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Comparative Literature

  • BA (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 29/09/2025
  • Undergraduate
Main Site
Awarded by:
King’s College London
More about King's College London, University of London

Course options

2025-20262026-2027
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Course summary

Explore the similarities and differences between literature written in different places and at different times. The Department of Comparative Literature at King’s covers 12 languages, six continents, and spans over 2,500 years.

All in a central London location that opens the doors to endless world-class libraries, institutes, galleries, concert halls and theatres. Focus extends beyond the modern and ancient literatures of Europe to the Americas, Australia, the Middle East, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Where else in the UK can you study African literature in English and French alongside Arab modernist poetry, or modern Indian literature alongside the eighteenth-century European novel?

Key benefits

  • All modules are taught in English translation, though you are encouraged to read in the original language where possible and supported in the development of new linguistic skills.

  • Centrally located, offering opportunities to benefit from London's unique literary and cultural resources.

  • Friendly and supportive learning environment and student community.

  • You will acquire analytical and presentational skills valued by employers in heritage-related professions, the media, education, civil service and the performing arts.

  • Our flexible study courses allow you to pursue your research interests and choose from a wide variety of modules across a number of departments.

  • Study abroad is available at a wide number of partner institutions in Europe, the USA, Asia and Australia.

Please see our online prospectus for further details on this programme: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/comparative-literature-ba

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BA (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 29/09/2025

Apply by
29 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
Q200
Institution code:
K60
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1, 2

King's College London, University of London has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
29 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
Q200
Institution code:
K60
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff

Not accepted

A level

AAB
including grade A in English Literature or English Language and Literature. Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

Please see our online prospectus for further details on our BTEC entry requirements.

Access to HE Diploma

D: 33 credits M: 12 credits P: 0 credits
Access to HE Diploma (for example, in Humanities) with 45 Level 3 credits: 33 must be from units at Distinction with the remaining Level 3 credits at Merit.

Scottish Higher

ABB
Must be a combination of three Scottish Highers and two Scottish Advanced Highers. We do not count the Higher and Advanced Higher in the same subject.

Scottish Advanced Higher

AB
Including grade A in Advanced Higher English Literature / English Language and Literature. Must be combined with three Scottish Highers. We do not count the Higher and Advanced Higher in the same subject

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

35 points
35 points overall or an aggregate score of 17 from three Higher Levels. Must include grade 6 in Higher Level English Literature or English Language and Literature. Note: The total point score of 35 includes TOK/EE.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H1, H2, H2, H2, H2, H2

Leaving Certificate - Ordinary Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

Not accepted

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

D3, D3, M2
Including D3 in English Literature. Please note that Global Perspectives is not accepted by King’s as one of your Pre-U Principal subjects. Combinations of Pre-U principal subjects and other qualifications (such as A-levels) will be considered.

T Level

Not accepted

Required subjects: English Literature, or English Language and Literature.
Preferred subjects: Modern or Ancient language, Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or History

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each skill
PTE Academic69 overall with a minimum of 62 in each skill
TOEFL (iBT)100 overall with a minimum of 25 in writing and 23 in each of the other skills
Cambridge English Advanced185 overall with a minimum of 176 in each skill
Cambridge English Proficiency185 overall with a minimum of 176 in each skill
Trinity ISELevel III (ISEIII) with merit in each skill
Institution's Own TestPass the King's Pre-Sessional English Language Programme with Band 7
We also accept a number of English language tests taken as part of school-level qualifications. For more details, please see our website. Please note that the course requirements are under Band B.

Band B https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/how-to-apply/english-language-requirements

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

At King’s we don’t just use your grades to assess your application. We recognise that not everyone has the same educational journey and that some students have had to overcome challenges to achieve their grades.

Contextual offers are made to applicants who may have experienced barriers that have impeded their academic progress. Contextual offers may be up to two A-Level grades (or equivalent) lower than the advertised entry requirements found on the course pages.

Learn more on the King's College London, University of London website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9250Year 1
Northern Ireland£9250Year 1
Scotland£9250Year 1
Wales£9250Year 1
Channel Islands£9250Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

For International fees and information, please see the course details on our online prospectus: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/index

The fees stated are for entry in the forthcoming September. If you are applying for deferred entry, to commence the following September, fees may be subject to change.

All International applicants to Undergraduate programmes are required to pay a deposit of £2,000 against their first year’s tuition fee. This deposit is payable when you firmly accept an unconditional offer to study with us, and will be offset against your tuition fees when you join King’s.

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