International and Comparative Literary Studies

Built upon comparative literary theories, our rich and diverse program offers a major that is personally rewarding and helps to prepare you as future graduates for a range of possible career paths in publishing, advertising, media industries, government and non-government organisations, and academic research. Through a range of comparative units focusing on themes such as cities of the world or oceanic literatures, or on genres such as science fiction, our units of study look at how questions of society, history, and politics have been framed within literature by different cultural traditions at different periods of time.

Each unit of study is taught by two to three lecturers, each from a different language and culture program in the School of Languages and Cultures. Their disciplinary backgrounds lie in literature, film studies, theatre studies or cultural and translation studies. Each has expertise in either European, Asian, Latin American or Middle Eastern traditional and modern literatures.

There are no foreign language requirements for undergraduate study or for Honours. Lectures and seminars are delivered in English and tutorial discussions are based on texts in English translation. For Postgraduate study, reading knowledge of at least one language other than English is required.

Requirements for completion

The International and Comparative Literary Studies major and minor requirements are listed in the International and Comparative Literary Studies unit of study table.

Advanced coursework

Requirements and units of study for advanced coursework can be found on the advanced coursework units of study page.

Honours

Honours admission requirements

Admission to honours is via the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and requires the completion of a major in International and Comparative Literary Studies with an average of 70 percent or above.

Prior to commencing, you will need to ensure you have completed all other requirements of the Bachelor of Arts or other bachelor degree, including Open Learning Environment (OLE) units. For pre-July 2024 students, where undertaking Bachelor of Advanced Studies, a second major is also required.

Requirements and units of study for honours can be found on the International Comparative Literary Studies honours units of study page.

Contacts and further information

More information and current contact details for academic coordinators can be found at the website: Discipline of International and Comparative Literature and Translation Studies