk Göttsche, Professor of German Studies

Related courses

Modern Languages MRes

Pursue a research topic across two modern languages in a rich and collaborative environment.
View course

Modern Languages and Culture Studies PhD

We offer a variety of opportunities for postgraduate research in the field of Modern Languages and Cultures.
View course

Linguistics (Modern Languages) PhD

This course focuses on the research of a linguistic topic related of one or more modern languages.
View course

Research Excellence Framework

The University of Nottingham is ranked 7th in the UK for research power, according to analysis by Times Higher Education. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is a national assessment of the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.

  • 88% of the Faculty of Arts’ research was graded as world-leading or internationally excellent
  • 90%* of our research is classed as 'world-leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*)
  • 100%* of our research is recognised internationally
  • 51% of our research is assessed as 'world-leading' (4*) for its impact**

*According to analysis by Times Higher Education ** According to our own analysis.

This content was last updated on 01 July 2024. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.