PhD Comparative Literature in Liverpool United Kingdom | University of Liverpool

Modern Languages research at Liverpool stands out for its interdisciplinary approach, featuring projects with worldwide impact that break free from traditional academic confines. Our doctoral supervision teams combine expertise across multiple languages and methodologies, fostering innovative research with comprehensive support. The Department of Modern Languages and Cultures boasts literary experts in all eight languages taught, making Liverpool uniquely equipped for Comparative and World Literature studies. Our scholars lead in postcolonial and translingual studies, contributing significantly to initiatives like Translating Cultures and Transnationalizing Modern Languages. The department covers diverse genres—from novels and short stories to travel writing and graphic fiction—while excelling in digital media research. Our supervisors engage with both classic texts and contemporary works, employing varied theoretical frameworks.

Cross-school partnerships allow English Department researchers to enhance this pathway, incorporating Anglophone literatures worldwide. Students benefit from access to the Centre for New and International Writing, with co-supervision options extending to Archaeology, Classics, Egyptology, and Irish Studies.

Liverpool's Comparative Literature scholars also advance translation studies, including active translation practice. Our approach emphasizes multilingual research and expanding Comparative Literature's theoretical foundations beyond traditional boundaries.

Recent PhD projects showcase our scope: Afghan diaspora translingual literature, masculinity in African fiction (Anglophone/Francophone), and portrayals of China in modern British novels.