Comparative Literature and Geography

Comparative literature and geography at St Andrews is a combination that opens literary study across boundaries of culture and language alongside the scientific and humanistic study of the Earth's physical and human landscapes. Comparative literature at St Andrews opens up literary study across boundaries, offering students the chance to read texts of any genre, of any period, and written in a multitude of languages, all in English translation. Drawing on expertise from across the School of Modern Languages and beyond, the programme considers the relationships that exist between literatures around the world, allowing students to push at the boundaries of textual analysis and read without borders.

Geography examines how physical and human landscapes are made and transformed, developing rigorous analytical and fieldwork skills alongside theoretical engagement with space, place, and environment.

At the University of St Andrews, this four-year full-time programme develops both disciplines across the Scottish MA (Hons), bringing the comparative, cross-cultural perspective of literary study into dialogue with the geographical understanding of how places and environments shape human life and cultural expression. A year abroad is part of the programme, giving you the opportunity to engage with comparative literature and geography in another country and broaden the cross-cultural perspective that both disciplines foster.

With a typical entry tariff of 232 UCAS points, this is a highly competitive programme at one of the UK's most prestigious universities. The combination of comparative literary analysis and geographical understanding creates a distinctive interdisciplinary profile. Graduates pursue careers in education, publishing, journalism, cultural organisations, international development, environmental policy, heritage, the civil service, academic research, and many other fields where the ability to think across cultural and spatial boundaries is professionally valuable.

Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in comparative literature, geography, or environmental humanities.