Membership

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Membership of the British Comparative Literature Association is open to academic members of universities and other institutions of higher learning, as well as to graduate students and to other persons with appropriate scholarly interests, both in the UK and abroad. From May 2022, all BCLA members also hold the automatic right to membership of the International Comparative Literature Association (AILC-ICLA) which confers a wide range of benefits, and enables members to form part of a network of thousands of comparatists around the world.

All academics working in the field of Comparative Literature, and related fields such as Translation Studies and Creative Writing at any level in their careers, are welcome to apply for membership, as are postgraduate students completing masters and doctoral degrees, together with members of research centres, museums and any other relevant organisation. We also strongly welcome independent researchers, freelance translators, lecturers and tutors.

The BCLA has four categories of membership

For more detailed information, please consult the links below:

Full Time​

Members in full time employment at a UK or international university, higher education or scholarly institution.

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Part-Time & Retired

Members who are retired, emeritus, freelance or in part time employment at a UK or international university, higher education or research institution.

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Postgraduate

Members registered for a postgraduate degree, masters or doctorate at a UK or international university, higher education or scholarly institution.

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Departmental

UK or international university and higher education departments whose teaching and research staff have an academic interest in comparative literature and translation.

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Use Of Membership Fees

The income from the BCLA’s membership fees is distributed for the purpose of a wide range of activities which are of advantage to the discipline of Comparative Literature. These benefits include conference and travel bursaries, discounts for attendance at the BCLA’s triennial conference; sponsorship of conferences and workshops organised by members, and participation in the governance of the BCLA. The Association maintains close links with departments through the election of leading scholars in the field to its executive.