Master of Arts in Western Literature

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Fact sheet

The Master's

The Master of Western Literature is a unique programme aimed at the comparative study of literature in different Western traditions, from the Classical Period to the present. KU Leuven, one of the oldest universities in Europe and located at the heart of a multi-lingual society, is a unique location for a programme that focuses on the dynamic interactions between various literatures, languages, and cultures, as well as on intercultural and international aspects of literature.

This master's degree programme stands out both nationally and internationally by its advanced degree of specialization and its unique comparative and multilingual perspective.

Specialists in various national literatures and in literary theory closely collaborate to ensure the high level and quality of the courses. The programme's broad spectrum of national literatures allows you to combine these uniquely and thus to deepen your knowledge, à la carte. At the same time, this advanced level of specialization is thoroughly combined with a broad comparative and theoretical perspective. Finally, the concept of 'Western' literatures is thoroughly examined and questioned against the background of more general social, political, and cultural perspectives, both from historical and contemporary points of view.

My profile

In your undergraduate studies, you will have thoroughly studied at least one language, as well as literature written in that language. You will have a basic knowledge of methodological techniques and of heuristics, including information technology tools. You are able to report in clear language on a scholarly subject, and you are interested in the cultural and social debates on literature.

Admission requirements

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Study programme

The Master in Western Literature programme is built around three modules. All students take the obligatory module (thirty ECTS credits). Second, each student chooses one or both courses from the 'comparative literature' module. Third, each student chooses three or four of the elective courses, respectively. The master's dissertation is worth eighteen ECTS credits, all other courses six. Students may request, subject to approval, an optional course not in the list below.

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Assets

The programme does not take for granted the key terms in its title: 'Western' and 'literature.' Indeed, the programme specifically aims to critically investigate the development of literature, literary systems, and traditions in the West to address the challenges that these phenomena meet in our complex contemporary society.

This initially entails historical and dynamic examinations of notions like the canon, tradition, literary genre, and poetics. These must be studied in relation to some of the more general concepts that determine them, such as civilization, culture, identity, and alterity. Second, we are interested in the question of the political-ideological dimension of 'Western' literatures: when did it arise and how did it develop? How can we critically examine the relations between literature, nation, language, and territory in the light of internationalization and globalization; of colonization and decolonization; and of the relations between East and West? Third, we study specific notions of textuality and interpretation and their functions in various Western literary traditions.

Career prospects

As a graduate of the Master in Western Literature programme, you will have acquired a wide range of skills that you will be able to use in a large number of professional contexts. Your strengths will mainly be your ability to reflect on complex cultural phenomena, your insight into and facility with plurilingualism and interculturality, and your ability to bring those insights across in the media and/or in educational contexts.

Through your advanced insight in intercultural relations, you will be exceptionally well placed to work in an international context (e.g., embassies, European institutions, translating services, and international companies). In addition, you will have acquired an extensive knowledge of literature and the skills for reporting on it. The publishing world, the media, and journalism will therefore offer more possibilities.

After taking a teacher training programme, you will also be able to start teaching.

Registration fee

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More information

If you have other questions, contact:

Faculty of Arts
Blijde Inkomststraat 21 bus 3311
3000 Leuven
Belgium
tel. +32 16 32 48 36
E-mail

Application