Comparative Literature explores topics such as:
- the social and psychological functions of storytelling
- concepts of tragedy
- the relationship between literature and the visual arts
- literature depicting cross-cultural encounters.
The postgraduate programme in Comparative Literature
Our postgraduate programme is the only one of its kind in New Zealand in that it requires students to study the literatures of two or more cultures in their original languages. Students with a background of two languages and literatures can study within a broad, comparative framework and research across different cultures and disciplines. The PhD programme in Comparative Literature is particularly strong, with students from many different countries.
2. Students who major in Asian Studies will acquire:
An awareness and appreciation of cultural differences and norms within Asia and beyond.
An ability to interact sensitively with the target culture/s.
A sense of appreciation of the literature, cinema and other forms of cultural expression in the target cultures and/or an understanding of the histories and social and political cultures of the Asian regions studied, including an appreciation of their interactions, past and present, depending on specialisation.
Familiarity with a number of basic theoretical apparata commonly used in the academic study of Asian cultures
A strong foundation for further study, including the possibility of graduate study both in New Zealand and overseas, which is enhanced with familiarity with an Asian language, either a major/minor in that language or as a fluent speaker and reader of that language.
Students who major in Chinese, Japanese and Korean programmes in which language acquisition is an inherent component will acquire:
A strong foundation that includes: linguistic knowledge; various communication strategies; social/cultural knowledge of the target language; knowledge and skills relating to intercultural communication; skills for autonomous learning; ability/readiness to apply one’s knowledge in new situations; and ability to express one’s opinion with a clear personal cultural/multicultural perspective.
This foundation allows graduates to further develop their target language/cultural proficiency with confidence and autonomy.
An awareness and appreciation of cultural differences.
An ability to function effectively within the target culture.
An awareness and appreciation of the histories and social and political cultures of the Asian cultures studied.
A sense of appreciation of a range of forms of cultural expression in the target culture.
A foundation for further study, including the possibility of graduate study both in New Zealand and overseas, which is enhanced by an accompanying a major/minor in Asian Studies.
3. Postgraduate study and research
Study opportunities
You can study Translation through the following programmes:
Postgraduate Diploma in Translation Studies
Master of Arts in Translation Studies
Master of Professional Studies in Translation
Doctor of Philosophy in Translation
You can only take English and one other language as part of the formal academic study programme, but of course the skills that you will have acquired through the study of translation practice can be applied to any additional languages in your professional career.
Career opportunities in Translation
You could use your qualification in Translation Studies to work as a freelance translator or as an in-house translator for an organisation, company or government agency.
Over time you will most likely specialise in a specific subject area, such as software localisation (translating software for a regional market), technical translation in a variety of fields (eg, automotive, medical, legal), literary translation or website translation.
Translation associated with business and trade is currently in high-demand in the global market.
Meet some of our students and graduates.
Career opportunities in Interpreting
You could use your qualification in interpreting to work with government agencies, refugee and migrant organisations or with the judicial and health systems. There may also be opportunities in the diplomatic field for highly skilled interpreters.
Most interpreting work in New Zealand belongs to the area of community interpreting, i.e. it satisfies the needs of ethnic communities (for example in hospitals or courts). As an interpreter, you can help other New Zealanders to participate and be fairly represented in society and be part of a profession that is vital to New Zealand's involvement in the international community.
The PhD
The PhD is an opportunity to engage in advanced research.
Research opportunities
- Process-oriented research, especially with regard to the use of electronic tools and resources
- Information literacy for translators and interpreters
- Translator and interpreter training
- Translation technology
- Translation and politics (only for English, Spanish and German)
- Interpreting-process research
- Cultural aspects of interpreting
- Literary translation (especially cultural and post-colonial approaches as well gender-related topics; only for Chinese)
- Sociological aspects of translation (primarily for Chinese)
Please note: We will only consider proposals for empirical studies. Also, we are currently only able to provide supervision in the following languages: French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean.
