Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literatures and Cultures and Russian

at University of Bristol - Clifton Campus United Kingdom

BA Comparative Literatures and Cultures and French gives you an unmatched opportunity to study international cultural production in depth and breadth. You will study global literatures and cultures in comparative frameworks that draw on methodologies from textual, cultural and visual studies, as well as from translation, philosophy, history, social science and critical theory. Texts will be read in English translation.

Core units in years one and two currently include What is Comparative Literature and How Do We Practise It?; Introduction to Visual Cultures; Popular Representation and Institutions of Culture; Migrations of Culture.

Additionally, you will have a wide choice of optional units based in the culture of a single language or a combination of cultures. Teaching is informed by staff research interests and you will be taught by experts in their fields. 

You will spend your third year in a French-speaking country, where you will undertake university study, a British Council assistantship or a work placement. You will follow a programme of study in French, developing linguistic skills so that you can communicate easily orally and in writing. For more information about the year abroad visit Global Opportunities.

In your final year you will complete an innovative, supervised, independent project consisting of an extended essay on a topic of your choice and a public-facing element presented to the entire cohort, e.g. prospectus, interview, museum catalogue entries, newspaper article.

This programme encourages attributes highly valued by employers, including intercultural understanding, analytical and critical thinking, clarity and self confidence in communication, an aptitude for collaborative work, and creativity. It will instil habits of curiosity, openness, rigour, self reflection and evidence-based thinking, preparing you for careers within a wide variety of sectors.

We live and work in a world characterised by rapid technological and societal change on a global scale. To be effective in business and management in a multinational environment requires an understanding of the cultural, economic, political and social contexts in which organisations operate, both within and across national borders.

BSc International Business Management will help you develop the intellectual, analytical, critical and employability skills you will need to succeed as a manager and leader in careers across different sectors.

Your first year will introduce basic concepts and tools – both qualitative and quantitative – for the study of management, as well as exploring the global business environment. You will also learn relevant aspects of marketing and accounting and have an opportunity to undertake a piece of research or learn a language.

During your second year we will help you to deepen your understanding of research design, data collection and data analysis, including statistical analysis of survey data, interviews and observation in organisations, in preparation for your final-year dissertation. This is a piece of individual research in which you can focus on a topic that stimulates your interest the most.

Alongside your preparation for, and production of, the dissertation, you will take other core and optional units during your second and final years.

Our BA Comparative Literatures and Cultures degree offers an unmatched opportunity to study international cultural production in both depth and breadth. You will study global literatures and cultures in comparative frameworks that draw on methodologies from textual, cultural and visual studies, as well as from translation, philosophy, history, social science and critical theory. Texts will be read in English translation.

Core units in years one and two currently include: What is Comparative Literature and How Do We Practise It?; Introduction to Visual Cultures; Popular Representation and Institutions of Culture; Migrations of Culture. Additionally, you will have a wide choice of optional units based in the culture of a single language or a combination of cultures.

You will spend your third year in a Spanish-speaking country, where you will undertake university study, a British Council assistantship or a work placement. You will follow a programme of study in Spanish, developing linguistic skills enabling you to communicate easily in writing and orally. For more information about the year abroad, visit Global Opportunities.

In year four you will complete an innovative supervised independent project, consisting of an extended essay on a topic of your choice and a public-facing element presented to the entire cohort (e.g. prospectus, interview, museum catalogue entries, newspaper article).

You will be taught by experts in the field and teaching is informed by staff research interests. The course is delivered in varied ways through lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops and one-to-one supervision. You will participate in small-group teaching and may be asked to give introductory talks to initiate discussion.

This course encourages attributes highly valued by employers, including intercultural understanding, analytical and critical thinking, clarity and self confidence in communication, an aptitude for collaborative work, and creativity. It will instil habits of curiosity, openness, rigour, self reflection and evidence-based thinking, preparing you for a career in various sectors.

This course is ideal for students interested in learning more about how to use numbers and data within social policy. It provides training in practical and analytical skills, which will enhance your career prospects and provide you with a strong platform for postgraduate study. No prior knowledge of statistical techniques is required.

About two thirds of your studies will follow the single honours social policy course. You will focus on key issues such as inequality, risk, need, and the social processes and institutions that enhance or impair wellbeing. You will draw on social, political and economic theory to analyse and explore these in a global context.

The remaining third of your course will provide interdisciplinary training in quantitative methods. In year one of the quantitative pathway we discuss how numbers and data are used to tell convincing stories in the media and social research. We consider what is meant by segregation and how it can be mapped and measured.

Year two offers practical classes in social statistics and applied data analysis, which will develop your skills in numeracy and analysis and enable you to undertake your own individual research project in an area of quantitative social science in year three.

In your fourth year we offer training in more advanced quantitative methods suitable for postgraduate research, while continuing to develop expertise and specialist knowledge in social policy.

Studying a combination of history of art and Russian offers an enriching experience with exciting intellectual challenges. It provides a valuable skill set that is ideally tailored to an increasingly globalised workplace.

Alongside history of art, your Russian studies will introduce you to a linguistic and cultural tradition encompassing some of Europe's most important writers, literary and cinematic developments, and ideological trends.

You will study a combination of language, art history and culture units, spending your third year abroad in a Russian-speaking country on a study or work placement. While abroad, you will refine your skills in your chosen language along with your cultural understanding.

Both departments encourage strong synergy between research and teaching, resulting in a vibrant learning environment for our students as staff respond in their teaching to new developments. All modern languages students have access to our state-of-the-art multimedia centre.