King's College London

Where Comparative Literature can take you

Comparative Literature explores how literature, culture and ideas move across languages, borders and historical periods. By studying texts from different traditions and cultures, you'll develop skills in critical analysis, research and communication while gaining a deeper understanding of how literature helps shape and respond to the world around us.

Talia Andrea – BA Comparative Literature Alumna

"Since graduating, I have been working full-time at the music charity Youth Music as their NextGen Community Producer, where I lead on campaigns, events and community engagement for 18-25-year-olds in the music industry. I work directly with global brands across the music and cultural sectors to shape their youth outreach and programming, such as Levi’s, Wingstop, IKEA, AWAL, and more. Alongside my full-time job, I founded my own grassroots music festival in my final year at King's, FEMMESTIVAL, which features all-female artist lineups.

Comparative Literature, although not directly related to the music industry, has still influenced my approach to my work in many ways – largely in terms of communication and presenting ideas efficiently and persuasively. My job is very outward-facing, and involves directly communicating with stakeholders of all demographics, from sixth-form students to company CEOs. As such, much of my role is about finding effective ways to connect with individuals and brands, and design campaigns which resonate with different audiences. I also credit my degree for planting the seeds which would eventually become FEMMESTIVAL, allowing me to explore ideas about women and gender across cultures and contexts. This ultimately coalesced into my desire to scrutinise the gender politics of the music industry today, and drive tangible change for women, their visibility and their treatment within the sector.

For me, the most important part of the degree was how it threaded together the historical context of various stories, with a more immediate and grounded activism – an interrogation of why those stories should still matter to us now. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to understand the structures and processes of the world we live in – which are often taken for granted – so as to find ways of rethinking, dismantling or shaking up those structures for a more inclusive and equitable future."

Read more about our Comparative Literature alumni

Global perspectives in the heart of London

Studying Comparative Literature at King's places you within a department dedicated to understanding languages, literatures and cultures in a global context. Combined with London's libraries, archives, museums, galleries, theatres and cultural institutions, you'll have opportunities to engage with literature and culture from across the world both inside and beyond the classroom.

Career paths

Comparative Literature graduates have gone on to careers in:

• Accountancy and financial services
• Administration and professional services
• Banking
• Broadcasting, journalism and media
• Government and the Civil Service
• Law and legal services
• Marketing and communications
• Teaching and education
• Tourism and international industries
• Charities and non-profit organisations
• Publishing and editorial roles
• Business development and consulting
• Community engagement and cultural organisations
• Postgraduate study and research