Postgraduate Research
Research students on the Comparative Literature Programme benefit from the expertise of its academic staff, as well as the expertise of staff in the Programme’s collaborating Departments in the School of Arts and Humanities. Most of the core academic staff hold joint appointments between the Programme and these Departments. Arts and Humanities at King’s has recently completed an ambitious plan of expansion, and has increased its numbers of full-time post-holders significantly.
Research students have their own reading group, which meets four to five times a semester. The Programme’s research seminars, organised by Professor Michael Silk, are a lively forum for the presentation of papers by outside speakers, King’s staff, and postgraduate students. Students can also attend the many seminar series organised by Departments in the School of Arts and Humanities, most of which contribute to the Programme.
King’s Global Institutes and Centres, which run their own seminar series and conferences, provide further opportunities for interdisciplinary research and learning. The School runs a number of teaching programmes and joint activities with institutions outside King’s such as the Globe Theatre, the Wellcome Institute, the British Museum, and English PEN. PhD students are involved in the organisation of the annual LINKS Graduate Conference in Comparative Literature and have the opportunity to acquire teaching experience on undergraduate modules.
The libraries in London such as the British Library, Senate House Library and the individual libraries of the colleges of the University of London, offer an unparalleled wealth of printed and archival material for research. This, together with the location of the King’s Strand Campus in a historic part of the city, and the range of museums and theatres in London and its mix of languages, cultures and communities as a world city, make King’s a significant centre for comparative literary study and interdisciplinary learning and teaching.
How you will study
Teaching for the PhD is mainly by individual supervisions. Students will receive, on average, one tutorial every two weeks, and typically will also meet with staff other than their supervisor, to learn about different approaches.
There are seminars for research students each week. Research students attend the Graduate Reading Forum. They also benefit from our research seminars and from access to the unparalleled range of research seminars available across London.
PhD students may be invited to do some paid teaching of undergraduates - excellent experience for students intending to make a career in university teaching.