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Modern Languages and Comparative Literatures

MA

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Key information

Key information for 2026-27

Start date:
October 2026
Study route:

  • One year full-time, on campus

  • Two years part-time, on campus

Status:
Fully approved
Location:
Birkbeck Campus, Central London
Awarding body:
University of London
Study options:
Full-time | Part-time | On campus

Course overview

Birkbeck's MA Modern Languages and Comparative Literatures is a highly flexible course offering you the chance to explore the languages and cultures of the French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Spanish and Latin American worlds. It also gives you a thorough grounding in theoretical approaches to comparative literary and cultural studies, so you can develop intellectually and hone your critical and analytical skills.

  • Why choose this course?
    • It is designed to be responsive and adaptive to your needs. We will help you tailor a pathway through the course that reflects your interests, career ambitions and language knowledge.
    • You will be taught by a team of renowned academic experts who bring their research experience and insights in a variety of different specialisms: comparative literature, cultural studies, history, thought and visual culture, from the Enlightenment to the twenty-first century.
    • The flexible nature of this course means that you can take a broadly comparative pathway through the degree or instead develop your interest in more specific cultures by focusing on particular strands within modules. You can choose to study texts in the original language or in English translation.

  • What will I learn?

    The core module provides you with frameworks for engaging with comparative literature and cultural theory, embracing the work of thinkers like Roland Barthes, Antonio Gramsci, Raymond Williams, Edward Said, Rosi Braidotti, Audre Lorde and Judith Butler. 

    You will then choose option modules that allow you to explore the modern world across different cultures and texts, according to three main themes: ‘Interrogating the Self’, ‘Imagining the Nation’ and ‘Memory and History’. Each module embraces several strands which allow you to explore core questions established in the first weeks via more specific cultural contexts. In place of an option module, depending on your interests, you may choose to take an advanced language-learning module or another School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication module such as Inside Out of Culture: Organisations, Placements and Practice, which includes a mini-placement.

    If you opt for a language module, you choose one module at advanced level in French, German, Italian, Spanish or Japanese. This will incorporate academic writing workshops and allow you to enhance and perfect your language skills in conjunction with multiple forms of cultural analysis.  

    You will develop your research and writing skills through a series of workshops, culminating in a dissertation on a chosen topic. If you opt for a European language module, you will usually undertake a research project instead of the dissertation.

  • How will I learn?

    This course is available to study full- or part-time with classes taking place in the evening, so you can balance your studies with other commitments. Our language-learning modules are taught on campus, but all of our other modules are offered as HyFlex, so you can choose to study in person or online depending on your circumstances.

    Our teaching on this course is mainly interactive and seminar-based, with small groups led by our expert teachers, fostering in-depth discussion and dialogue. Our research-skills workshops culminate in a mini-conference where you present your dissertation/research project to other students and staff.

  • How often will I attend classes?

    Full-time: Two evenings a week, October to July.

    Part-time: One evening a week, October to July.

  • Course disclaimer

    Birkbeck makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.

    Most of our courses are taught in the evenings, however some of our courses offer a daytime timetable. Where there is an option to attend daytime teaching sessions, this is stated in the How will I learn? section.

More highlights

Modules and Teaching

School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication

The school's teaching and research is highly interdisciplinary, spanning cultures and periods. Academic and practice-based study will equip you for a career in the creative and cultural industries.

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Entry requirements

A second-class honours degree (2:2 or above) in an arts or humanities subject from a UK university, or an equivalent international qualification.

Please find details of entry requirements and equivalencies for over 120 countries worldwide.

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential.

On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.

Apply now to secure your place. The earlier you apply, the sooner your application can be considered, and you can enrol. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.

  • What are the English language requirements?

    If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.

    If you don't meet the minimum English language requirements, please contact us or see our international study skills page for more details about how we can help.

    Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country.

  • What are the visa and funding requirements?

    If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

    The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

    • Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
    • Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

    International students who require a Student visa should apply to study on our courses full-time as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol to study part-time courses at Birkbeck (with the exception of some modules).

    As a Student visa student, you should also apply to study on campus only, as online and flexible options of study (if they are available for your course) may affect the conditions of your visa.

    For full information, read our visa information for international students page.

    Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country.

    Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.

  • Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)

    If you have studied at university (or have an HND or Foundation Degree), you may have accumulated credits. It may be possible to transfer these from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.

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Fees

MA: One year full-time or two years part-time, on campus, starting in October 2026

Academic year 2026-27

Part-time home students: £5,670 per year
Full-time home students: £11,340 per year
Part-time international students: £10,425 per year
Full-time international students: £20,850 per year

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing their course may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see the Fees Policy.

Discover the financial support available to you to help with your studies at Birkbeck.

Birkbeck's campus is located in the historic and vibrant Bloomsbury area of central London - named one of the best places to live in London 2025 by The Times.

Careers and employability

On successfully graduating from this course, you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including:

  • a sophisticated use of written and spoken English
  • an advanced critical ability in the use of theoretical perspectives
  • enhanced intercultural awareness with the ability to engage with a variety of different cultures and to work within comparative frameworks
  • facility and precision in the use of analytical tools
  • strong skills and initiative in collecting and organising complex materials and writing up clear, well-presented reports or fluent critical arguments.

You will find MA Modern Languages and Comparative Literatures graduates following career paths in international organisations or businesses, translating, teaching, research, journalism, publishing, law and the civil service. Possible professions include:

  • teacher
  • researcher
  • journalist
  • translator
  • academic librarian
  • writer
  • arts administrator
  • advertising copywriter.

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

Student support

Birkbeck offers study, learning and wellbeing support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed.

Our Learning Development Service provides a lively programme of free weekly workshops building essential academic skills - from writing and critical thinking to maths and referencing - offering flexible sessions, practical tips, and online resources to boost your skills and confidence.

Our Disability and Mental Health Service can support you if you have disabilities, specific learning differences, mental health conditions or neurodivergence, by providing practical support to help you achieve your academic potential.

Our Counselling Service aims to support you with any emotional and psychological difficulties that are affecting your experience and engagement with your studies at university. It is a free, non-judgemental and confidential service which consists of a consultation process followed by time limited counselling contact.

Find out more about the full range of student services we offer at Birkbeck.

How to apply

You apply directly to Birkbeck for this course, using the online application link.

You will need to prove your identity when you apply. Find out more about how to apply.

  • When should I apply?

    You are strongly advised to apply now, to ensure there are still places left, and to give you enough time to complete the admissions process, to arrange funding and to enrol.

    You don't need to complete your current programme of study before you apply - Birkbeck can offer you a place that is conditional on your results.

Related courses

Study routes for Modern Languages and Comparative Literatures (MA)

Please select a study route below to continue your application.

Please note that international students who require a Student visa to study in the UK can only apply for full-time, on campus routes.

Starting in October 2026

Full-time

Part-time