The teachers are scholars of literature belonging to the Arabic, English, French, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and German language departments.
In this master, the movements of literature across national and linguistic boundaries and between cultures are studied, both in a global and a local context. A meta-perspective is also offered on the value of fiction and the study of literature as a tool for intercultural understanding and communication.
About the courses
The courses include the study of how cultural encounters, and identity creation through cultural encounters, are embodied in fiction from different parts of the world against the background of changing ideological currents and cultural movements. Concepts such as multiculturalism, transculturality, hybridization, migration and diaspora are addressed. The theoretical perspectives span areas such as postcolonial studies, world literature, ecocriticism, translation studies and feminism.
The main language of instruction is English. The studied literary works are read in the original language, or in English translation. The degree project is written in English.
To be admitted to courses in this main field of study, a competence corresponding to a bachelor's degree in literary studies, or in languages with a focus on literary studies, is required. Knowledge of English, corresponding to the English B (or English 6) from Swedish upper secondary school, is also required.
Course offerings
For a student studying for a full-time master's degree, the following course of study is recommended. However, some of the courses can be taken in a different order or can be replaced by other courses at the advanced level.
Year 1
1st semester
- Introduction to Intercultural Literary Studies (7.5 credits)
- Intercultural Literary Studies: Academic Writing (7.5 credits)
- World Literatures: Asia and Europe (7.5 credits)
- World Literatures: North and South America (7.5 credits)
2nd semester
- Literatures of Migration: Past and Present (7.5 credits)
- Intercultural Literature Studies: Literature and Politics in Contemporary Africa (7.5 credits)
- Intercultural Literature Studies: Literature and Gender - Literary Theory and Criticism (7.5 credits)
- Theory of Science for the Human Sciences (7.5 credits)
Year 2
3rd semester
- Intercultural Literature Studies: Academic reading (7.5 credits)
- Intercultural Literature Studies: Fiction in its Original Language (7.5 credits)
- Intercultural Literature Studies: Translation Project (7.5 credits)
- Intercultural Literature Studies: Theory and Method (7.5 credits)
4th semester
Additional Courses
The following two courses are offered in the autumn semester, and may thus replace any of the course offerings in the 1st or the 3rd semesters. Note that these courses have specific prerequisites.
- Migration, Climate and Anxiety in Literature in English (7.5 credits) (offered by the English department)
- Japanese: Intercultural Communication (15 credits) (offered by the Japanese department)